Media Mogul In The Making: Meet K.B. Denis

Media mogul in the making, K.B. Denis. Photo provided by K.B. Denis.

This week’s featured media mogul in the making is the founder and editor-in-chief of Black Boy Bulletin, K.B. Denis. Learn more about K.B.’s journey below.

You are a multi-talented individual dipping and dapping in a bunch of other expressive fields. So, what was it about journalism or media that piqued your interest?

“In high school, I was writing for the school newspaper and literary journal. I ended up serving as Editor-in-Chief of the latter and Media & Culture Editor of the former. Writing has always been one of my first loves, so I think it was kind of obvious that I would pivot to journalism and media. I’m constantly amazed at how the media can shift conversations and control narratives and minds. Whether it’s pop culture critique, film analysis, or politics, I’m all over it. While I can always express myself emotionally through poetry, singing, and acting, journalism gives me away to express my thoughts and feelings analytically. It forces me to compartmentalize and really dig into why certain things are important or why certain things provoke the reactions that they do.”

How did you get your start in the media field? Did you study communications in college? Internships? Hobby writing?

“I’ve been writing since I was a kid. Whenever there was an opportunity to write for a media outlet, I took it. Middle school newspaper, High School Newspaper and Literary Journal, and now my own site!”

Tell us how you built up your platform. What’s your mission/goals? Who’s your audience?

“I launched Black Boy Bulletin in the summer of 2017. A friend’s mom gave me the idea to start my own platform after reading a piece I wrote about Beyoncé’s Lemonade in my school newspaper. My intent was always to create a platform focused on reviewing and analyzing media from my perspective as a young Black man. I always want my Blackness to permeate through my writing. Blackness is not a monolith and my specific Black experience greatly impacts how I interact with different global events and works of art. Another one of the goals with my site was to highlight up-and-coming artists of color. Through New Artist Spotlight, I’ve been able to give a platform to a slew of rising rappers, R&B maestros, and pop stars. My audience is basically anyone who is interested in what I have to say. To be more specific, my target audience is internet stans. I gained a sizable platform on Twitter from them by covering the artists that they care about and delving into the depth of pop music in a way that is fresh and exciting.”

So far throughout your career, what has been your proudest personal media moment?

“I think I have a few proud moments. One of them is when I started getting sent press releases from record labels. It really shook me up because it meant that people were really paying attention to the work that I was doing and valued my platform! This year, I put out an article titled, ‘This Is Why ‘Saving Pop Music’ Is An Anti-Black Sentiment’. The piece went viral on Twitter and a bunch of editors and staffers from my favorite media news outlets reached out to me praise my work. Finally, I got to launch a column with AwardsWatch, an entertainment site that I had been following for years. That was a surreal moment for me!”

What advice would you give aspiring mediapreneurs looking to enter the field?

“Don’t get discouraged by engagement numbers. You likely won’t be an overnight success, but if you consistently put out quality content and build a relationship with your readers, you’re set. Sometimes I’ll put out a piece or an album review that gets 4 total views and the next day I’ll put out something that goes viral and makes my site crash for a bit. Ultimately, none of it matters because I’m staying true to what I want to write and that is more powerful than any number.”

Connect with K.B. Denis on Instagram to keep up with him. Follow Black Boy Bulletin on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. To view the latest posts on Black Boy Bulletin, visit https://blackboybulletin.com/.

The Independent Entertainment Media Coalition is a 501(c)(7) non-profit organization dedicated to provided financial, educational, and professional resources for freelance media figures. Help in our efforts! To make a donation, please click HERE!

Media Mogul In The Making: Meet Dana Belfleur

Media mogul in the making, Dana Belfleur. Photo provided by Dana Belfleur.

This week’s featured media mogul in the making is the co-host of the Rants and Revelations podcast, Dana Belfleur. Learn more about Dana’s journey below.

You are a multi-talented individual dipping and dapping in a bunch of other expressive fields. So, what was it about journalism or media that piqued your interest?

“Contrary to many of my peers in the industry, I’ve never considered myself creative or expressive. I’ve always thought I was a black and white person– one who thrives off logic as opposed to creativity. Digital media, specifically YouTube and podcasts, piqued my interest because they can be used as educational tools to provide truth and knowledge. I can tell my story in a nontraditional format and connect with my viewers and listeners to encourage them to conquer their own challenges.”

How did you get your start in the media field? Did you study communications in college? Internships? Hobby writing?

“Interestingly enough, in elementary school and high school, I was part of the media team. I served as the student morning news anchor and in high school was also able to produce, write some news pieces and worked the teleprompter. I enjoyed doing that so much, I applied to Florida State University to study broadcast journalism. However, that was my back up plan because my heart was set on Spelman College. Once I got into Spelman, I chose a different major then started my YouTube channel less than a year after graduation.”

Tell us how you built up your platform. What’s your mission/goals? Who’s your audience?

“I now have a podcast called Rants and Revelations with my best friend from highschool, Michelle Benjamin. We decided to work on this project together because it was a fun outlet to share our stories. What started as a passion project, now has a detailed 3 year plan to target Black, millennial women who are in different stages of their lives. Whether single or married, a mother or forever the rich aunt, corporate professional or entrepreneur– we believe we all have a story. More importantly, we know we can achieve our individual goals with a strong support system, even if it is a virtual one (ours is the RandRTribe). Our podcast is called Rants and Revelations because we get to have funny, genuine conversations that allow us to grow, evolve and learn (hence the Rants). And we get to reflect on lessons learned so that we are able to achieve our best selves (hence the Revelations). Our top goal is to encourage our listeners to evolve right along with us.”

