About Us

The Black Belt News Network serves Dallas, Marengo, Perry, Lowndes and Wilcox counties with award-winning coverage on a robust digital news site and across a range of social media assets. We also produce the region’s only live newscast. Our coverage focuses on community news and issues related to civil rights, infrastructure, economic growth and environmental justice. 

MISSION:

At the Black Belt News Network, our mission is to inform, empower, and amplify the voices of Alabama’s Black Belt communities by providing free, high-quality journalism rooted in truth, equity, and local impact.

VISION

We envision a thriving Black Belt where every resident is informed, heard, and connected through trusted local journalism. As a woman-led, community-powered newsroom, we strive to be a beacon for rural news innovation. Our goal is not just to report the news, but to nurture a more just, informed, and vibrant future for generations to come.

CORE VALUES

Community first: We prioritize the needs, voices, and stories of the Black Belt. We are rooted in service to the community, and our staff lives in the community we serve.

Integrity and Independence: We hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethical journalism. Our reporting is honest, accurate, and free from political or corporate influence.

Accessibility: Everyone deserves access to quality news. That’s why we offer our content free of charge, in formats and platforms that meet people where they are digitally and in real life.

Local leadership: We believe that the people best equipped to tell the Black Belt’s stories are those who live and work here. We invest in our own community and elevate community members to correspondents and trusted storytellers.

Collaboration: We work hand-in-hand with community members, partners, organizations, and fellow journalists to ensure our work reflects the diversity, complexity, and richness of the Black Belt.

Empowerment through information: We believe knowledge is power, and informed communities are stronger, more engaged, and more resilient. We serve as a resource for the community.

SUPPORT OUR MISSION

The Black Belt News Network is transitioning to a full a nonprofit, where your sponsorship or advertising dollars will go further. Help fund free news access and train local reporters in the Black Belt by donating today. Together, we can ensure that the Black Belt of Alabama has a strong, independent, and reliable source of news.

Be a part of the Black Belt News Network

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If you would like to join the team, send an email of interest to news@blackbeltnewsnetwork.com. 

Share your news! Send your story ideas, photos and activities to news@blackbeltnewsnetwork.com.