Danielle Belton
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 20, 2016 – The Root (@TheRoot), the premier news, opinion and culture site for African-American influencers, today named Danielle Belton its Managing Editor. Danielle has served as associate editor for The Root since March 2015. Danielle will now oversee all day-to-day editorial operations for TheRoot.com; she will report to Donna Byrd, Vice President and Publisher of The Root. Follow her on Twitter @BlackSnob.
“From pop culture to politics, Danielle has brought a fresh, insightful perspective to The Root’s daily news coverage,” said Byrd. “She has an ability to connect with our community on the issues that matter in an authentic, unapologetic voice.”
Prior to joining The Root, Danielle served as the founder and editor of the award-winning pop culture-meets-politics blog The Black Snob. Under her leadership BlackSnob.com grew to over two million readers in less than two years. Danielle has written for The Daily Beast, Essence Magazine, The Guardian, The American Prospect, The Grio, Jezebel, NPR, and The Huffington Post among many others. Her work has garnered praise from across the media spectrum — “A rare voice in punditry. She’s a black feminist, but never strident or professional victim; she’s personal, but not self-indulgent; she’s educated, but not a snob… She’s smart, funny and often delivers the last word in a world full of people trying to define issues,” said film and TV producer Reginald Hudlin. Cintra Wilson, author “Colors Insulting to Nature,” called Belton “a cultural Rosetta Stone for a racially bewildered country.”
In 2011 and 2012, Danielle worked on developing a late-night news show for BET Network (“Don’t Sleep”) featuring a former CNN anchor and current ABC News correspondent T.J Holmes. She later served as head writer for the show, which was nominated for a NAACP Image Award in 2013. Danielle’s television experience will be a valuable asset as The Root expands its video efforts in the months ahead.
Danielle Belton replaces Lyne Pitts, who is planning to retire from her full-time position. Pitts joined The Root as interim managing editor in 2013 before taking on the post full-time. Pitts is a television news veteran who has held executive and senior production roles at both NBC News and CBS News, where she spent 23 years.
“Lyne has led The Root through a tremendous period of growth with fortitude and grace. Her leadership has been paramount to our continued success. We will miss her and always consider her part of The Root family,” Byrd said of Pitts.
“Over the past eight years The Root has established a trust and bond with the African-American community that is very personal to us. Our mission is to be a place where our community can look to not only for news, but where they can see their voices reflected. We will continue to put it all out on the table, digging beyond the headlines to provide context aroud the stories that concern us, move us, and entertain us,” Belton said. “I am excited to begin this new journey with my talented colleagues as we look to building on the incredible foundation laid by Lyne, Donna and many others.”
About The Root:
The Root is the No. 1 news, opinion and analysis website for African-American influencers. The Root provides smart, timely coverage of breaking news, thought-provoking commentary and gives voice to a changing, more diverse America. Visit us at www.theroot.com, on Twitter @TheRoot and on Facebook. The Root is owned by Univision Communications Inc, and will be a part of the recently announced Fusion Media Group. In 2016, The Root will begin producing television programming in conjunction with FUSION.
CONTACT:
David Ford
305-925-8882
david@fusion.net
@itsdavidford
