Many media outlets dedicated to serving black communities view their role as multifaceted. They must capture the history Harris could make if she, a black woman of Indian and Jamaican descent, became the first female president — even as Harris herself has avoided focusing on her identity. Additionally, they must clearly articulate what a Harris and Trump presidency would mean for Black communities, with context and nuance. This approach builds on the tradition of black media, which was created in the absence of black perspectives in white-run mainstream publications.

Black media “plays a unique role not only in ‘This happened today, this happened today,’ but also in how that relates to the longer period of “America, broadly speaking, and the Black American experience,” said Cheryl Thompson-Morton, director of the Black Media Initiative at the City University of New York.

Black media in the United States, which date back until the early 1800s, have a long and proud history of advocating for desegregation, racial justice, and voting rights.

For many Black publications, this advocacy for their communities continues today through impactful journalism. In his mission statement regarding election coverage, Capital B said, “Too often, mainstream newsrooms gloss over or ignore issues that matter to Black communities. . . . We aim to correct these oversights and omissions.

Black-owned publications such as The Bay State Banner in Boston build on the black press tradition of recognizing “the history that we present to our people as a representation of their true worth, their value, their its image and respect,” said Ronald Mitchell, Banner’s co-owner, editor and publisher. This contrasts with how mainstream publications have historically portrayed black people with stereotypes or derogatory images, he said.

In a recent column urging black men to support HarrisMitchell touted his policy proposals to support black entrepreneurs and criticized Trump “and his white supremacist political allies.”

“What exactly and explicitly did he do for black people? For black men? Mitchell wrote. “Okay, additional funding for historically black colleges and universities. That’s about it, and it’s a traditional symbolic measure that Republican administrations have taken for a very long time.”

The Bay State Banner endorsed Harris in a recent editorialand Word in Black, which brings together 10 Black-led publications, including New York Amsterdam News, endorsed Harris in July. Essence and Capital B did not approve.

For the Banner and other black publications, continuing the tradition of the black press means covering Harris fairly while highlighting the historic moment if Harris wins, even if it doesn’t highlight it as much as “I am with her” by Hillary Clinton. Feminist messages, but unsuccessful.

“A historic publication like Essence should not be overlooked in capturing the historic nature of the campaign,” said Melissa Noel, senior editor for news and politics at Essence, a magazine that has served black women since 1970 . “We know it’s monumental.

Noel said the outlet had prioritized stories such as what Harris’ presidency would mean for black women and she the impacts of the “opportunity economy” plan on black women and people of color. The magazine also covered the history what Harris does and she journeyincluding photos of her growing up.

At Capital B, Virella touted the outlet’s “Black Political Power Tour,” where journalists traveled to Philadelphia, Phoenix and other cities to connect with voters and its coverage of campaign voter outreach black people across the country. One story tells how Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz traveled to Savannah, Georgia for the first presidential campaign visit since the 1990s. Black Georgians in rural areas told Capital B that they “felt seen” by the countryside after the visit.

“This story really resonated with our audience,” Virella said.

During this election, many Black media outlets also sought to highlight the divisions within their communities in sensitive and nuanced ways.

While Most Black Americans Support Harris – Recent New York Times/Siena College Study survey found that 78% of likely black voters plan to vote for her – there are others who don’t. Some black voters, including some young people, consider Harris not progressive enough. Others adhere to Trump.

Recently, major media outlets seized on this poll, which also showed that only 70% of black men supported Harris, a drop from 85% favoring Biden in 2020.

Aaron Foley, editor-in-chief of the New York Amsterdam News – one of the oldest black newspapers in the country – said black media outlets have an imperative to avoid overgeneralizations and place statistics in appropriate context. That includes not publishing headlines that exaggerate recent polls, he said, such as, hypothetically, “Black Men Are Skeptical of Having a Black Woman in Power.” »

“It would be taken and published with this saying, ‘Oh, here’s a black newspaper saying all black men do it,'” Foley said.

Many Black media outlets instead published articles reframing the conversation, such as the Capital B story: “What’s missing from the headlines about black men’s support for Harris” which acknowledges the decline in polls, but points out that black men are poised to become the second most supportive voting bloc for Harris after black women.

The election comes at a time when the Trump and Harris campaigns are leaning heavily on alternative media, betting that podcasts and influencers can reach unengaged voters better than established media. In recent weeks, Harris has spoken with black media figures such as radio host Charlamagne tha God and podcast hosts such as “All the Smoke” to reach potential black voters, particularly younger ones, who are generally not tuned into political news.

Some media outlets understand this strategy, but still believe it is important for Harris to speak with Black journalists in Black media to make commitments to their audiences and answer important questions from Black voters.

“We recognize where we are in the landscape,” Foley said. “But we would also like to recognize our own heritage as one of the oldest black newspapers in the country. . . and we think it would be impactful if we could just get a moment of the candidate’s time.

Harris sat down in July with Caroline Wanga, CEO of Essencewhich asked questions about the vice president’s education, but also about black maternal mortality and how black women can exercise their power on Election Day.

“For over 50 years, Essence has been teaching this member of the human community called the Black woman that she possesses a power that simply must be unleashed,” Wanga said. “Madam Vice President, you are speaking to the most powerful voting community.”

“That’s true,” Harris responded, before urging Essence readers: “I don’t hear No. And you don’t hear No either.”

Aidan Ryan can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him @aidanfitzryan.