Last week media mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs announced the launch of “REVOLT Black News,” a show that delivers the news from the Black perspective.
The show is the latest addition to Diddy’s REVOLT TV, a music-centered digital cable network founded in 2013. Amid the pandemic REVOLT aired “The State of Black America & Coronavirus,” a town hall meeting focused on increasing the dialogue around how COVID-19 health disparities are affected the Black community. With positive feedback from viewers, Diddy decided it was time to develop a permanent news outlet.
“When I started REVOLT I always wanted to develop a platform to report the news from our perspective, from our lens, from our people, so I decided to launch ‘Black News,'” said Diddy in a video press release.
As state-issued stay-at-home orders remain in place, many feel the restrictions taking a toll. Diddy aims to provide much need resources on what the Black community can do during this time.
“We’re here with solutions. We’ve already heard about what we can’t do, but what can we do?” Diddy said.
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The need for a Black news outlet is in demand and other media titans, like J.C. Watts Jr., are stepping up to the plate to provide such platforms. Earlier this year, Watts launched the Black News Channel (BNC), the nation’s only provider of 24/7 news coverage dedicated to covering the unique perspective of African American communities.
Although BNC is aimed at African Americans, many are skeptical about the broadcast station and Watts’ Republican background. In a Mashable interview, Angela Ford, founder of the Obsidian Collection, expressed her hesitation towards BNC.
“The Black community is quick, we are very protective and instinctive. It’ll take like two hours to see if this is us or not… Because America is so challenging we have an instinct about whether we’re safe or not or what the agenda is,” Ford told Mashable.
Unlike Watts, Diddy’s reputation in the Black community adds an element of trust among Black viewers. Diddy’s track record of being a voice for the people was put on display earlier this year when he called for more diversity and inclusion from the Grammys’ Recording Academy. Stances like this only adds to his credibility to deliver true culturally appropriate Black news.
According to Radio Facts, “REVOLT Black News” will air live every Sunday at 8 p.m. EST on REVOLT’s YouTube and REVOLT TV. The show will feature top experts in their field and address topics like how to strengthen your immune system, personal finance, and mass incarceration.
Check out the first episode of “Black News” below.
