The year 2022 was filled with a couple of firsts for Nicki Mayo News LLC multimedia company.
- First documentary
- First proof of concept video
Clients this year included Black Women Unmuted, National Fair Housing Alliance, thinkLaw, Learning Heroes, TV One, The White Dress Project, Spundle, A Meaningful Mood and more.
The EQUITY theme from 2020 and 2021 also continued in 2022. This year also carried the theme of ADVOCACY. Nicki devoted a lot of time participating on panels, podcasts and volunteering with schools in an effort to help teach media literacy and a better understanding of careers in journalism.
Here are a few 2022 #YearInReview highlights.
Women For the Culture’s TheRundown: Nicki Mayo
Nicki Mayo joins the Women For the Culture’s “The Rundown” on February 7, 2022. The Instagram Live series focuses on pop culture, public relations and all things media. Watch more on the https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZr7D6Vh0VU/
#MeetTheMediaMonday : Nicki Mayo
Multimedia maven Nicki Mayo joins Camille Davis for #MeetTheMediaMonday on February 7, 2022. The weekly Instagram Live series spotlights Black women in media and focuses on why representation matters. Camille introduces her viewers to her guests’ career journeys. Watch more on the https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZr7D6Vh0VU/
Advocacy Vs. Objectivity: Black Journalists Talk About If There Should Be A Line Between The Two In The Media On Crucial Subjects.
The George Washington University of Media and Public Affairs hosted a virtual panel discussion on February 23, 2022 entitled, “Advocacy Vs. Objectivity: Black Journalists Talk About If There Should Be A Line Between The Two In The Media On Crucial Subjects.” The Black Press in the United States started out as a voice for the voiceless, advocating for African Americans in the areas of voting rights, safety from white violence like lynching and economic justice and independence. Many organizations – Black, Native American, LGBTQ+, environmental, liberal and conservative – still practice advocacy journalism today, but many mainstream organizations say they want reporters who are objective in their reporting no matter what their background. Should Black reporters cling to this “so-called” objectivity in the face of issues like voting suppression, white nationalism and police violence or is there a line between advocacy and objectivity that reporters should strive for?
Panel:
- Jesse J. Holland, SMPA Assistant Professor, C-SPAN Washington Journal host, moderator
- Keith Woods, NPR Chief Diversity Officer
- Darlene Superville, AP White House reporter
- Nicki Mayo, Black Women Unmuted Editor
- Philip Lewis, HuffPost Senior Front Page Editor
Legacy and Voice: A Tribute to Valerie Boyd
Black Women Unmuted teamed up with Unerased Black Women Speak on April 14, 2022 to celebrate the life, career and spirit of late author and editor Valerie Boyd.
Our stellar panel pays tribute to one of the greatest Black women in literature and journalism. Moderator Joia Jefferson Nuri, PCC is joined by Black Women Unmuted Editor-in-chief Sonya Ross, Joyce E. Davis, Shay Youngblood, Tina McElroy Ansa, Denene Millner, Karen Good Marabel & Sara Lomax-Reese.
Black Women Unmuted Editor at large Nicki Mayo produced, directed and edited this tribute program and the social media campaign that followed.
Learning Heroes – Parents 2022: Education and Parental Support
Learning Heroes’ Founder/Pres Bibb Hubbard sat down for an interview with Nicki Mayo to discuss education and parental involvement. Parents want to help their children thrive in school, but who is helping the parents understand how students are being evaluated? Learning Heroes is working to help parents get a more accurate understanding of their children’s academic progress.
Learn more about Learning Heroes on BeaLearningHero.org.
Read their research: bit.ly/3uyPDbA
Parents 2022: With More Information, Parents Do the Math
Parents 2022: Answers Hidden In Plain Sight
Parents 2022: United on Equity
The White Dress Project
The White Dress Project is on a mission to raise global awareness about the uterine fibroid epidemic through education, research, community, and advocacy. Nicki Mayo News started working with this advocacy group in 2020. In 2022 NMN produced live virtual events, social media campaigns and served as a panelist.
Learn more about The White Dress Project on TheWhiteDressProject.org
Dialogue with the Doctors: Understanding My Treatment Options
Dialogue with the Doctors: The Latest in Fibroid Treatments
Advocacy is Key: Addressing Health Disparities in the Treatment of Uterine Fibroids
HBCU Inspirational Series
There are more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the nation. These institutions of higher education were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African American community. Communications and external affairs executive M. Brandon Frazier shares his HBCU experience at Kentucky State University in a series of social media videos targeting teens interested in attending college. With over 20 years of external affairs, communications, and public engagement experience, Frazier’s career is one of service on behalf of the traditionally underserved, for which he shares equal levels of leadership, aptitude, empathy, and vested interest.
My #HBCU experience was, is, and remains, foundational to my personal and professional life. I had the opportunity to share insight and advice about my time at @kystateu and beyond with current and prospective students, parents, educators, and community leaders; feel free to share the first of this series of videos among your respective networks. I look forward to your feedback, and be sure to visit this page for additional clips to come!
