Her Agenda x AlleyNYC present: Danyel Smith on Content, Creativity, and Career

DATE: August 20, 2015

TIME: 10:30 PM - 12:30 AM

COST: $15

VENUE: Animoto

ADDRESS: 440 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003, USA

THE CONVERSATION

Last year, we got the chance to speak with Danyel Smith to learn about her unique career journey in our feature with her at the start of the launch of HRDCVR. Now, during this live event we will continue that dialogue and gain further insight into her career journey. In addition we will speak with her about what it's like navigating the industry as a media professional today and learn more about the development of her latest project HRDCVR.

So, how did Danyel Smith become an award winning journalist and author who creates work that continues to impact not only the media but the culture at large? 

This snippet from Her Agenda's interview with her sums up her unique path:

Smith’s career journey is definitely not what we’re used to hearing nowadays. She was freelancing in California’s Bay Area until landing her first gig managing pages as the music editor at San Francisco Weekly. She eventually moved to New York City to become Billboard magazine’s first female African American Rhythm and Blues Editor. Then came Spin Magazine, then the New York Times lead to a role as the Music Editor at VIBE magazine in 1994. She then spent a year in the National Arts Journalism Program fellowship at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. In 1997, she returned to VIBE as editor-in-chief.

This all appears seamless (and normal), until you consider the fact that Smith did all of this without a college degree. Most millennials couldn’t even begin to envision a successful career without one.  Shortly after high school, Smith attended UC Berkeley but didn’t receive her bachelor’s degree until her 30’s, while steadily teaching at The New School in New York City. She simultaneously received her Master’s. During this time she was also planning her wedding with her husband, journalist Elliott Wilson.

However, Smith had already made up her mind that failing was not an option far before she was even making a living as a writer.

THE AGENDA

• 6:30- 7:15pm: Pre-panel reception
  • including refreshments along with desserts provided by AssataBakes.
• 7:15pm – 7:45pm …Conversation with Danyel Smith moderated by Her Agenda
• 7:45pm – 8:00pm: Questions from the audience
• 8:00-pm-8:30pm: Post-event networking reception

• 6:30- 7:15pm: Pre-panel reception
  • including refreshments along with desserts provided by AssataBakes.
• 7:15pm – 7:45pm …Conversation with Danyel Smith moderated by Her Agenda
• 7:45pm – 8:00pm: Questions from the audience
• 8:00-pm-8:30pm: Post-event networking reception

• including refreshments along with desserts provided by AssataBakes.

MEDIA INFORMATION: The event will be open to the media, however there is limited space. If you are media and would like to cover this event please RSVP to the link: http://goo.gl/forms/dZwRHNgNFJ.

You will receive a confirmation e-mail from Her Agenda closer to the event date. Please note, your media accreditation is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email from us.

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION: If you are interested in volunteering, let us know: http://goo.gl/forms/PuQhc3K3Lg

Featured speaker:

Danyel Smith is the cofounder of HRDCVR, a hardcover culture magazine created by diverse teams for a diverse world. Danyel, most recently a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University, has served as editor of Billboard, editor-at-large at Time Inc, and as editor-in-chief of VIBE. She’s written for Elle, ESPN The Magazine, Time, NPR, Essence, the New Yorker, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, Condé Nast Media Group, and the New York Times. Smith is author of the novel More Like Wrestling (Crown), and she wrote the introduction for the 1997 New York Times-bestseller Tupac Shakur. Her second novel, Bliss (Crown), was published July 2005. Danyel has taught at The New School, Skidmore College, and St. Mary’s College of California. She’s affiliated this semester with Syracuse University, and St. Joseph’s College of New York. Born and brought up in California, Danyel lives in Brooklyn.

Moderator:

Rhonesha (N.E.S.H.A) Byng is the founder of  HerAgenda.com, an inspiration and information hub for millennial women. Dubbed a tech tastemaker by Clutch Magazine, and featured in Black Enterprise, Cosmopolitan, and SEVENTEEN, she has been lauded for her work in journalism by the Associated Press and NYABJ. Her website, Her Agenda was listed by Forbes as one of 100 Best Websites for Women as well as one of 10 Best Sites for Millennial Women.

Special thanks to AssataBakes for catering this event!

Special Thanks to our gift bag sponsors:

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