Media Mavens

One of just three Black female late-night hosts on TV, Ruffin is more than just on-point jokes. The comedian’s critically acclaimed late-night talk show The Amber Ruffin Show was nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2021. She also earned several writing nominations for her work with Late Night With Seth Meyers throughout the years. Balancing humor and a sense of urgency for relatable topics, Ruffin has established a substantial base of dedicated fans and admirers.

As the editor-in-chief of British Vogue and European editorial director of Vogue, Enninful is an international media trailblazer who pushes the boundaries of fashion while championing diversity. The Ghana-born Londoner became known in the fashion industry for his edgy elegance and commitment to reshaping global beauty standards. For Italian Vogue, Enninful masterminded the famous “Black” issue, celebrating Black women in fashion, art, politics and entertainment. He has transformed British Vogue into a contemporary platform reflecting the needs of its diverse audience. His debut memoir, A Visible Man, was released in September and chronicles his journey of advocating for diversity in the fashion field and beyond.

Veteran journalist Bennett, a Morehouse College alum, joined PBS NewsHour as its chief Washington correspondent in January. He is among an elite group of diverse White House correspondents who are representative of a new generation committed to their profession’s ethics while creating a new narrative of credibility. Bennett also has worked as a political contributor and White House correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC. In 2021, he briefly became the headline story after displaying emotion while reporting on Elijah McClain, reading the young Colorado man’s last pleas before dying at the hands of law enforcement. “If Elijah McClain isn’t safe, who is,” Bennett declared, reminding us of the need for humility and compassion in media coverage.

An award-winning on-air personality, entertainment journalist and podcaster, Peppers is well-known for her work as a contributor on NBC’s Today. She continues to expand Black storytelling and culture with her nationally syndicated Urban One Radio show and podcast, More Than That with Gia Peppers, where she speaks with a number of distinguished Black celebrities and entrepreneurs. The audio series, launched in February, was created for Black audiences and aims to address the inequities in the advertising supply chain. It provides a marketing platform for businesses to engage consumers through entertaining and informative content. According to Forbes, the platform’s success has translated into $4 million being invested in Black-owned media.

Stepping into the role of president of ABC News, Godwin did more than bring her 35-year career to new heights. She made history, becoming the first Black executive and the first Black woman to not only hold this position, but to helm a major American network’s broadcast news division. Godwin has since navigated ABC News through a variety of corporate obstacles while boldly leading her team in a strategy that targets younger, more diverse viewers.

An Emmy Award-winning journalist, Davis is an anchor for ABC News Live Prime, which is the network’s first-ever streaming evening newscast, as well as World News Tonight on Sundays. She is also a correspondent for Good Morning America, 20/20, Nightline, and World News Tonight’s weekly presentations. In addition, she is an author; her fourth children’s book, How High is Heaven?, was released in February.

An on-screen veteran, Shepherd is a versatile actress, comedian and Emmy Award-winning TV host. Widely lauded for her time as a former co-host on The View, where the team was repeatedly nominated for an Outstanding Talk Show Emmy, Shepherd was among the roster of recurring guest hosts on The Wendy Williams Show in the series’ final season. This month, Shepherd launched her new talk show, Sherri, which she says has been a lifelong dream.

Former national press secretary for Bernie Sanders’ presidential run and former senior advisor and chief spokesperson to Vice President Kamala Harris, Sanders Townsend has harnessed her voice to bring truth to power. She published her first book, No, You Shut Up: Speaking Truth to Power and Reclaiming America, in 2020. A recognizable figure in the political arena, in May, Sanders-Townsend joined MSNBC, where she launched her new talk show, Symone.

As host of MSNBC’s The Cross Connection with Tiffany Cross since 2020, the D.C.-based journalist unpacks the news of the week with fresh, diverse voices from a cross-section of thought leaders. She also served as a resident fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics in that same year. In addition, her résumé is packed with production stints with CNN, BET Network, Discovery Channel and the series America Most Wanted. She is the author of Say It Louder! Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy.

Through a mix of musical numbers, interviews and sketches that challenge America’s discomfort with race, politics and other cultural issues, Ziwe has quickly become a force to be reckoned with. Since premiering her late-night talk show on Showtime in May 2021, the 30-year-old comedian proves that Gen Z has an unapologetic interest in global affairs and can take action in their own way.