Today we’d like to introduce you to Ritha Pierre.
Hi Ritha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Black Ivy Media is a socially conscious media brand seeking to change the narrative of the Black Diaspora through digital media. Our mission is to challenge people to think critically beyond their perspective! We inform, educate, entertain, and inspire.
Blacky Ivy Media has been in existence formally since Jan 2020, but in reality, it began in 2017 when I started FREEda’s World podcast. In 2018, I was given an opportunity to join WJMS radio, where I created and hosted the show According to RP. From there, I continued to create weekly content for FREEda’s World, discussing issues facing professional women of color in the workplace. For According to RP, the content was focused on social justice, hip hop beefs, and anything Black community.
In 2019, I decided to take things to a higher level and expand. Aside from the podcasts and radio shows, I started curating in-person and virtual events. These included spoken word, networking, panel discussions, etc. I wanted to produce documentaries and create spaces for written works.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has certainly not been a smooth road. Starting up a media brand in this age of social media is not as easy as one may think. The competition is real. You have to stay on top of the trends, hot topics, new algorithms, new platforms. You have to make sure that you create enough content to get people’s attention and keep their attention. I find that people love to tune into the crazy ratchet stuff, but for whatever reason, when it comes to serious issues, they are not so interested in tuning in. So then, we have to think outside the box and create content in a way that will reel them in.
Another major struggle is time. I work full time as an attorney and have other projects and nonprofit organizations that I run. As I am essentially a one-woman show, sometimes it can be overwhelming balancing everything at one time.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The main thing to know about our brand is that everything we create has a goal in mind. Our content will either motivate, inspire, inform, or challenge you to think. We talk about the things that people do not want to talk about but need to talk about. Topics such as the adultification of Black girls, sexual assault, inequalities in healthcare, the maternal health crisis, etc. With the help of college interns, we create content that is changing lives and shifting perspectives.
Right now, we are focused on a few things. We are currently working on our life panel on Black Women and Fertility. This will be live-streamed on Thursday, March 24 at 7:30 PM on our Facebook and Youtube pages. We will have about 3 to 4 more virtual lives streamed events for the year. We hope to finish our documentary on professional Black women and anxiety this summer. And we are planning for our annual Poetry in the Park and Rooftop Vibes spoken word events in the summer and fall.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think anytime you step out on your own to create something new, you are taking a risk. But what makes or breaks you is how you approach risk-taking. It is important to take risks, especially in the creative space. However, it is a bit tricky when you are both technical and creative. I am risk-averse by nature (most lawyers are). So for me, it is about taking calculated risks. I see risks as necessary for any business to succeed. Anyone can come up with an amazing idea, but how are you moving forward with this idea? This is where risks come in. Investing money in your venture is a risk; putting in time and effort is a risk. But it’s necessary.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@blackivymedia.com
- Website: www.blackivymedia.com
- Instagram: blackivymedia
- Facebook: blackivymedia
- Twitter: blackivymedia
- Youtube: blackivymedia
