A new non-profit media company is changing how news is brought to Black audiences 

By giving a voice to traditionally marginalised communities, the new venture helps to push forward crucial conversations about race and racism in society today

Spotted: In 2020, there was a dramatic shift in how racial equity issues are addressed – particularly in the US. Reflecting the values of this movement is Capital B, a new non-profit media company dedicated to news for Black audiences.

Co-founded by Lauren Williams and Akoto Ofori-Atta, Capital B launched earlier this year, with both a national news site and a local newsroom dedicated to Atlanta. And the company has plans to expand to more cities in the future.

Thanks to its founders’ vision and drive, Capital B has become a platform for highlighting important issues affecting Black people – and for amplifying underrepresented voices.

For example, the process of gentrification is an issue in cities across the US. In Peoplestown, a neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia, this process is playing out in a particularly visible way. For years, Black homeowners have been fighting against the city’s use of eminent domain to take their property in order to make way for new development. This struggle has received relatively little attention from the mainstream media, but Capital B Atlanta has committed to bring its readers the latest information on this important issue.

Capital B’s founders met while working together at The Root, a digital publication focused on issues facing the Black community. In June of 2020, Lauren and Akoto found themselves reflecting on prominent issues facing the media industry. As they began to analyse the current landscape of Black representation in the industry, they realised that there was still much work to be done to ensure that all voices are heard.

The team at Capital B is not only committed to producing high-quality journalism but also to fostering an inclusive workplace that values diversity and inclusion.

Other publishing and media innovations recently spotted by Springwise include software that automatically analyses the diversity of media content, a platform that rates news reliability and bias, and an app and Chrome extension fighting misinformation.