So far throughout your career, what has been your proudest personal media moment?

“My proudest media moment, hands down, has been starting Rants and Revelations. Getting it off the ground was hard work and putting ourselves out there was even harder  However, the response and support we’ve gotten so far shows me we are doing exactly what we’re called to do: help women learn, laugh and evolve– together. I cannot wait to see where this journey takes us; hopefully, it’s on a screen near you!”

What advice would you give aspiring mediapreneurs looking to enter the field?

“First, you have to figure out exactly what your end goal is. Once you’ve decided that, come up with a game plan on how to accomplish this goal. Put together a list of mentors who’s done it and take tips from their paths. Once you’ve set your mind to it and you’ve created your plan, like Nike, just do it! It is intimidating to come into this field if you feel like you don’t have enough experience or the right pedigree but when you’re walking in your purpose, everything is aligned and it works out. Be committed to your own success, have the self discipline to work hard, and as you grow in your career always thank those who helped you get to where you are and make room to pay it forward for those who are up and coming.”

Connect with Dana Belfleur on Instagram to keep up with her. Follow Rants and Revelations on Instagram. To view the latest of Rants and Revelations, visit https://anchor.fm/rants-and-revelations.

The Independent Entertainment Media Coalition is a 501(c)(7) non-profit organization dedicated to provided financial, educational, and professional resources for freelance media figures. Help in our efforts! To make a donation, please click HERE!

Media Mogul In The Making: Meet Corein Carter

Media mogul in the making, Corein Carter. Photo provided by Lawrence Locke.

This week’s featured media mogul in the making is content curator, podcaster, and journalist, Corein Carter. Corein is the host on budding podcast Play on Words with her work being featured on platforms such as XO Necole, Blavity, Sheen Magazine, and Business Blurb. Learn more about Corein’s journey below.

You are a multi-talented individual dipping and dapping in a bunch of other expressive fields. So, what was it about journalism or media that piqued your interest?

“I’ve actually been writing since I was in the 5th grade. I started doing poetry which I became very good at and it landed me the opportunity to be nationally published in a poem book at the age of 11 years old. My passion for expressing myself thru writing was a love of mine, so much so I went to college to study mass communications with a focus on journalism at Winston Salem State University.”

How did you get your start in the media field? Did you study communications in college? Internships? Hobby writing?

“After college, I didn’t see many opportunities available for me at the time to share stories of POC’s in the magazine industry. I felt discouraged by the lack of opportunities and discrimination at the time and essentially gave up on my writing dreams. After several failed attempts to secure an internship at some of the known publications we are all familiar with, I went on a six-year hiatus where I wrote nothing, not poetry, not journal prompts nothing at all. I focused on traveling the world as a flight attendant with hopes of making my way up in the rinks of corporate in the company I worked for. In 2016 I had a life-changing event occur that turned me back to writing as a form of therapy. I started journaling more often and creating stories and came across an old college friend who inspired me to take writing seriously again. I felt empowered thru writing and wanted to tap back into it. In 2018 I started my own blog/podcast called Play on Words that helped get me back in the groove of writing and media.”

Tell us how you built up your platform. What’s your mission/goals? Who’s your audience?

“I built my platform up initially thru my personal blog and podcast Play on Words. I have a very raw, rare, and real style of writing and podcasting. It’s sort of an “in your face’’ style where I would hold nothing back but still leave my followers with a message to receive. People seemed to Love It! That boosted my confidence enough to reach out to local magazines. In 2019 I started off writing for The WERK Magazine when I was living in Atlanta, it was a great opportunity to get my feet wet and launch my professional writing career. I currently write for four large publications as a contributor. xoNecole, Blavity, Sheen Magazine, & Business Blurb. My mission is to tell authentic stories of POC’s rather it is dealing with current news, relationships, social justice, mental wellness, or motivational tips that will help other people stay inspired. My audience is millennial women and men of color between the ages of 25-34. I like to call them young professionals.”

So far throughout your career, what has been your proudest personal media moment?

“My proudest personal media moment would have to be becoming apart of For(bes) The Culture group. It’s a branded partnership with Forbes including a group of young professionals, who are banding together in the community to share resources, tools, knowledge, and opportunities with likeminded POC. The amount of support, comradery, and opportunities this group has extended to me thus far is beyond what I could have asked for as a climbing journalist in the game.”

What advice would you give aspiring mediapreneurs looking to enter the field? 

“My advice would be “Stay Patient with Yourself”. What you ultimately desire will be yours in due time. I learned thru this process of breaking into media it’s necessary to give yourself room for growth and life understanding. Timing is key. If was to start my writing career straight out of college my focal point in writing would be a lot different. Allow yourself room to mature as a person and an artist b/c that’s essentially what writing is. It’s a form of art thru words. Write a story even if you feel it’s bad, you may have an ‘AHA” moment, later on, realize that material is relevant or worth using accordingly.”

Connect with Corein Carter on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with her. To view her latest work, visit https://linktr.ee/inlivingcolored.

The Independent Entertainment Media Coalition is a 501(c)(7) non-profit organization dedicated to provided financial, educational, and professional resources for freelance media figures. Help in our efforts! To make a donation, please click HERE!