FEMI Magazine is a beautiful bi-monthly full-color Black-owned magazine. Founder Tanisha D. Davis carved out some time to discuss her experiences in launching her own independent media outlet with our publisher Be’n Original.
When did you realize that you wanted to pursue a career in journalism?
I’ve always loved to write stories every since I was about 13-years-old. I would take my folders and fill them with paper and turn the folder into a book. The folder would end up circulating around school with students asking me to add them as characters in the next book. I remember reading a book by Mary B. Morrison and the character worked for a magazine. I said to myself, one day that will be me, running around an office for a magazine. I loved creating stories and I knew it would be beautiful to one day do it in real life as a career.
FEMI is a beautiful publication, what inspired you to launch your own media outlet?
Thank You! I started my own because I was exhausted with seeing so many amazing stories get turned down just because they didn’t have a large following or because someone felt they were not relevant enough. I wanted to have the freedom to give everyone a fair shot at being heard no matter what your social status was!
What are the pros and cons of running your own magazine?
The pros I would say is the freedom to do what you feel is best for the people. It’s your ship and you can take it anywhere you want and lay the rules out however you please to make sure you sail in the right direction. The cons I would say is that no matter how passionate you are about helping everyone, you can’t save them all! It can get stressful and you may not always have the support you feel is needed and the first year can be chaotic if you don’t have some loyal and patient people on board to get things up and running out the mud!
How do feel about the way Black media outlets are treated compared to their counterparts?
I feel the respect and love is not always there. As black media we have to fight to get the respect that is so easily given to others. The crap that we deal with in emails, would never be sent to these clear owned platforms. The sad thing is its often us who are spending countless hours showing love online and building up these Celebrities and these black TV shows to the point where everyone wants to support them because we said so! Yet when we want an interview or to put them on a cover, they want to know what our stats are first and how many followers we have before they feel we are worthy. It’s time that changes in 2021 and it’s time we start shutting them down by not sharing their stories on our platforms if they refuse to recognize us!
What advice do you have for aspiring talent looking to be featured in FEMI?
I’m looking for some people who are serious about what it is they do. I’m serious about my brand so I need that same energy. I want the ones who get up everyday seeking to make a difference in their black communities using the God given talent they have! I want the ones who are not afraid to stand and use their voice because those are the stories whether its a spiritual topic or politics!
Share with us the biggest lesson you have learned in becoming a publisher.
I can be the “Okay I understand“ type very easily. Now I have learned that you can’t be that way 24/7 when you are in the seat at the head of the table and all eyes are on you, its really different. Now I have to be a lot more firm than before because stuff has to get done and I can’t meet deadlines being the nice and easy going person all the time. People are looking up to you to make sure deadlines are met and things are released when you say they will be! So this position has brought out a side of me that I usually keep under lock and key I would say. Now its about business and nothing personal.
What can we expect from you and FEMI in the immediate future?
As my daughter would say, “It’s the growth for me!“ I love that little trendy saying. So, you can expect to see a lot of growth! We are new but we plan to get out and speak loud, and make sure that the world hears us and knows what we stand for!
Where can people contact you for more information?
We are pretty responsive on social media, but a quick email to us at info@femimagazine.org is the first and best way to connect!
BE’N ORIGINAL
