Students from across USC filled Annenberg’s Sheindlin Forum today with laughter and empty stomachs as they gathered to lunch and learn about how to use their unique skills to advocate for diverse voices in media.
USC’s Charlotta Bass Journalism and Justice Lab, inspired by the legacy of Charlotta Bass, was created to uplift and preserve the legacy of Black media and storytellers. Today, they hosted a conversation with Niele Anderson, multimedia journalist and founder of PLB Media Inc.
Anderson, a South Central local known for her efforts to inform and empower viewers through multimedia and civic engagement, came to talk with students about the power of representation in media and her personal advocacy journey to help uplift Black voices through her work.
“Civic participation is 365,” Anderson told the audience. It’s not just a presidential election. It’s how we contribute to our community, to our state and to our nation. It’s how policies and things are shaped.”
During the event, Anderson discussed her career as a journalist and entrepreneur. Anderson created her own production company in 2024 and previously served as a correspondent for one of the most prominent Black newspapers on the West Coast, the Los Angeles Sentinel.
“Do I have the paycheck that Joy Reid had? No,” said Anderson. “But the one thing that I do have is a community that understands that our voice is important, our stories are important, and half of our stories aren’t even reported on. And so to stay centered in that and focused on that is the most important thing for me.”
Anderson emphasized that the use of Black press is the best way to counter any false narratives that mainstream media paint.
“This nation has never been equal when it comes to how people of any color are portrayed,” she said.
A notable point Anderson made was the importance of a career pivot. She noted that, after switching majors from theater to journalism, she began volunteering to register voters and ultimately landed a job hosting a radio show.
“Make sure that you are not so focused on one thing, [and] that you are not afraid to pivot to get to that one thing that you want to get to,” said Anderson. “I hope that you all took away social skills. Put the phone down a little bit. Close the computer a little bit. And have some meaningful conversations.”
Audience member and first-year Master’s in Specialized Journalism student Rosaura Wardsworth said that the conversation with Anderson reminded her of how important minority media is for underserved communities. “Outlets like the Black Press and The Sentinel speak directly to cultural issues that mainstream platforms often overlook,” she said. “Niele Anderson was such an amazing speaker … The conversation also underscored that authentic relationships, not just transactional ones, are at the heart of good journalism, and that representation in these spaces really matters.”
Anderson recounted a personal story about her own experience participating in one of the most recent Freedom Rides in Jena, Louisiana. She drove from Los Angeles to Jena with a bus full of colleagues in an attempt to free one of the Jena Six.
Anderson described how her mentor scolded her upon her return. “She said, ‘y’all done raised all this money. Took all these contributions from these people. Rode that bus down to Jena. And y’all left the boy in jail.’ We left him in,” she said. “She was like, ‘During the civil rights time, the pastors would have stayed. They would have fasted. You would have had other organizations there until that boy was released.’ And the lesson she wanted to teach me was that when you start something, you finish it.”
First-year Master’s in Specialized Journalism student La’Shance Perry, another panel attendee, felt that given the current political climate, it was very important to have today’s conversation. “It was really enriching to hear Niele share her career experience and tips for navigating the current industry,” she said. “It really resonated with me when she shared her personal freedom ride she took because it is a reminder that history is being made right now.”
Despite the changes that Anderson has already seen in media representation, she still believes there’s much to be done.
“What I’m hopeful to see is that we as Black Americans begin to see that the world is bigger than what we know, that we’re able to become global citizens and see what else is out there,” said Anderson.
Anderson believes things can improve as long as younger generations and older ones work together. In doing so, she believes that media production can become a more inclusive and understanding place for all. But she knows, in these times, it won’t be easy.
“What frightens me is for my niece and nephew. They are seven and ten. And they have to grow up in this world that I don’t even recognize anymore, and that I feel is going backward instead of forward.”
To reverse course, Anderson says, “it has to be all of us in this fight together.”