DECISIVE ISSUE 2
The Let Out | Stay Streaming | Worth the Watch | #BBCC: Find your Space and you’ll find Grace
The Let Out
"Network, network, network" is what they say, but let's be honest the real opportunities and advice come when the networking events let out. The Let Out section of the DECISIVE newsletter features three media professionals who offer their unique perspectives as they answer the same three questions. For this issue, I caught up with three journalists, who focus on culture, community, and fashion, respectively —J'na Jefferson, DaLyah Jones, and Mikeisha Daché Vaughn.
J'na Jefferson
J'na Jefferson is a music and culture journalist from the Jersey Shore currently living in a not-so-gentrified section within Brooklyn. Her straightforward, sharp humor, well-rounded observations, and conceptual versatility have been seen on Billboard, BBC, MTV News, The Recording Academy, The Root, Cosmopolitan and more. When she's not writing, she's dancing, exploring the city while trying to breathe through her damn cloth mask, and thinking about Beyoncé.
website: https://www.jnajefferson.com
Q: How did you get your foot in the door in the media industry; what was the defining moment for you?
J'na Jefferson: I always knew I wanted to be a writer. I officially said, "I want to be a journalist" when I was nine years old and never looked back. However, when it comes to how I got my foot in the door, I actually got my start in the comedy writing space. I was a member of one of the last internship classes at College Humor (RIP), and—don't quote me on this—I was the first, if not the only, Black female intern for the site. Midway through that internship, however, I started getting more interested in writing long-form op-eds and cultural criticisms, something I became pretty skilled at in college as a journalism major. So, I started getting my clips and music blog together, and applied, applied, applied.
I became an intern at VIBE in 2015 and started freelancing for Billboard in 2016. I was coming up with some interesting pieces during that time. Still, I think the piece that truly set me apart from others was my deep dive into the lack of female rappers on the bills at music festivals for VIBE, after examining Rolling Loud's (always male-heavy) lineup. This was before the female rapper conversation really started taking over, and after that piece dropped, Rolling Loud started adding way more women to their lineups. (You're welcome, I guess!) That piece showcased my researching abilities and how I can create conversations that can have a lasting impact.
Since then, I've been utilizing all of my interests (hip-hop, pop, R&B, pop culture, feminism, gender, race, identity, and more) to come up with some compelling work. I've written for more publications than I ever thought I would. Some of my pieces have given me opportunities to be on television (Access Hollywood, Yahoo BUILD) and radio (BBC Radio 4) and podcasts as an expert in my field, which whaaaat? September marks five years of me being in this field, and I'm very fortunate to have had a very successful time as a journalist so far.
Q: What would you say has been your most meaningful or your favorite piece of work thus far in your career? Explain why.
J'na Jefferson: I think the most meaningful piece in my career was probably my interview with Tarana Burke with VIBE, which marked the six-month mark of the 'Me Too' Movement. Not only did that piece solidify a few of the hallmarks of my work (writing about marginalized people and the struggles of Black women), but it also made me realize my abilities on the interviewing front. I live for a "Wow, that was a great question," and strive to get one each time I speak with someone; I actually made Tarana Burke cry with this interview. She told me, "You're on your way to something big if you can make people cry right now." I was 24 at the time, so that was really special to me. Truth be told, I'm just nosy!
Another one of those "wow" moments was when Hanif Abdurraqib emailed me out of the blue to let me know he was a fan of my work and wanted me to be the first writer he worked with during his tenure as an editor for Medium's GEN. As many of us do, I struggle with really debilitating imposter syndrome. Mine gets really bad to the point where I throw myself into my work and don't come up for air, food, etc...and it still doesn't always feel like enough a lot of the time. Yet, I'm starting to realize that the work I put in is definitely worth it. While I don't always get the attention I'd hope for my work, I'm getting eyes nonetheless. To have someone like *that*—someone whose words have traveled far and wide and have given him so many incredible opportunities—was checking for me all this time? That was huge for me, and let me know I'm doing something right with my work.
Q: What does your dream job role look like? Explain why that role is ideal for you.
J'na Jefferson: I feel like this answer changes every single day. Some days, I want to be the female Sway Calloway (one of my biggest journalism inspirations growing up because I *still* want to be a VJ for MTV) and have my own radio or TV interview series discussing everything from culture to music to social justice to identity and more. Other days, I want to be like one of my current inspirations, Roxane Gay and make a living off of writing books and articles, and giving back to young people through the power of conversation and collaboration. (Gay has served as a professor at a few institutions, and I often think about becoming a teacher later in life.)
But honestly, at this point in my life, I'm just trying to trust the process and trying to make sure I'm happy taking the ride to get to wherever I'm supposed to be. I just turned 27, and I truly find some of the things I've accomplished within my journalism career really fucking stupefying. I'm really proud of the writer I've become, I'm just getting started, and I'm enjoying the journey.
