The Publicists, the Editors, the Readers, the Hidden Gems . . .
Miles Marshall Lewis
Regina Jones
Bruce Talamon
Felix Contreras
Willard Jenkins
Leonard Pitts Jr.
H. Zahra Caldwell

From New York: Media Watch
Apply to the Chauncey Bailey JoC Reporting Fellowship
July 31: Deadline for Poynter’s Program on Child Welfare
Aug.  3: Truth and Disinformation in the Middle East
Aug. 9: Deadline for Pitches for IRE’s Online AccessFest2026
Aug. 12-16: NABJ Convention in Atlanta
Aug. 13: Deadline for Applying for SPJ Foundation Grant
Aug. 25-26:  AI x Visual Journalism Forum
Aug. 29:  Zoom on Disappearing Black Colombia

Sept. 2: Zoom on “Bringing Readers Back”
Sept. 10-13: NLGJA 2026 National Convention
Sept. 14: Deadline for Investigative Journalism Applications

JOBS
From these journalist organizations
Rebecca Aguilar’s Journalism Job Openings: ‘The July List’
From the Uproot Project
From the Maynard Institute (July 23)
From South Asian Journalists Association (July 30)
From Washington and Lee University via Eric Deggans
From Society of Professional Journalists (July 29)
From the Guardian U.S. (July 29)
From the Lemon Media Network, via NYU (July 29)
From LinkedIn (July 11)

Homepage photo: Billie Holiday at the Downbeat in New York, circa February 1947. (William P. Gottleib/Ira and Leonore S. Gershwin Fund Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)

“The hip hop journalist who was inside Vibe, XXL, and The Source when magazines ran the culture . . .  sits down with Lawrence Ross for a masterclass in music journalism, Black literature, and hip hop history.” (Credit: YouTube)

The Publicists, the Editors, the Readers, the Hidden Gems . . .

What’s it like to be a music journalist? From Downbeat to the Village Voice, Soul, Vibe, the Source, XXL, AllHipHop.com and niche and mainstream publications before and after, these venues have provided space for those with a burning desire to explore this universal cultural expression.

We’ve assembled some who can tell is what’s it like chronicling and critiquing the musicians, dealing with the publicists, persuading editors and readers, discovering those hidden gems and keeping up with the trends.

You can join us Monday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. Eastern in person in Washington, D.C., or via Zoom.

With us so far:

 Miles Marshall Lewis, cultural historian of the Hip Hop Museum, pop culture critic, essayist, literary editor, fiction writer, and music journalist. Miles is the author of the cultural biography “Promise That You Will Sing About Me: The Power and Poetry of Kendrick Lamar”; “There’s a Riot Goin’ On,” a book on the making of the seminal 1971 Sly and the Family Stone album of the same name; a memoir about growing up with hip hop in the Bronx, “Scars of the Soul Are Why Kids Wear Bandages When They Don’t Have Bruises“; and an upcoming book on the life and comedy of Dave Chappelle. He is also the former series editor and founder of Bronx Biannual, an urbane urban literary journal of fiction and essays.

 Regina Jones, co-founder and publisher of Soul newspaper, the world’s first soul music-focused publication.

Its archives are housed at UCLA. ” ‘The SOUL Legacy’ was created to preserve, collect, exhibit, and share the rich history and cultural heritage of Black entertainment documented in SOUL Newspaper and Soul Illustrated Magazine from 1966 through 1982,” she writes. “My current goal is to create an ancestral history book for my 14 grandchildren and other interested family members. Future goals: write and publish the SOUL story, and complete a couple novels.”

 Bruce Talamon, photographer who started out with Soul, and was our guest at Roundtables on Jesse Jackson (last December) and on his own photography of “R&B royalty” in 2022. Bruce traveled with the 1984 and 1988 Jackson campaigns. At the 2022 Roundtable, Bruce displayed photos that were part of his exhibit, “Hotter Than July,” at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. (Credit: Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)

 Felix Contreras, co-creator and co-host of “Alt.Latino,” NPR’s pioneering radio show and podcast celebrating Latin music and culture since 2010. “There is a long history of music going beyond enjoyment to have a much deeper meaning for a particular moment in history,” Felix has said.  When Beyoncé crossed over into country music, “Alt.Latino” presented the history of Latino artists making country music. It’s that kind of show. (Credit: Jeanine L. Cummins at our December 2023 Roundtable on Cuba.)

Willard Jenkins, artistic director of the DC Jazz Fest, author of “Ain’t But a Few of Us” (Duke University Press, 2022), “of dialogues with Black music writers – primarily jazz writers, though the majority of us have contributed on other genres in addition to jazz music – on their respective journeys & challenges. The premise of the book is that while Black contributions dominate what we know as American music, there has been a decided dearth or lack of Black writers published on this music, and the challenges my book contributors faced getting in print.”

Leonard Pitts Jr. describes working with Soul newspaper, which he edited, in this 2008 interview. “Soul was backstage at the entertainment industry. Soul was your ticket to places you otherwise could not go. . . . Somebody was holding them to account. Somebody was saying, ‘you know, that there’s meaning to this, and here’s what we think it is.’ ”  (Credit: YouTube)  

Leonard Pitts Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning former syndicated Miami Herald columnist who got his start in the business writing for Soul newspaper. “Sounds like too much fun. Count me in,” Leonard messaged.  Here are some of Leonard’s books. This is his goodbye column for the Herald in December 2022.

Also in the room:

H. Zahra Caldwell, author of “The Fiercest King: Five Black Women in Art, Performance and Resistance, 1937-1965,” who has written about musicians and music.

Who’s in?

You can RSVP by hitting “reply” to this message, if you’re receiving this by email, or by messaging

< jroundtable5 (at) gmail.com >. Please specify in-person or Zoom.

