NewsOne has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Howard University’s Cathy Hughes School of Communications. The Bison ONE Newsroom represents the first-of-its-kind collaboration between a national media corporation and an HBCU journalism program. This historic initiative aims to support and platform the next generation of Black journalists.
The partnership was announced on October 20, 2025, by Kirsten West Savali, Vice President of Content at iONE Digital. The newsroom will feature student journalists working under Dr. Stacey Patton’s guidance. Dr. Patton is a renowned, award-winning journalist, author, and professor at Howard University.
Cathy Hughes School of Communications Partners With Urban One’s NewsOne
The Cathy Hughes School of Communications carries the name of a media pioneer. Hughes founded and chairs Urban One, NewsOne’s parent company. Urban One holds the distinction of being the largest Black-owned media company in the United States.
This partnership honors the power of HBCUs as incubators of cultural and political transformation. Howard University has long trained influential Black journalists and communications professionals. The collaboration provides students with unprecedented access to a national media platform.
The Bison ONE Newsroom builds on previous successful collaborations. NewsOne and Howard University previously partnered on iONE Digital NewsOne x Bison 2024 Election coverage. That experience laid the foundation for this expanded, permanent partnership.
Black Journalism Tradition Guides Bison ONE Newsroom Mission
The newsroom roots itself in the tradition of legendary Black journalists. Ida B. Wells-Barnett serves as a primary inspiration for the initiative. Her work at the Memphis Free Speech demonstrated both righteousness and rigor in journalism.
“Having lost my paper, had a price put on my life, and been made an exile from home for hinting at the truth,” Wells-Barnett wrote. “I felt I owed it to myself and to my race to tell the whole truth.” This commitment to truth-telling guides the Bison ONE Newsroom’s mission.
The initiative also honors historic Black media institutions. Publications like Freedom’s Journal, the Woman’s Era, and the Chicago Defender paved the way. The New York Amsterdam News, Los Angeles Sentinel, and Negro World all contributed to Black journalism’s legacy.
Why Black Voices in Media Matter More Than Ever
Mainstream media continues to suppress, distort, and criminalize Black voices. Artificial Intelligence increasingly dominates the media landscape today. Meanwhile, misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly across platforms.
Savali emphasized the critical nature of this moment for Black journalism. “It is critical that Black journalists committed to excavating intersectional truths and holding them up to the light are supported and platformed,” she stated. However, this support rarely materializes in mainstream media.
Black journalists have always risked their lives to tell the truth. Today’s political climate makes their work even more essential. Targeted communities need authentic voices documenting their experiences and perspectives.
Student Journalists Receive National Platform Through Partnership
The Bison ONE Newsroom provides student journalists with real professional experience. They’ll create content for NewsOne’s national audience while still in school. This exposure prepares them for careers in media and communications.
Dr. Stacey Patton’s mentorship ensures students receive exceptional guidance. Her award-winning journalism career provides practical insights into the industry. Students learn from someone who has navigated mainstream media successfully.
The multi-media experience blends in-depth journalism with real-time coverage. Students will also practice heartfelt storytelling that centers Black humanity. These skills prepare them to disrupt narratives that obscure Black people’s experiences.
Creating a Blueprint for HBCU and Media Partnerships
The Bison ONE Newsroom serves as a pioneering blueprint for future collaborations. It demonstrates how Black institutions can create innovative, lasting partnerships. Other HBCUs and media companies may follow this model.
The partnership shows what’s possible when Black institutions stand together. Collaborative efforts create opportunities that might not exist otherwise. Students gain access to resources that enhance their educational experience.
This initiative represents something more than just a student program. It’s an investment in the future of Black journalism and media. The partnership ensures that Black storytelling continues for generations to come.
Resistance and Revolution Through Black Journalism
Savali described the newsroom as an expression of resistance and revolution. “This is what legacy looks like—what resistance, revolution, and audacious, Black brilliance looks like,” she wrote. The partnership represents a commitment to preserving Black voices.
Current political conditions make this work even more urgent. Authoritarian forces attempt to silence dissenting voices across the country. However, as Savali notes, “they can never imprison our thoughts, nor incarcerate our voices.”
These emerging journalists join a sacred tradition of Black media. Their voices echo generations of freedom fighters who came before. They also breathe life into those who will come after them.
Supporting the Next Generation of Truth-Tellers
Savali urged audiences to actively support these student journalists. “Join us in celebrating and supporting these student leaders,” she wrote. Readers should absorb their words and videos with respect and attention.
The students’ perspectives deserve serious consideration and engagement. “Respect their perspectives; listen to their hearts,” Savali encouraged. Young journalists bring fresh insights to pressing social and political issues.
Times remain perilous and the road ahead looks treacherous. Nevertheless, Black communities have always had each other. This solidarity sustains journalism that serves the people rather than power.
The Authors of Our Own Stories
The Bison ONE Newsroom represents Black people authoring their own narratives. Too often, others tell Black stories through distorted lenses. This partnership ensures authentic Black voices shape how history remembers this moment.
NewsOne honors the responsibility of passing the mic to emerging journalists. These students will shape public discourse for decades to come. Their work today influences how future generations understand current events.
“We are the authors of our own stories,” Savali declared powerfully. “Let it be written.” The Bison ONE Newsroom writes a new chapter in Black journalism history.
Building Something That Belongs to Black Communities
The partnership creates something innovative and lasting that belongs to Black communities. Black institutions collaborating produce results that serve their own interests. This model prioritizes community needs over corporate profits.
The newsroom disrupts narratives that attempt to obscure Black humanity. When Black journalists tell Black stories, the truth emerges clearly. Authentic representation requires authentic voices behind the storytelling.
This initiative demonstrates what’s possible when vision meets commitment. Savali’s long-held dream of paving the way for young Black journalists becomes reality. The Bison ONE Newsroom fulfills that vision while creating pathways for future journalists.