DaLyah Jones
DaLyah Jones was born and raised a country girl behind the "Pine Curtain" of East Texas. She is currently a staff writer for the state watchdog magazine Texas Observer and a board member for movement journalism organization Press On. Her work can be found at Texas Observer, NPR, Texas Monthly, NBC Think, and more. She also works on side projects like her independent podcast Two&Fro, which speaks on issues and trends related to the contemporary Black southern experience. One day, she hopes to run her own media organization to validate further and provide movement journalism to under-covered communities in the rural South.
website: http://www.dalyahjones.com
Q: How did you get your foot in the door in the media industry; what was the defining moment for you?
DaLyah Jones: So like since I was little, I've always like been obsessed with like, TV. I feel like any zillenial who grew up in front of technology is always obsessed. And all I knew growing up was I wanted to be in this TV box. So I go to college originally for theater and get on the waiting list. And I'm like, 'man, I don't want to wait,' you know that's going to add a semester to college. So I ended up coming across electronic media, which was the journalism major for Texas State University.
During my freshman year, I got an internship doing TV news. I quickly realized TV news was just not my ministry! It wasn't the type of impactful reporting or like storytelling that I wanted to do. So then I started working at my college radio station, KTSW. I worked as a DJ and assistant news director, and from there got my foot in the door. During my last semester in college, I got a job at NPR and started working there for a few years. Most recently, I am here at the Texas observer. It was just honestly all trial and error.
Q: What would you say has been your most meaningful or your favorite piece of work thus far in your career? Explain why.
DaLyah Jones: The work is me. Let me tell you! God is always working on me, and I'm always working on myself. (she says jokingly)
I feel like every piece that I've worked on, whether it'd be good or bad, has always left an impression that I've learned from. So I don't think that there's just like one particular project. I will say joining Press On, a movement journalists organization, led primarily by Black, queer, non-binary, Southern folks seeking to change how newsrooms report on communities. For example:
‘Why is certain terminology not okay to use? Why isn't your newsroom representative of the communities that you live in? Also, are you reporting to feed a monster, or are you reporting to serve the community?’
Joining that organization last year cemented that I'm supposed to be in this journalism world, and I can serve a greater purpose. As a Black queer woman from the South, I don't think that I realized how exhausting white newsrooms are — just how they chose to report on minority communities. That's why I decided to do journalism to pay attention to these communities. Often, they are erasing so many voices and experiences from these areas. And suppose you get justice for people within these rural areas. In that case, it's going to be easier for you to get justice for people within these urban and suburban areas because you're looking at the most desperately impacted communities. When we talk about disasters, poverty, and health care, all of those things will affect people within these areas a lot more. For example, when we talk about Black Lives Matter, these people need to be at the forefront of that conversation. So I wouldn't say that I have one memorable story or idea or thing, but I will say being part of this significant movement has given me a greater purpose.
Q: What does your dream job role look like? Explain why that role is ideal for you.
DaLyah Jones: Ideally, I want to go roam the woods, naked and write all the time. That's what my dream job is if I didn't have to pay bills and have responsibilities! But realistically, my dream job is to run an organization catering to Black and brown queer and disabled communities within rural areas. Combining writing and helping those people and sharing the template for other rural areas would be ideal. If you want to start one in Mississippi, Louisiana, we can make this something we can take from here and spread into other communities.
Mikeisha Daché Vaughn
Mikeisha Daché Vaughn is a 27-year-old culture writer based in Columbus, Ohio. While her work is mostly culture-based, the ways in which it intersects with music and fashion are her Achilles heel. She holds a bachelor's in Fashion and Retail Studies, where she focused on fashion and popular culture, cultural diversity, consumer aesthetics, and more. She has written for Complex, Essence, Okayplayer, Nylon, VIBE, and Teen Vogue, among others.
Portfolio: https://muckrack.com/mikeisha-vaughn
Q: How did you get your foot in the door in the media industry; what was the defining moment for you?
Mikeisha Daché Vaughn: In 2018, I launched my personal website after scraping many ideas for years and quitting a job as a fashion writer for a local magazine. The focus of my website was fashion journalism. I highlighted local creatives, including designers, photographers, designers, and more, making noise and occasionally showcased my personal style. In 2019, I decided I wanted to try my hand at freelancing. Jaelani Turner-Williams, a fellow culture writer from Columbus, gave me tips, tricks, and best practices, including shortening my long-ass pitches.
When Blavity accepted my first two pitches, I was shocked. My fourth article was published in Teen Vogue, and I felt like, wow, I really can do this.
Q: What would you say has been your most meaningful or your favorite piece of work thus far in your career? Explain why.
Mikeisha Daché Vaughn: I really can't narrow it down to just one. There are three that mean a great deal to me, and they are my pieces on Breonna Taylor, Anifa Mvuemba's Hanifa brand virtual fashion show, and how male rappers benefit from stripper culture. I love those pieces, especially because they're about Black women and amplifying their voices and stories. All three of those stories have some aspect where they were ignored or erased, and I took pride in calling people out. Whether that's white people, government officials, Forbes, or Jermaine Dupri — and I'm going to do it every chance I get.
