Today we’d like to introduce you to Dorian Ducksworth.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From the time I was 13, my ambition was born out of necessity. I started hustling just to keep my phone on and buy the clothes I wanted because, coming from a family of four children, I never wanted to be a burden on my parents. When I was old enough to work, I got a job at Domino’s Pizza, and those years taught me exactly what I didn’t want for my future. I watched how younger employees were treated, how being a good worker meant getting “rewarded” with the hardest shifts, and how much of my high school and early college years I sacrificed just to barely cover my bills. It was in those moments that I realized I wanted more for myself I wanted to build something of my own. I wanted to create wealth, freedom, and a legacy.
That desire became the foundation for Jacksonian Media. What started as a way for me to tell stories and capture people’s life journeys quickly grew into a full scale media company serving clients across the United States. I’ve now worked with over 300 clients, including Desi Banks, Meghan James, Avery Wilson, Charleston White, Dr. Heavenly, and more, with features on networks like OWN.
My heart has always been with underserved communities, so as my resources grew, so did my impact. I launched the Jacksonian Media Institute to pour into students and support the unsheltered in ways I once never thought possible. That mission has taken me to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and I’m working to expand to at least three more states next year. I truly believe part of my purpose is to be a voice for those who feel unheard.
My newest venture in construction, came from that same passion for helping people bring their visions to life. It’s become my most lucrative endeavor yet, allowing me to acquire more assets and continue scaling my impact.
I started with a simple determination not to be a burden. Today, I’m building an empire rooted in service, storytelling, and the belief that where you begin never has to dictate how far you go.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road for me. When I first started back in 2017, I had the same belief that a lot of new entrepreneurs have, I thought I could post my work and people would just show up. I truly believed family and friends would be my biggest supporters. But I quickly learned that a profitable business requires solving a real problem, and that your inner circle will almost never be your primary clientele.
Those first three years were rocky. Before Jacksonian Media came to life, I was trying to find my footing. I launched a company called Dore, and even owned a management company where I worked with models, artists, and actors. But during that season, I started realizing some uncomfortable truths about myself: I was inconsistent, I was sporadic, and I was taking on way too much at once. I wasn’t building strategically, I was just moving.
That’s when I decided that Jacksonian Media would be my reset. My chance to restructure not just my business, but my mindset and my life. I learned quickly that having a reputable name and true business stability makes you attractive to clients. I made a conscious decision to sharpen my skills, elevate my professionalism, and position myself to attract high-profile clients. It took about two years of consistent effort, discipline, and reinvention to break into that level.
One blessing during that time was that I had another lifestyle and venture that could financially support my vision while I grew Jacksonian Media brick by brick. Without that, scaling might not have been possible.
The obstacles taught me resilience. They taught me focus. And they taught me that building something real takes time but the foundation you build will determine how far you can go.
We’ve been impressed with Jacksonian Media, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Jacksonian Media is the conglomerate I built from the ground up, and it serves as the home base for everything I create. While it’s known for its media and film work, it also houses my magazine company and my nonprofit, Jacksonian Media Institute. The Institute is dedicated to teaching film, professional development, and providing resources to the communities we work in with the ultimate goal of stimulating local economies and opening doors for people who are often overlooked.
At Jacksonian Media, storytelling and professionalism are at the core of everything we do. What truly sets us apart is our commitment to creating original content. A lot of companies focus strictly on executing the client’s vision, which means their creativity is limited to the client’s direction. We operate differently. We value creative control because it allows us to craft compelling, meaningful work work that stands on its own and resonates on a deeper level.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the growth of the company, it’s the impact. The lives, the students, the communities, the people who’ve been touched by what we do. Sometimes I don’t give myself enough credit for how far I’ve come and what I’ve accomplished off the strength of faith the size of a mustard seed. The lane I’ve carved out for myself, the caliber of people and businesses I’ve had the opportunity to work with, and the stories I’ve been trusted to tell, it’s all a blessing.
To be in a position now where we’re doing work for companies like Kellogg and for historical institutions across the United States is surreal. It’s a reminder that purpose, persistence, and belief can take you places that once felt unimaginable.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see media moving heavily toward AI, and I believe it’s only going to get better and more realistic. With cellphone cameras becoming more advanced every year, people will soon be able to create smaller projects on their own, photo shoots, short video shoots, social content, without needing a full production team. And honestly, I think that’s great for the average person. It gives people more control over how they tell their own stories and present themselves to their audience, while also helping them save money.
Of course, this shift will affect photographers and videographers to a degree. But even as AI grows, I still believe there will always be a market for skilled creators. There’s something about human vision, creativity, and intentionality that technology can’t fully replace. The industry will change, but it won’t disappear, it’ll just require us to evolve with it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theejacksonian.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorianducksworth?igsh=dTdkbnMzdHMxZmk%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19qZnXSPGx/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Twitter: https://x.com/allhaildorian?s=21&t=C7RPSln1u3M_OjsKLB1UiA
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jacksonianmedia?si=8KcB3yCvK9DKIuju
