Disruption Interruption podcast host and veteran communications disruptor Karla Jo Helms interviews David Lee, Founder and CEO of Ebony Ascent — and discovers how Lee’s disruptive approach to Black entertainment media is transforming how African American communities are connecting.
(Tampa Bay, FL) July 19, 2022— While the African American population is growing in the U.S., most media within the country grossly underrepresents this group. When there is representation, it is often based upon stereotypes. According to data, 70% of respondents in a survey stated that Hollywood films often give into stereotypes when portraying racial minorities. This issue is not only found on-screen. Approximately 75.2% of employees in TV newsrooms are white, and in radio news, a meager 5.1% of the workforce in 2017 were African American. In the publishing industry, figures gathered around the same time show that 87% of employees were white, in comparison to only 2% African American.¹
Additional research performed by McKinsey & Company reveals the glaring disparity in the representation of the Black community via media. In its research, McKinsey discovered that fewer Black-led stories are told, and these projects are consistently underfunded and undervalued even when they are. The fact is that Black professionals are grossly underrepresented in executive decision-making roles throughout the media industry. A stunning 87% of TV executives and 92% of film executives are white.²
David Lee is on a mission to provide a space to empower the potential of his own culture through one unified source of real information, insights, and media. Through the founding of Ebony Ascent, Lee is leading the way in developing a space where authentic conversations can take place, where Black-led stories can be told, and where a community can be built.
Born a disruptor, Lee has always questioned and analyzed the world around him, never content with the status quo. During a lucrative career in the tech industry, Lee was hit with his own moment of disruption — the realization that he was extremely unhappy and was conforming to a norm that left him profoundly dissatisfied. After stepping out of this role, Lee decided to found Ebony Ascent. What would begin as a space for Lee to share his financial and business insights became a powerful disruption in the Black entertainment media market.
During this compelling interview, Lee explains:
The strong need for authenticity in a world where people are continually conforming and how this authenticity will lead to valuable conversations.
The way Ebony Ascent grew to become a place for important topics to be discussed in ways that connect with the African American community on a deep and rich level.
How culture is much bigger than just race, and the critical importance of communicating with your culture in the language you understand.
The exciting ways in which Ebony Ascent is empowering creators and showcasing important stories, such as highlighting women and people of color in tech.
Why the content Lee and those participating in his platform are creating is not about views and likes, but instead is about true engagement and connection.
To continue to hear from the biggest Industry Disruptors of today, tune into Disruption Interruption. Through this podcast, learn what has motivated innovative individuals to effect real change in their industries and find out how they tackle opposition to transformation.
Listeners can access Disruption Interruption via the Podbean app or find the show on Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
About Disruption Interruption:
Disruption is happening on an unprecedented scale, impacting all industries — MedTech, Finance, IT, eCommerce, shipping and logistics, and more — and COVID has moved their timelines up a full decade or more. But WHO are these disruptors, and when did they say, “THAT’S IT! I’VE HAD IT!”? Time to Disrupt and Interrupt with host Karla Jo “KJ” Helms, veteran communications disruptor. KJ interviews bad a**es who are disrupting their industries and altering economic networks that have become antiquated with an establishment resistant to progress. She delves into uncovering secrets from industry rebels and quiet revolutionaries that uncover common — and not-so-common — traits that are changing our economic markets… and lives. Visit the world’s key pioneers who persist in success despite arrows in their backs at www.disruptioninterruption.com.
About Karla Jo Helms:
Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR™ Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors™.
Karla Jo learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the line — and how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen, or another is brutally rejected. Being an alumni of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators, and the media to help restore companies of goodwill back into the good graces of public opinion — Karla Jo operates on the ethic of getting it right the first time, not relying on second chances and doing what it takes to excel. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception.
About David Lee:
In the past 15 years, David Lee has come to understand the complexity of digital identity, and he’s built a career helping executives understand it too. Although David Lee started his career as an Enterprise Architect and thought leader, after answering a life-long personal conviction to help others, David now teaches families and individuals to achieve financial literacy and security.
References
Amy Watson, “Minorities in Media in the U.S. – Statistics & Facts” November 19, 2018, https://www.statista.com/topics/3342/minorities-in-media/#dossierKeyfigures
McKinsey & Company, “Black representation in film and TV: The challenges and impact of increasing diversity.” March 11, 2021, https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/Black-representation-in-film-and-tv-the-challenges-and-impact-of-increasing-diversity
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Media Inquiries:
Karla Jo Helms
JOTO PR™
727-777-4619
jotopr.com
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