Q: What does your dream job role look like? Explain why that role is ideal for you.
Mikeisha Daché Vaughn: I would love to exist in a space where I could write solely about Black culture through the lens of music, fashion, women's issues, and popular culture. Where I wouldn't have to be confined to just one of those beats, I think that's what excites me about being freelance; I'm no one's fashion writer or music writer. I don't have to choose. I'm able to morph in between those spaces and branch out as I see fit. I think that's why "culture writer" has stuck, but I don't really know if that's it for me either. I just want to tell Black stories.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.*
Stay Streaming VOL. 2
Stay Streaming is a collection of music that has been getting nonstop streams from me as of late. Some artists featured you'll know and love, while others you soon will. Of course, some songs may be old but hidden gems, but one thing's for sure they're all tracks I stay streaming.
Worth the Watch
I've been a big film and TV buff since the first time I opened my eyes. To escape into a world with a little box as I gaze on the screen is my favorite pastime. I grew up watching old black & white films with my grandmother and clung to every line of these fictional worlds from "A Streetcar Named Desire" to action films like "Planet of the Apes." And TV was no different, binging classics like "I Love Lucy," "Good Times," and "Knight Rider." Since growing up, not much has changed, and I still love a great film or TV show, and in this section of the DECISIVE newsletter, I'll be sharing what's worth watching.
Of course, I don't want to cause sensory overload, so I'll be recommending one film and TV show that is a must-see. And I understand how too many options can leave you scrolling for hours instead of watching.
All Together Now
“All Together Now” is a heartfelt film with an amazing cast. The film is about an optimistic high schooler with musical aspirations who must learn to accept help from her friends to overcome her personal hardships and fulfill her dreams. A truly great film and fitting pick to match this issue’s #BBCC piece on grace.
Where to watch: Netflix
Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices
“Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices” is the most wholesome show, I’ve watched each episode and wish I had something like this when I was a kid. Prominent Black celebrities and artists read children's books from Black authors that highlight the Black experience. Conversations center around themes of identity, respect, justice, and action. On the industry side of things, this was such an innovative way to reach a younger audience, especially with a fun educational program during a time when many children will be learning from home.
Where to watch: Netflix
#BBCC: Find your Space and you’ll find Grace
The media landscape is always shifting, but staying prepared and using resources will keep you afloat. But what are these resources, and do you even have access to them? The resources come with the space you build to nurture your career and the grace you give yourself and others along the way.
Media is a cut-throat industry, but that doesn't mean you have to be; everything is not a competition, and you don't have to do it all. Find what you're good at and be the best at it. For me, that's connecting dots and research. I look at everything analytically, whether it's an album review or a social justice news article. I'm dyslexic and have ADHD, so I struggle in what some would think would be journalism basics. But I've learned to turn those things into strengths; due to ADHD, my mind is always running thinking of a billion little details — but the key is realizing little details make up a big idea. And with my dyslexia, things are a bit more creative for me, how I see things and retain information that influences how to present something. So those small details begin to connect to form a more significant idea with tons of information to support it. It's how in the year of a "surgical summer" between Pusha T & Drake, I was able to trace the origins of the beef. It all started with a Vibe Magazine cover story with Lil Wayne claiming to have popularized skate style in HipHop instead of skateboard P himself, Pharrell. So that's my thing, my edge, what I bring to this lexicon of the culture.
Finding that thing no one can take from you is your footing, the security you need to understand this isn't a competition. And once you have that realization, you can build out your space in this industry and find your community. I've recently discovered that footing. I'm building out my community of genuine, kind, intelligent media colleagues who support each other instead of competing for that one seat at the table. And as a Black gay journalist, it's been so reassuring for me to operate in support instead of competition. That's showing grace to others and yourself.
But what do I mean precisely about grace? Grace is the kindness you show yourself and others. When something doesn't go as planned, show yourself grace by pivoting and not beating yourself up over it. The glass is half full, not half empty. Think solutions, not sulk. Grace, to others, manifests is so many ways. You could share the work of a colleague that you admire. You can hire or recommend them for a gig that comes your way but maybe a better fit for them. This practice is possible once we understand what is meant for us will always be. Realizing competition within the media industry can strain careers, professional relationships, and cause personal turmoil.
Since building out my space and practicing grace to myself and others, I've been able to stress less and focus on what's important to me. And that's to remain true to who I am while telling stories I care about and working in as many different roles and never boxing myself in. Within 2020, even in the world's current state, I've interned at Spotify, launched two podcasts, started a newsletter, and added to mailing lists as a media contact for the top PR agencies. This stride of success wouldn't be possible without changing my approach to things and realizing no path is cookie cutter. Finding your thing and nurturing it while being kind to yourself and others will bring clarity for your purpose and career path.