Zoom information and D.C. location come after RSVPs.

From New York: Media Watch

HOSTS: Robert Anthony, Alan Singer, PhD, and Eric V Tait Jr:

Discuss/assess: Todd Blanche (as AG) Confirmation Hearings tied to continued DOJ assault on Journos and Press Freedom AND its outlandish “Settlement” with tRUMP over the release of his taxes (which a Fed Judge has referred to the NY Bar Assn for possible sanctioning of Mr. Blanche); Hegseth’s wacked out “Testosterone Testing” for the US Military (can’t make up this stupidity); Rep. Ro Khanna “detained” by Israeli West Bank Settlers and dissed by the IDF; Rahm Emmanuel calls out Netanyahu and Israel for allowing itself to become a global pariah by allowing the Netanyahu govt to run amok in Gaza and the West Bank.

From Investigative Reporters & Editors

Apply to the Chauncey Bailey JoC Reporting Fellowship

IRE is now accepting applications for the Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship, a year-long program designed to support and prepare journalists of color for strong careers in investigative reporting.

The fellowship provides extensive training, mentorship and data support, including attendance at an IRE Data Journalism Bootcamp, NICAR Conference, IRE Conference and AccessFest.

The application deadline is Sept. 1.

Learn more and apply.

APPLY

July 31: Deadline for Poynter’s Program on Child Welfare

• Application deadline: July 31, 2026

Covering Child Welfare: A Journalist’s Guide to Impactful Reporting (September 2026)

Aug. 9: Deadline for Pitches for IRE’s Online AccessFest2026

Join Investigative Reporters and Editors for our fifth-annual, virtual-by-design conference. The conference will provide professional development opportunities that focus on diversity, belonging, equity and inclusion issues within the newsroom and in news coverage. AccessFest will also feature some of the best sessions from past NICAR and IRE Conferences, including tried-and-true data skills and investigative techniques.

Remember: You must be a current IRE member through October 31, 2026, to attend the conference.

Expired members must renew their membership before registering for the conference. Not an IRE member? You can apply online.

From Francisco Vara-Orta, interim deputy executive director:

It’s been wonderful to see the excitement and engagement around our virtual programming grow year after year. Last year we had almost 500 people attend the event globally and appreciate your support in the past as a speaker, attendee, and/or partner related to the conference!

This year, we’re back online October 8 -10, 2026. Our team is working hard to make the conference even better, but we always welcome your help and feedback. What topics are you interested in? Which speakers would you like to hear from?

Let us know by Sunday, August 9th using this pitch form.

Registration is locked in for professionals at $76 (in honor of the year of our 1st IRE conference) and $26 for students (to commemorate the year we’re in) until the event for greater accessibility.

Aug. 12-16: NABJ Convention in Atlanta

Fresh off the celebration of our 50th anniversary, Atlanta stands as the ideal host city for NABJ’s 2026 Convention & Career Fair.  . . . 

JOBS

From these journalist organizations

• National Association of Hispanic Journalists

• National Association of Black Journalists

• Asian American Journalists Association

• Poynter Institute

• Society of Professional Journalists

• Public Media Jobs

• Online News Association

Rebecca Aguilar’s Journalism Job Openings: ‘The July List’

From the Uproot Project

Job Opportunities

• NEWSWELL, Climate, Environment & Water Reporter
• CalMatters and Grist, Climate Reporter
• Bay Journal, Environmental Reporter
• The Times-Picayune, Environmental Reporter
• NYT, Climate Policy Correspondent
• CalMatters, Indigenous Affairs Reporter

Fellowships & Grants

• The Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship (see other notices)
• ProPublica, Emerging Reporters (deadline August 17th)
• The Fulcrum, Fall Fellowship (deadline August 2)
• Pulitzer Center, Climate Storytelling Accelerator (deadline August 14)
• Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance, Media Fellowship Program (deadline July 30)
• Pulitzer Center, Our Work/Environment Reporting Grants

From the Maynard Institute (July 23)

Jobs and Fellowships 

The Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship: Established in 2019, the Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship supports journalists of color interested in investigative journalism. Over the course of the year, fellows receive IRE training, mentorship, data services and support — with the goal of producing an investigative reporting project to help their community. Applications are due September 1st!

Solitary Watch Solitary Reporting Project Grant: Solitary Watch is offering grants to journalists and nonprofit newsrooms working in all media with the goal of expanding public awareness and understanding of solitary confinement in U.S. federal and state prisons, local and tribal jails, immigration detention centers, and juvenile justice facilities. Grants are meant to cover both payments to journalists and reporting expenses, and will range from $1,000 to $3,000.  Applications will be accepted on a quarterly basis, on January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31. The first deadline is July 31, 2026.

Senior Health Reporter, El Tímpano – San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Election reporter, Flatwater Free Press – Remote/Hybrid, NE

California Reporter, ProPublica – Remote/Hybrid, CA

Food Reporter, the Baltimore Banner – Baltimore, MD

CityCast Pittsburgh, Creative Producer – Pittsburgh, PA

Newsperson (Global News Intern, Race and Ethnicity Reporter), The Associated Press – New York, NY/Washington D.C.

Charlotte Documenters Program Manager – Charlotte, NC

Editor-in-Chief, Investigate Midwest – Remote, Midwest

Education Reporter, Santa Rosa Press Democrat – Sonoma County, CA

Politics, Policy and Power Correspondent, Lookout Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz, CA

Senior Digital Multimedia Journalist, NBC4 Washington – Washington, D.C.

Visuals Editor, MPR News – Saint Paul, MN

From South Asian Journalists Association (July 30)

From Washington and Lee University via Eric Deggans