Better Black News Jillian Whitaker uses her broadcasting business, Better Black News, to highlight positive and inspiring news within the African American community
by Lance Evans
Jillian Whitaker is a woman full of confidence. As the Oklahoma breeze whisks her through the front door of a local coffee shop, all eyes are immediately on her. Her bright purple pixie cut is accented with a figure hugging black pencil skirt and a black blouse. Before heading to the counter to order her latte, she’s stopped by an admirer who offers her a compliment that Jillian is all too familiar with. “I love your purple hair,” the woman says. Jillian warmly thanks her and sits down, opening up about why her look is an important factor in her newfound calling. “I get that all the time,” she jokingly says. “I don’t have that look of a traditional news reporter. I hate that. Who made up that image?” Today’s popular media seems to be obsessed with image. Television anchors seem to fit a certain prototype: straight hair, flawless makeup, and conservative attire. With one glance at Jillian’s purple ‘do, you immediately know this is a girl who is not used to playing by anyone’s rules. That’s what is special about Jillian Whitaker and her Better Black News media group: she’s creating her own rules and changing perceptions in the process. “I have an issue with how people that look like me are represented in the media,” she says. “We’re either criminals or athletes. I know so many people that are doing great things that are not being covered because it’s not sensational.” Jillian’s issue with the media’s coverage of the black community mirrors the beliefs of many. In a desire to create a platform to highlight issues and stories that are both beneficial and impactful, Jillian started her own Internet news broadcasting station called Better Black News. It’s been a journey years in the making. When Jillian was a student at the University of Central Oklahoma majoring in broadcasting, there were some professors that took issue with her appearance. Although she always accepted constructive criticism, she knew her reach in mass media would extend well beyond her hair. Jillian’s goal has always been to connect to viewers through issues and stories that matter to her. Her professors didn’t realize it then, but Jillian’s message and voice would soon garner the hearts and minds of Oklahomans. It would be her powerful message that would make viewers see well beyond the color of her
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Outlook February 2016
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