A Game-Changing Event for the Media Industry

The 2024 Black Owned Media Weekend took over Detroit, bringing together a dynamic group of creators, innovators, and industry leaders to continue amplifying the voices of Black-owned media outlets. And what an event it was!

From June 6th to 9th, attendees gathered to learn from industry experts, share their experiences, and make a commitment to prioritize support and representation for Black-owned media outlets. The energy was electric, and the impact was immediate.

The weekend kicked off with a pre-conference welcome dinner co-hosted by presenting sponsor General Motors. This intimate gathering celebrated our partnership with GM and provided vital space to network amongst industry leaders and diverse media owners.

Program commenced with a warm, Detroit greeting, “What Up Doe!” from the city of Detroit’s director of arts and culture, Rochelle Riley. From there, BOMESI continued on with inspiring keynote speakers, including media mogul Michele T. Ghee, CEO of Expectant Media, and Debra Lee, former CEO of BET Networks. These trailblazers shared their wisdom on the importance of Black-owned media and its potential for growth.

But it wasn\’t just the big names that made this event unforgettable. The conversations were real, the stories were relatable, and the takeaways were actionable. Attendees left feeling empowered, motivated, and equipped to make a difference in their own careers and industries.

A highlight of the weekend was a thought-provoking conversation on the business case for investing in diverse-owned media, moderated by Munson Steed, publisher of Rolling Out. The room was abuzz with debate and discussion as attendees shared their concerns and challenges. And then, there was a moment that will be remembered for a long time: when Michael Riley, head of sales at Nativo, offered valuable advice on how to demand transparency from advertisers.

For Angela McCrae, founder and editor-in-chief of Uncorked and Cultured and one of the newest members of the BOMESI Accelerator Cohort 3, the weekend was a life-changing experience. \”Stepping into the week shining, after Black Owned Media Weekend in Detroit,\” she said. \”My spirit is full from connecting with brilliant and passionate publishers that attended the conference, along with meeting others in my Cohort 3. I\’m grateful to have sat in a room with Black media icons like Debra Lee, Michele Ghee, Grouchy Greg, and so many more.”

But the impact of this event didn\’t stop at the end of the weekend. General Motors took the stage to announce their support for media owners being certified to do business with all advertisers. And attendees left with a renewed commitment to prioritize support and representation for Black-owned media outlets.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors: General Motors, Nativo, Danone, Discover, Mediavine, My Code, Kargo, Burst, and She Media. Their support made this event possible and helped amplify the voices of Black-owned media outlets.

The Black Owned Media Weekend 2024 was more than just an event – it was a movement. And we can\’t wait to see what comes next.