Meet Jiquanda Johnson | Media founder, news leader and journalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jiquanda Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jiquanda, how do you think about risk?
If I didn’t take risks, I wouldn’t be here today. I had to step up and bet on me. In 2017, I stepped out on what I call “journalistic faith” to launch a news organization covering my hometown of Flint, Mich. I had no idea where the journey would take me but I wanted to give back to a place that had given so much to me. Five years later, I’m an award-winning journalist including winning my first Emmy. My newsroom has been recognized as publication of the year in the state of Michigan and we’ve managed to bring in a number of accolades for our work.

I really didn’t understand what I managed to accomplish until sometime in 2020 when I realized I am a Black woman who launched a news agency covering a small city. This is something that is typically done by white men.

Additionally, in 2021 I partnered with Facebook now Meta, to produce content for a much-needed project called Black Like Us.

That one risk of mustering the courage to step out on my own in 2017 has definitely positioned me as a media leader in the news industry.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I really don’t know how to explain what sets me apart from anyone else. The way I see is that I’m just a girl from Flint doing something for a community I love that’s invested in me. If I can do it, anyone can. But my biggest obstacle is gaining financial support for the work. It seems like no matter how many awards my newsrooms or I get, we are always asking for help.

As a Black woman and media founder, I had to show what I could do before anyone would give me a dime, unlike my white male peers who had checks signed and cashed before they even had a product. That’s just not my reality. I get the industry respect, gained credibility, and speak about news startups and covering underserved and marginalized communities throughout the nation. But as a Black woman, the love isn’t the same. It wasn’t until 2020 that our newsroom had real investments and that was on the heels of George Floyd’s death.

I’ve proven myself over and over again. I know news. I know communities and I have the determination and know-how to fill news gaps for underserved and marginalized populations. I currently serve as founder and publisher of Flint Beat, a hyper-local media outlet serving Flint, Mich., and I am founder and content creator of Black Like Us. I am preparing to launch other media products over the next two years.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My intial push to do my thing was a gut instinct from God. I guess some would say God spoke to them. But along my journey as a media founder, publisher and content creator I have so many to be thankful for especially my tribe full of Black women that have been holding me down. This list includes my best friend, my mother and a host of others.

To be honest, I don’t know if I would be here if it wasn’t for my best friend, Jameela McCree, telling me to shoot for the stars. At one point I wanted to do something else. I was tired and I thought a career change would provide more stability. I just rememeber her saying, “Quan, I just don’t see you being regular.” So, I stuck with it.

Later I met Tracie Powell, who serves as founder of The Pivot Fund based in Atlanta. Tracie took the lead and introduced to a number of media supporters, leaders and publishers that would help guide my journey.

Website: https://blacklikeus.bulletin.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyjiquanda/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiquanda-johnson/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JNicoleNews

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068296490780