BET's first original scripted series to premiere in October

Okay, anyone wanna guess what it's about?

Yeah, you over in the corner?

"Um..pimps?"

No, that's a good guess but no. You, sir, with the gold teeth?

"Um...hoes!"

Also a good guess, but that's not correct either.

Slackers. Yup. That's right. Slackers.

I'm trying not to rush to judgment, because I haven't actually seen any episodes or know who's in it. But slackers??? Reggie, that's the best y'all can come up with?

Check out the full article here, at USA Today.

We are a part of the problem...

When I was younger, there were two magazines that I always read: Essence and The Source.

Weird combo, right?

I figured Essence could give me my fix of what was going on with black women even though I was way too young to comprehend much of what was said. I read The Source to learn more about the artists my parents didn't allow me to listen to. I learned about their struggles and what they were trying to say in their music.

But eventually, I stopped reading The Source. The artists became, well, wacker and wacker. And I stopped caring. There was no message.

Check out this interview with Elliot Wilson, editor of XXL magazine, one of the last mags left standing in the hip-hop industry. He's pictured with his fabulous wife, Danyel Smith, editor-in-chief of VIBE magazine.

Here's a little snippet of what Wilson has to say regarding hip-hop and what sells on the newsstands:

"Black and Hispanics started Hip-Hop, people of color making something out of nothing and rebelling against the system. Let’s not forget that Hip-Hop is a rebellious music. It’s like if you not going to let us in we are going to break the door down. Now we fight our need to buy into capitalism and our need to make money and be successful but we’re still the ones that have fought against the system. Whether the music is the most political or just party music, it’s our actions. It’s still based on the “rags to riches” and living the American Dream premise."

Very well, Mr. Wilson, but what about putting artists on your covers who don't demean women or use excessive profanity?

"When I’ve done things that have been against the grain—putting Talib, Mos Def and Dave Chappelle on the cover—it doesn’t sell as well as when I put 50 Cent or Lil’Wayne on the cover. We criticize the lack of diversity but we are attracted to certain types of artists who are charismatic, over the edge, drama. The balance comes from the internet and smaller Hip-Hop magazines, which don’t worry as much about sales. On the web there are so many blogs and sites that champion smaller or lesser known artists and bring them to the forefront."

So what does that tell us? There is enough blame to go around: record labels, artists, consumers. We are all a part of the problem.

Please support my friends...

Head on over to Giant magazine's online home, giantmag.com to check out an article by esteemed colleague Charreah Jackson, titled, Are Black Girls Out of Style?

I met Ms. Jackson last summer, when we were both interns in the American Society of Magazine Editors internship program. We didn't hang out much during the 10-week stay (Ms. Jackson, a Howard student, was busy getting her network on and I, being 5 months preggers at the time, tried to stay out the heat as much as posslbe) but we still talk now. I even asked her to watch out for my little sis who decided the HBCU experience was too good to pass up.

She is major. And she's still in college. You can check out her blog, Queen to Be, to read more about how fab she is.

So what does that tell you about her future?

It's bright!

Let me go put my shades on!

Journalisticks.com aims to help journalists of color excel...

Journalists of color looking for an online home, meet Chloe A. Hilliard.

This prolific journalist and former news editor of The Source has created Journalisticks.com, a networking website that caters to the careers of minority journalists.

“It’s like MySpace meets MediaBistro,” Hilliard says.

Journalisticks.com has sections for writing opportunities, message boards, and user-generated content. Since March 1, Hilliard says the site has about 115 registered members, but she expects that number to grow in the coming months.

“I have a lot of lurkers,” she says. “Once people get more comfortable with the site and see that it’s reliable, I think they will join.”

Hilliard says she is really pushing for college students to contribute to the site.

“Our biggest challenge is getting people to submit content. I’ve gotten things here and there and I’m looking for journalism students of color who can benefit from having their work published,” she says.

The newbie site averages about 8,000 hits a day.

