Amber Payne

About

I'm an award-winning journalist, executive producer, editor and storyteller with a track record for creating bold content that drives conversation. After spending the pandemic year on the Nieman journalism fellowship at Harvard, I emerged even more passionate about being in a position where I could reframe the conversation on racial justice and equity by fusing journalism with context and solutions. I joined The Emancipator as co-editor in chief and spent almost two years developing and launching a newsroom that is focused on explaining structural racism and pointing to solutions. Now as publisher and GM, I'm determined to set us on a path of longevity. I spent the first 15 years of my career working at major networks and media companies and learning a ton. As Executive Producer at Teen Vogue and Them., I oversaw editorial video programming for Conde Nast’s next-generation digital magazines. I cultivated the video strategy for both brands -- creating scalable digital content, while maintaining brand integrity. Teen Vogue’s coverage extends across diverse interest points from fashion and celebrity to gender equality and social justice, while Them. chronicles and celebrates the stories, people and voices of today’s LGBTQ+ community. Before joining CNE, I was the founding Managing Editor of NBCBLK, a section of NBCNews.com dedicated to telling stories for and about the Black community. The vertical launched in January of 2015 and quickly became an award-winning publication with a mission to elevate the conversation around Black identity, social issues, and culture. I was also an Emmy award-winning producer at NBC Nightly News, the network’s flagship evening broadcast, where I produced breaking news and feature stories. Specialties: Inclusive storytelling, editing, product innovation, digital video and television production, and emerging platforms.