Draft:Amber Payne

Amber Payne is an American journalist, executive producer, editor, and storyteller. She is known for her role as the publisher and general manager of The Emancipator, a digital publication focused on reimagining the first abolitionist newspapers in addressing racial inequality.

Early life and education
Raised in Southern Maryland, Payne graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Media Studies and Studio Art.

Career
Payne's career began at NBC Nightly News, where she worked her way up to producing breaking news and feature stories, covering significant events in the U.S., UK, Ecuador, and parts of West Africa and South Africa. She played a key role in launching NBCBLK, a section of NBCNews.com dedicated to elevating conversations around Black identity, social issues, and culture in 2015.

Before her involvement with The Emancipator, Payne served as the managing editor of BET.com, overseeing daily editorial output and leading digital video strategy. She also contributed as an executive producer at Teen Vogue and Them., focusing on creating scalable digital content while maintaining brand integrity for Condé Nast Entertainment.

In June 2021, Payne joined The Emancipator, a collaboration between The Boston Globe and Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research. She was appointed as co-editor-in-chief, leveraging her experience to guide the publication's perspective and priorities.

Personal life
She and her husband run Tilt Shift Media, a production company that focuses on documentaries and story-driven branded content.