February 14, 2013
Fox today announced a new media alliance and development program exclusively for students and alumni of historically black colleges and universities. The FOX/HBCU Media Alliance will exclusively recuit and develop students from HBCUs for careers in film and television, and will assist in increasing diversity in media and entertainment with alumni opportunities in Fox’s media holdings.
“As a HBCU alumnus, I know first-hand the extraordinary level of talent coming out of these schools,” said Nicole Bernard, Senior Vice President, and head of FOX Audience Strategy, who received her undergraduate degree at Howard University before securing her J.D. at Georgetown University Law Center. “Fox has been a strong supporter of HBCUs, but now we want to elevate those efforts by creating a robust and unprecedented resource that harnesses the talent that HBCUs produce.
I am excited that we will have the opportunity – through regional events, workforce initiatives and social networking platforms – to not only identify, cultivate and advance the best and brightest from this vast community, but to provide an array of tangible platforms for their creative gifts.”
“It is exciting to have a major entertainment entity such as FOX do more than simply acknowledge the depth of talent that the African-American community has to offer the filmmaking and entertainment industry, but to also help nurture that talent through these new HBCU initiatives,” said Sidney A. Ribeau, Ph.D., President of Howard University. This partnership will help Howard and other HBCUs to continue their tradition of producing quality talent that creates award-winning work.”
“We are pleased to learn that FOX Audience Strategy is making a commitment to partner with HBCUs so that the organization might take advantage of the outstanding and talented students, faculty, and alumni found in our institutions,” said Dr. William R. Harvey, President of Hampton University. “I believe that Fox Entertainment and the country will be better off as a result of this initiative.”
According to the release, the FHMA will be based in Los Angeles, and will have chapters in Washington D.C. and New York City.