The Black Owned Media Equity and Sustainability Institute (BOMESI) concluded its fifth annual summit in Detroit, bringing together media executives, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to explore strategies for strengthening diverse-owned media through ownership, innovation and economic opportunity.
Held over four days, the 2026 BOMESI Summit attracted representatives from 125 organizations and featured more than 53 speakers participating in 26 sessions focused on the evolving media landscape. According to organizers, the event generated an advertising reach potential of $6.5 billion, underscoring the growing influence of diverse media platforms.
Founded in 2020 by DéVon Christopher Johnson and Rhonesha Byng, BOMESI was established to help independent and diverse-owned media organizations build sustainable businesses through education, collaboration and economic empowerment.
This year’s summit was hosted by NAACP Image Award-winning entertainer Dustin Ross and Quartz Wellness Collective founder Amber Lee Forrester. Programming included keynote presentations, fireside chats, workshops and networking opportunities designed to address the business challenges and opportunities facing multicultural media companies.
Among the featured speakers were Jason Harvey of BET+, who delivered a keynote address, journalist Jemele Hill, who participated in the opening fireside conversation, and civil rights advocate Rashad Robinson, who joined Johnson for a discussion on the future of Black media ownership and influence.
Sessions throughout the conference examined topics including artificial intelligence in publishing, revenue generation, streaming and video distribution, podcast infrastructure, capital investment and strategies for expanding the reach of Black-owned media businesses.
Media organizations represented at the summit included The Shade Room, Forbes Media, BET+/Paramount Global, Rolling Out and numerous independent publishers, broadcasters and digital media companies.
Corporate support for the event came from sponsors including Ben & Jerry’s, Nielsen, Press Forward and OTTera Media Group, reflecting growing interest from companies seeking to invest in and partner with diverse media organizations.
The summit also recognized individuals and organizations making significant contributions to media innovation and equity. Justin Barton of AdGrid and Snackable received the Growth Catalyst Award, while Rolling Out founder Munson Steed was honored with the Digital Trailblazer Award. Ben & Jerry’s received the Champion for Equity Award for its support of diverse media initiatives.
“Multicultural consumers represent $5.3 trillion in spending power in America, and less than 2% of advertising spend currently reaches diverse-owned media,” said DéVon Christopher Johnson, CEO and co-founder of BOMESI. “The BOMESI Summit exists to close that gap, mobilizing culture, capital and community to build the future that diverse media owners deserve.”
As media consumption continues to diversify across digital platforms, the summit highlighted the growing importance of ensuring that independent and multicultural media companies have access to the resources, technology and investment needed to compete in an increasingly complex marketplace.
By fostering conversations around ownership, monetization and innovation, BOMESI continues to position itself as a leading advocate for creating a more inclusive and economically sustainable media ecosystem.