Calling all aspiring journalists! Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand are about to bless you in a huge way.
The basketball legend has made a $1 million commitment to fuel the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting’s efforts to bring more diversity to the field.
Announced in May, the grant will allow the Society to build a summer journalism program at a Historically Black North Carolina college, further its college internship partnerships, as well as launch a yearlong high school journalism project at a majority Black and Latina public high school located in Jordan’s home state of North Carolina.
“Investigative reporting is the most important reporting in our democracy,” said Society co-founder Nikole Hannah-Jones in an official release shared with AfroTech. “It’s the reporting that holds power accountable, that unearths the way it’s wielded, that tells the stories that people don’t want [to be] told. Our democracy is in crisis as politicians are advancing a wave of voter suppression laws across the country and journalists must step up to be the firewall of our democracy. That makes the work we do as a Society and the substantial support of Michael Jordan and the Jordan brand so critical in this moment.”
No stranger to philanthropy, Jordan and the Jordan Brand’s gracious 10-year, $100 million Black Community Commitment pledge continues to support economic and social justice, education and awareness. The latest initiative will be huge for those at the forefront of sharing our stories.
“This grant will help the Society create a pipeline of talent for the media industry that is reflective of the country we live in,” continued Society co-founder, Ron Nixon. “That pipeline of diverse talent is a potent force for combating racial injustice in this country.”
Click here to learn more about the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting and how they plan to use the funds.