Hilliard has written for such publications as The Source, King, Vibe and Vibe Vixen.
In addition, she also edits books for Triple Crown Publishing, the company behind popular street fiction books Let That Be The Reason and Street Dreams.

Hilliard says the best thing a new journalist can do is make contacts.

“It’s so important to cultivate relationships,” she says. "It’s important to show them you’re interested and can think on your feet. Seek out a mentor. Invite them to lunch, send them an email. Don’t worry if your work isn’t up to par. It’s all about starting those relationships. Reach out to people even if you think they’ll say no.”

For now, Hilliard is primarily focusing on Journalisticks.com, but she says her ultimate goal is to “touch on all aspects of media.”

“I want to continue writing, strengthen my voice as a writer,” she says. “I want to continue to do speaking engagements. I want to write a book. I want to have a free-flowing media career. I don’t want to be pigeonholed.”

The power of blogging...

I love blogging for the same reason I decided to study journalism and make it my career in life. I love how words can create action. Can change people's minds. Can stir up emotions we didn't even know were there.

Words can do all of that.

By now I know you've heard of the Shaquanda Cotton case, the 14 year old Texas girl who was sentenced to 7 years in prison for shoving a hall monitor.

When I was browsing blogs and came across the name time after time, I knew it was only a matter of time before something good came out of it.

This morning on MSNBC, I heard about how the governor of Texas is being flooded with calls and letters from concerned people all over the country, asking him to step in on Shaquanda's behalf.

This is what keeps me blogging day after day. Sure, the majority of blogs are about celebrities, or pointless musings about a blogger's day, but a lot of blogs have power. They can change things.

A big thank you to those who cared enough to blog about Shaquanda. I know she thanks you too.

VibeVixen is really stepping their game up.....

I really like this new cover of VibeVixen.

I haven't been too fond of this magazine in the past, but now I can actually say I wouldn't mind writing for them. Their website isn't half bad either.

In the cover article, Janet talks about (what else?) having a baby with Jermaine Dupri and of course her brother. What I really want to read about in a Janet Jackson interview is how she feels about her lackluster album sales and her relevance in an industry where the hot new thing is the hot young thing.

I haven't actually read the magazine yet, but I might have to browse through it next time I see it on the newsstand. If anyone's read it, let me know how it is...

Thanks to Concreteloop.com for the photo.

BET to receive an upgrade?

I don't really remember exactly when I stopped watching BET. Maybe it was freshman year of college, senior year of high school. I'm not sure.

But I do know that I outgrew the channel. There just wasn't anything interesting enough to keep me coming back day after day. I had seen all the Jamie Foxx and In Living Color episodes the first time they came on. The music videos were all the same - it's like they said, "[Insert name of rapper] stand here, big-booty girl dance there, bring in the insanely expensive jewelry and rented cars, throw your cash around......aaannnnddd ACTION!" Every single time.

But now the Washington Post is reporting that BET is getting a boost in funds for original programming. Which is great news to me. I think BET is having the same problems as Ebony and some of the other black media outlets. They've done the same thing for so long that are on the verge of being obsolete. What's current about BET? Nothing really.

In the Washington Post article, they talk about some new shows, such as "Wifey" starring Queen Latifah and Terrence Howard. An animated show voiced by Vin Diesel is also in the works.

But what about news? Good movies? Specials with our favorite entertainers that actually make us think? I hope BET can make some much-needed changes. I'm excited to see what will come of it...

Journalisticks.com - why didn't I think of this?

An online community for journalists of color. Man I had that idea about two weeks ago and now I see it already exists.

It was founded by Chloe A. Hilliard, who has written for such publications as The Source, King, Vibe and Vibe Vixen and appeared on news programs CNN Headline News’ Prime News, Our World with Black Enterprise and ABC News Now’s Speak Freely. (Man I wish I could say all that. One day I will. )

“As an editor at an urban publication, I had a difficult time finding young writers of color. There was no one place to find them. This site will change all of that,” Hilliard said.

She's inviting young journalists to come on board and submit content.

All I can say is sign me up!