On the newest episode of The Legal Lens podcast, I am joined by Ashley Allison—CNN commentator, publisher of The Root (originally founded by the renowned scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates), and founder of Watering Hole Media—and Jasmine Browley—Forbes contributor, former business editor at Essence, and writer and contributor with BET— to discuss the role of Black‑owned and Black‑led media in the current political moment.
In this episode, both my guests present their views on why Black media ownership matters, how editorial priorities shift when Black journalists shape the narrative, and what is lost when Black journalists are pushed out of legacy newsrooms.
They share their professional paths from civil‑rights and policy work to journalism in digital and traditional outlets and explain how those experiences inform their approach to storytelling, accountability, and community engagement 🔍
This clip focuses on Ashley Allison’s experience moving from public service and communications into media ownership as publisher of The Root, originally founded by scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr.
She describes ownership as a way to “care for Black stories across generations.”
Listen now on all major streaming platforms: linktr.ee/areddock