The media fail to cover black-owned tech businesses

Sherrell Dorsey writes for Columbia Journalism Review about how the mainstream business media have failed to cover black-owned technology businesses.

Dorsey writes, “Today, there are roughly 2.6 million Black-owned businesses in the US. Of those, 8 percent operate within the technical and scientific services field, whose overall growth has brought with it an uptick in media outlets—TechCrunch, Mashable, Engadget, Gizmodo, DigitalTrends, and more—focused on covering the hottest startups, founders, and technologies. Insufficient coverage of Black business leadership—particularly in the technology space—furthers the trope that Black people are only successful in entertainment and athletic industries, argues Dr. Richard Craig, associate professor at George Mason University.

“‘Media is an institution in which we build our self-awareness about ourselves and others,’ Craig, who studies media representation of marginalized groups, says. ‘Being able to control those voices and outlets, it gives us an opportunity to share our stories through those lenses.’ Asked about the importance of newsroom diversity in creating broader channels for coverage, he says, ‘If you don’t experience the culture or certain aspects of life, then you fail to see the relevance in presenting that perspective.'”

Read more here.