The iHeartMedia spoken word network focused on African American issues and insight, with a Black perspective, is getting a distribution boost from the company’s national radio arm.
Premiere Networks is now offering in syndication the national news service from iHeartRadio’s recently launched BIN: Black Information Network.
Now available to stations nationwide, “Black Information Network News” features 60-second newscasts at the top and bottom of the hour, as well as breaking news.
At the mic: “experienced and award-winning African American journalists such as Vanessa Tyler, Mike Stevens, Madelyne Woods, Morgyn Wood, Mike “Devin” Dunston, Tanita Myers and Julius White.
Some 20 inaugural affiliates began offering Black Information Network News on Labor Day.
Among the stations now airing the newscasts: WVON-AM in Chicago; KMAZ-LPFM in Houston; noncomm KMOJ-FM/Minneapolis; and stations in Fayetteville, N.C.; Lafayette and Monroe, La.; Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tenn.; Athens and Valdosta, Ga.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Plattsburgh, N.Y./Burlington, Vt.; Waco, Tex.; Salisbury, Md.; Berwick, La.; and Greenwood, Miss.
WVON is owned by Midway Broadcasting Corp.
“WVON is pleased to add the Black Information Network (BIN) as our national news source,” said the company’s Chair and Executive Officer, Melody Spann Cooper.
“WVON’s 24-hour Black talk format is an important and impactful voice in the Chicago market, and BIN is the perfect complement to keep our vibrant local community aware of what’s happening across the country.”
Premiere Networks President Julie Talbott added, “We’re excited to offer this news service from a Black point of view at a time when credible news and information is more important than ever. Black Information Network News expands on our commitment to deliver industry-leading news coverage, and we hope it helps bridge the divide in our nation by increasing communication and understanding.”
Social justice initiatives designed to bring long-needed advancement of positive change to the nation’s African American community have surged to the forefront in the weeks since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police Department officers.
But, is it “trendy,” or is it representative of a real sea change?
What role does Black Media play in this … and what exactly is Black Media.
Those topics were addressed across a lively, hour-long digitally delivered discussion with key Black media leaders in the first-ever Black Media Symposium, a RBR+TVBR online event presented by Triton Digital.
This FREE event can be viewed on-demand on both YouTube and on Facebook.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/W0UYV5-fs9s
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2805662963047493
Serving as co-keynoters were journalists Ed Gordon and Roland S. Martin.
Other participants included Circle City Broadcasting owner and WISH-8 and WNDY-23 in Indianapolis GM DuJuan McCoy; Chesley Maddox-Dorsey, CEO of American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) and Superadio Networks; Omar Thompson, a Principal for Dallas-based marketing strategy firm 1Nine Marketing & Media; and Karen Slade, Vice President and General Manager of KJLH-FM 102.3 in Los Angeles.
