Georgia Fort
BLCK Press
St. Paul, MN USA
"I know if I [tell a story], I’m going to do it right and I’m going to do it in a way that uplifts people, that humanizes them, that holds space for who they are."
Career Roadmap
Georgia's work combines: Journalism, Television, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
When I first started as a reporter, there were certain unspoken truths that you had to adhere by. For example, it was expected that I straighten my hair rather than wear it natural. We're also told to be more conversational, but they really mean to be more conversational in a white way. Like other industries, the journalism industry still needs to do a lot of work. The moves we're making toward equity and diversity continue to push the industry in a better direction.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Business Administration and Management
University of St. Thomas
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I started my career in radio, working as a radio personality, interviewing artists and celebrities, and reporting on concerts.
2.
As I got older, I wanted to work in a space with more substance, so I transitioned into TV news.
3.
I started as a multimedia journalist, which taught me a lot about the industry and gave me the confidence and tenacity that really set the stage for my career.
4.
I worked my way up to news anchor, where I continued to amplify voices that were typically ignored and used my platform to make a difference in my community.
5.
After getting displaced from my job when I had a baby, I was determined to keep doing what I loved even if I couldn’t do it through traditional outlets.
6.
This ultimately pushed me to become an independent journalist.
7.
In 2021, I founded BLCK Press, a now two-time Emmy award-winning media news company that tells stories about Black and brown communities across America.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You need to conform to certain standards to succeed as a journalist.
How I responded:
When I first started as a reporter, there were certain unspoken truths that you had to adhere by. For example, it was expected that I straighten my hair rather than wear it natural. We're also told to be more conversational, but they really mean to be more conversational in a white way. Like other industries, the journalism industry still needs to do a lot of work. The moves we're making toward equity and diversity continue to push the industry in a better direction.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was displaced from my job as a news anchor when I had a baby. This pushed me to ultimately become an independent journalist. I told myself that I'm not going to quit on the thing that I love to do even if I can't do it in a traditional way.