My time at @kystateu provided me with a safe space to develop habits of success, as well as how to deal with failure, how to be resilient and bounce back, and how to ask for help. In part two of our #HBCU video series, I share with prospective and current students some of the ways in which they can elevate their learning to enrich their collegiate experience, both within and beyond the campus itself – enjoy!
College helps you discover who you A.R.E. (Abilities, Resources, Experiences). In part three of our #HBCU video series, I share how my @kystateu experience paved the way for relationships that became familiar, familial, fraternal, and lifelong – enjoy and share! @kapsi1911 @aupnupes @kysuathletics @hbcualum @hbcubuzz @thehundredseven @theksunaa @kstatealumni1886
Who you are is more important than what you have, and in many ways, a college campus is a microcosm of society, where issues are influenced by the will of the people. @kystateu is no exception, and ‘The Yard’ remains an active public square and important culture driver for students to speak out on the issues that matter to them. In part Four of our #HBCU video series, I share some of the reasons why I chose Kentucky State, as well as how the collegiate experience prepares young people to participate in our nation’s civic life as informed citizens, not just spectators – thank you for watching! @hbcubuzz @hbcualum @hbcupridenation @hbcugrad @thehundredseven @sothorotv @hbcuconnect
Homecomings have been celebrated, semesters have been completed, personal essays have been written, applications have been submitted, and, for some, college decisions have been made. In the fifth and final part of our #HBCU video series, I share how both existing and aspiring students can actively invest in their education, demonstrating drive and dedication so others can support their collegiate experience and invest in the value of their future. It has been an honor sharing these clips with you, and I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season – thank you for watching! @kystateu @historicallyblacksince @hbcubuzz @hbcupridenation @hbcualum @hbcugrad @thehundredseven
Spundle Proof of Concept Video (Behind the Scenes)
Get ready for a hair revolution! Divaneering Lab Founder & CEO Shawna Stepp-Jones entrusted Nicki Mayo News to write, produce and direct the proof of concept video for her product Spundle, the blow dryer that defies the rules. This innovative styling tool dries wigs and hair bundles in 15 minutes tops. The video required scriptwriting, producing in two cities with two separate film crews and editing with motion graphics. Learn more about Spundle on MeetSpundle.com.
NOTE: This behind the scenes video comes from social media posts. Hence the filters and graphic overlays.
Open Seat Direct Audio Ad
Open Seat Direct helps event organizers sell tickets – and get paid instantly. Partner and CEO of Open Seat Direct, Michael Collazo hired Nicki Mayo News to produce and edit an audio ad to run on English and Spanish language radio stations and streaming services.
Learn more about Open Seat Direct on OpenSeatDirect.com.
Black Women Unmuted Midterm Election Coverage
All eyes on Georgia! The Black Women Unmuted team zeroed in on the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races during the 2022 Midterm Election season. Editor at large Nicki Mayo edited videos highlighting voter reactions and mobilization efforts.
Watch the coverage on Black Women Unmuted.
Higher Learning Podcast: “All Lives Matter” Discourse
The Higher Learning Podcast Van Lathan and Rachel Lynn Lindsay talk with multimedia journalist and Thought Warrior Nicki Mayo about the discourse coming out of the “All Lives Matter” conversation on the previous episode on Kanye West and Candace Owens (34:03).
BmoreNews.com’s Doni Glover Interviews Nicki Mayo
BmoreNews.com’s Doni Glover interviews Nicki Mayo October 27, 2022. Nicki Mayo has the unique ability to not only connect the dots of history but to also see the broader picture where others do not. She has put in her time, held the journalistic standard, and is carving out her own unique path in the big, bad world of media. A conscientious person who understands the isms of America, she is fearlessly tearing down walls and smashing the glass ceilings that stymied others in the past. She is funny, a lover of natural hair, and a daughter of Baltimore. Oh yeah, NO EXCUSES!
The Rita Womack Story
Veteran educator Dr. Rita Womack celebrated 90 years of life in 2022 with a party and a purpose. Her family invited Nicki Mayo News to find a creative way to share the “The Rita Womack Story.” Somehow we condensed nine decades into a 17 minute entertaining documentary that included comical moments, nostalgia, reflection and tons of inspiration. “The Rita Womack Story” follows the Baton Rogue native through her many milestones, from earning her spot as the first valedictorian of the Capitol High School, to meeting and marrying her husband, starting a family and becoming one of the premier literacy educators in the state of Maryland.
Dr. Womack helped shape the foundation of today’s Maryland literacy curriculum. The documentary script offered the family a chance to share their tender moments and favorite stories of the matriarch. This video project required scriptwriting, two video shoots and editing with motion graphics.
The method behind telling “The Rita Womack Story” was to present her life and accomplishments in a way that will educate her family, fellow Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority members and Alfred Street Baptist Church family for years to come.
This biography style project is the first of hopefully more to come in the future.
National Fair Housing Alliance
Nicki Mayo News produced and edited the annual thank you address for the
National Fair Housing Alliance. In this special message, @ItsLisaRice discusses how NFHA has worked throughout the past year to help millions of families secure their housing. With your support, NFHA can help millions more. https://nationalfairhousing.org/donate/.
You packed a lot into one year! Congrats and keep up the great work!