Black journalists need your support.
When we talk about systemic racism, police brutality and white supremacy in the U.S., Black journalists’ voices are critical to producing nuanced, balanced reporting. Yet Black journalists remain vastly underrepresented in the news industry, comprising just 6.56% of newsroom staff and leadership (ASNE). And when newsrooms ask Black journos to put their lives at risk to report on racial injustice, they rarely provide resources for them to process the trauma incurred both on the job and in daily life.
Founded by Sonia Weiser in May 2020 as a response to widespread protests for racial justice in the U.S., the Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund (BJTRF) provides assistance for Black journalists facing financial hardship who are unable to pay for the mental health support they need during this time. In June 2020, the BJTRF teamed up with the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) to expand the Fund’s reach and continue supporting Black journalists of all genders, ages, experience levels and backgrounds.