From shaping the national conversation to redefining how stories are told and consumed, these influential Black media professionals are leaving an indelible mark on the industry.
Our current media landscape is undergoing significant transformation and disruption. Across the industry, newsroom layoffs, corporate restructuring, shrinking editorial budgets, and the rise of independent media are changing not only how stories are told but also who gets to tell them. For Black journalists and media professionals, these shifts carry particular significance, especially as experienced reporters, editors, and storytellers navigate an increasingly uncertain industry. Now, recognizing the people who continue to shape its direction, influence its narratives, and expand its possibilities matters more than ever.
Yet, despite these challenges, Black media professionals remain instrumental in informing the public, influencing culture, holding institutions accountable, and creating new pathways for storytelling. From traditional newsrooms and broadcast television to digital platforms, podcasting, and entertainment, their contributions extend far beyond the headlines. They are building platforms, cultivating audiences, challenging conventional narratives, and ensuring that Black perspectives remain an essential part of the cultural conversation. Recognizing their work is not simply about celebrating individual accomplishments; it is about acknowledging the voices, leadership, and perspectives that continue to move the industry forward.
This year’s EBONY Power 100 Media Mavens honorees represent the breadth and influence of that impact. From executives transforming the business of media to journalists delivering consequential reporting and cultural commentators shaping real-time conversations, these trailblazers demonstrate why Black voices, leadership, and ownership remain essential to the industry’s future.
Aria Hughes
Editor-in-Chief, Complex
As editor-in-chief of Complex, Aria Hughes is helping shape the next generation of cultural journalism through her coverage of fashion, entertainment, and the conversations influencing mainstream culture. She also brings her editorial instincts to the Please Explain podcast, where her ability to engage guests and unpack complex subjects has established her as a leading voice in contemporary media and executive leadership.
Dr. Louis Carr
President, BET
With four decades at BET, Dr. Louis Carr brings extensive business and advertising expertise to his role as president, guiding one of the most recognizable brands in Black entertainment into its next fruitful chapter. A 2023 Advertising Hall of Fame inductee, he previously generated more than $10 billion in advertising sales as president of media sales and continues to invest in the industry’s future through the Louis Carr Internship Foundation and his company, WayMaker Media.
Garrison Hayes
Journalist and Creator
As a documentary filmmaker and independent journalist, Garrison Hayes uses storytelling to explore race, culture, and history while helping audiences better understand their connections to the present. A two-time NABJ Salute to Excellence Award recipient and three-time Webby Award winner, he has expanded his reach through his 2024 book, A Kids Book About Juneteenth, and his 2026 show, About That Life, which spotlights influential Black historical figures.
Jason Lee
Founder and CEO, Hollywood Unlocked
As founder and CEO of Hollywood Unlocked and host of The Jason Lee Show, Lee has built an impactful, multifaceted presence across entertainment, pop culture, and civic leadership. Beyond television and digital media, he established the Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards and Hollywood Cares Foundation, using his platform to celebrate cultural influence and support underserved youth.
Josh Johnson
Emmy-Nominated Writer, Comedian and Actor; NAACP Award Winner and Rotating Host of The Daily Show
Josh Johnson has established himself as one of contemporary comedy’s most distinctive voices, earning five Emmy nominations as a writer for The Daily Show, where he also serves as a rotating host and correspondent. With his HBO comedy special, Josh Johnson: Symphony, an 11-million-follower YouTube audience, and his Comedy Band Camp Tour, Johnson continues to demonstrate how comedy can entertain audiences while delivering incisive cultural and political commentary.
Omar Jimenez
CNN Anchor and Correspondent
As a CNN anchor and correspondent, Omar Jimenez has covered consequential national and international stories spanning politics, criminal justice, immigration enforcement, and sports, including his reporting during the protests following George Floyd’s murder, when he was handcuffed and detained while covering the demonstrations. He later led the network’s coverage of Derek Chauvin’s trial and conviction, earning his first National News & Documentary Emmy Award, and has continued to expand his reporting through projects including The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper and the CNN Presents podcast Tortured Justice with Omar Jimenez.
Rachel Lindsay and Van Lathan
Co-Hosts, Higher Learning Podcast
Since launching their three-time NAACP Image Award-nominated podcast, Higher Learning, in 2020, Rachel Lindsay and Van Lathan have created a platform for candid conversations about the stories shaping politics, entertainment, sports, and culture. Through their distinct perspectives, humor, and willingness to challenge one another, the duo offers audiences thoughtful analysis and spirited debate in an increasingly crowded podcast landscape.
Sheinelle Jones
Co-Host, Today with Jenna & Sheinelle and New York Times Bestselling Author
A member of the Today family since 2014, Sheinelle Jones has become a trusted broadcast presence, connecting with audiences through breaking news, human-interest stories, and candid conversations about life, motherhood, and grief. In 2026, she stepped into a new chapter as co-host of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, while her literary debut, Through Mom’s Eyes, dedicated to her three children, became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller for four consecutive weeks.
Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels
Co-Hosts, MS NOW’s Clock It with Symone & Eugene
Bringing complementary perspectives shaped by years in political communications and journalism, Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels have become influential voices across MS NOW programming, co-hosting The Weeknight and The Weekend, respectively. In February 2026, they launched MS NOW Presents: Clock It with Symone and Eugene, a weekly podcast that breaks down the people, issues, and cultural conversations shaping the national landscape.
Tonya Mosley
Co-Host, NPR’s Fresh Air
As co-host of NPR’s Fresh Air, Emmy and Webby Award-winning journalist Tonya Mosley has earned recognition for her thoughtful interviewing style, including her widely circulated 2026 conversation with Oscar-nominated actor Delroy Lindo about a racially charged incident. Beyond Fresh Air, Mosley hosts the Truth Be Told podcast and the audio documentary She Has a Name, while continuing to champion human-centered storytelling through her production company, TMI Productions.