As you know, I have some cool, smart, and creative friends who have cool ventures like newsletters, creative projects, and small businesses. So far for the series, I have featured my two friends Alisa and her brand VLY GRL, and Chasity and her brand Wine with Chas. Now, I’m excited to introduce you all to one of my besties, Andrea.
I have known Andrea for years, and I am constantly in awe of how she evolves her passion by creating different avenues. Not to mention, she’s my go-to person for advice or questions about what the kids are talking about - most recently (last week I think) two Virgils because I had no idea what this meant. Read more about her below and make sure to subscribe to her newsletter and connect with her on social media.
Although we've been friends for so many years, you've always been one of my favorite media personalities. I think you have a great grasp on important things happening with politics, and culture, but also things related to pop culture, music, etc. For you, initially how did you get into this industry, and with everything that goes out daily on social media and in the news and such, how do you find and maintain balance without letting everything consume you?
Thank you that's kind. Journalism and communication for me began when I was 14 years old. I was in a magnet program for media and I caught the bug then. I started my first entertainment blog as a class project for my Online Journalism class at Hampton University. I was a junior, and this was at the height of the mixtape/blog era. I loved music so naturally, that's what I wrote about. One of the first things that I posted about was Drake's So Far Gone. It kinda spread around the journalism school and then the next thing I knew, it took off. I blogged from 2009-2017. At that time I covered award shows, festivals, and traveled overseas! It was fun. Now...I'm working to create a media platform that serves Black millennials.
Social media can create media overload, and if you let it, it can stress you out. Early in this COVID stay-at-home situation, I decided it would be best for my mental health to mute some keywords dealing with the virus on Twitter. I also stopped watching the news. That helped me to limit what I was seeing, without me being under a rock. I was still getting what I needed to know, but I got it on my terms.
You've also used your media experience in different avenues from blogging, writing for publications, creating podcasts, videos, and more. How do you make sure that you're staying on top of the curve with all of these things? Also, do you have a favorite medium to work with? Last question (hella in one) with podcasts, there are so many different ones for multiple topics - how do you make sure you are adding value and adding your unique perspective?
I am a lifelong learner, and I just love the media industry. I'm always looking for new ways to communicate creatively. For me, that looks like reading industry magazines... one of my favorites is Fast Company. I'm also connected to a lot of thought leaders in the media industry via Twitter & LinkedIn. I learn as much as possible from them and see how I can add my twist to it. As new things pop up, I just try it out. If it works for me I go with it! Writing is easiest for me because that's where I started. Everything I do starts with writing. Lately, though, I have enjoyed creating podcasts. In terms of adding value and unique perspective - as I said before I just keep my ear to the e-streets.
I pay attention to what's going on and spend time talking with people about what's missing in different spaces in media. I try to create an answer for the gaps if it's something I'm passionate about. It won't work if I don't care about it... because it will show in the content.
This summer, you're launching a newsletter, News. Now. Nxt. What can people expect from both and how can people get updated/subscribed to both?
News, Now, Nxt is the first programming from my media platform Nxt News. It's my next foray into my career as a media personality and journalist - I'm going to be keeping people up to date on things that have happened, things that are going on now, and what people can expect next. There will be a newsletter and a podcast to help me kick off the larger media platform which will include written and video content as well. You can subscribe to the newsletter at nxtnws.substack.com
Another shameless plug for you is that not only are you a creative working with media, you are also an educator. What have been some of the biggest lessons you've learned working with high school students? Also, being that some of their school year shifted because of the pandemic, what are some words you'd leave them with?
The biggest lesson I've learned working with high school students is that you can learn something from someone else regardless of their age. I have learned so much from my kids over the years, they put me on to so much. I feel like I've learned from them just as much as they've taught me. The online school thing was nothing that any of us anticipated or wanted, to be honest. I hope that it's taught them perseverance and that in life you have to be able to adapt quickly. If I could say one final thing, I would tell them that while this wasn't the end of the school year they desired, that it will be one they will remember. How it ends up is up to them, and that just like with everything else, they have the power to make the situation whatever they want it to be. If they want it to be a good memory, it can be. If they want it to be a bad memory, it can be that too. It's all about perspective.
With everything going on with COVID-19 and working from home, how are you finding time to stay focused and creative?
Well, honestly I've been back on campus for a few days now, working from my office. While I was at home, though, I made sure that I stopped work for my job on time, and made a daily to-do list for my creative projects. I realized it wasn't going to get done if I didn't write it out. Also, it gave me something to look forward to once I was done with my work for the day. Right now I'm participating in a consistency challenge sponsored by Mattie James. I'm posting on my IG feed daily to help create a habit of keeping my feed active. That's teaching me a lot, and I'm looking forward to taking that with me into post-COVID times.
Connect with Andrea:
@iamandreabrown on Twitter
Subscribe to her newsletter: nxtnws.substack.com
Listen to her Podcast: News.Now.Next