488: When You’re an African American Media Executive With Travis Mitchell, Maryland Public TV [Main T4C Episode]

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Travis Mitchell is senior vice president and chief content officer at Maryland Public Television (MPT). In this position, he oversees all content created, acquired, and aired on the statewide public television network.  Travis brings more than two decades of media experience to his role at MPT.  Prior to his current role, he was chief content officer for the University of North Carolina Television (UNC-TV).  While in that role he provided editorial vision and guided UNC-TV content on its four TV channels and in its online properties. Earlier in his career, Travis served as president of Communities In Schools of Wake County, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based nonprofit that helps schools remove the barriers that put students at risk of wasting their potential. He also served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Atlanta-based Black Family Channel, where he managed a $40 million operation and a team of 75 people.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE:

• The meaning behind Travis’ latest LinkedIn post regarding the #BLM movement (5:55)
• What he spoke about at his company’s latest Town Hall (13:08)
• How young African Americans should address microaggressions (17:52)
• What the media industry is like now for young African Americans (27:23)
• How do you balance objectivity and your humanity in covering a racially charged story? (33:20) 
• How to cope with loneliness and imposter syndrome as an African American in a white workplace? (36:18)
• How you should deal with racism at work (42:40)
• What Travis does as Chief Content Officer at Maryland Public Television (51:06)
• How Travis persevered during a very challenging time in his career (1:04:30)
• What advice would he give his younger self back in college (1:13:19)