Sara Lomax, President and CEO of WURD Radio, joined PHMC President and CEO Mike Pearson for a discussion in celebration of Black History Month. The Role of Black-Owned Media in Advancing Public Health and Social Well‑Being was an in-depth discussion examining the indispensable role of Black media in shaping public health awareness, influencing social‑service access and strengthening community resilience in a rapidly shifting geo‑political landscape.
Lomax described how, from local radio stations and neighborhood newspapers to digital creators and social media influencers, Black media outlets serve as trusted messengers who translate complex policies, expose inequities and mobilize communities around issues that directly affect their health and quality of life. She emphasized the importance of long-term commitment, cultural competency and consistency for creating effective public health messaging.
“I personally believe that the future is community media,” Lomax shared. “It’s independent media that is hyperlocal, that’s serving communities in their own languages, with their own trusted messengers.”
The discussion also covered a variety of topics including Black media as a public health communicator and local reporting as a tool for health equity, expanding policy awareness and civic engagement.
