NEWS BRIEF: Ad agency internships open to Black creatives

A digital advertising firm in Norcross called Response Media is the first company in Georgia to hire interns through BLAC, short for “Building Leaders and Creators,” a national nonprofit program designed to help young Black creatives break into the advertising business.

BLAC management estimates fewer than 6 percent of industry employees nationwide are Black, and the majority of them occupy entry-level or administrative positions. “Right after the murder of George Floyd, the industry had a real serious moment of reckoning,” says board member Toni Lee. “The goal of this program is to change the face of the industry, all the way to the top leadership.”

In order to remove barriers to entry, the BLAC program requires no resumes, portfolios or college degrees to apply. Instead, applicants submit a two-minute video showcasing their creative side. blacinternship.com