Daily Press March 19, 2014 BET co-founder Sheila Johnson speaks at Hampton University By Austin Bogues BET co-founder and entrepreneur Sheila C. Johnson challenged young people to change the media landscape "through the power of your voice," Wednesday night during the annual Conference on the Black Family held at Hampton University. "Diversity is the destiny of this country," she said. But she noted that people of color are still poorly represented in newsrooms and film studios across America. Johnson also encouraged attendees to become smarter media consumers. The annual conference at the university focuses on the development of African-American families in areas including health, personal finance, spirituality and relationships. "We're losing our voice with media," Johnson said in an interview with the Daily Press. Johnson served as executive producer of the 2013 film "Lee Daniels' The Butler," which was ultimately a hit with critics and at the box office. But Johnson said she struggled to raise money to produce the movie. Johnson contrasted the content on black media networks with Hispanic-owned ones. "You see sitcoms and soap operas but they also have news, hard-hitting news, on the issues that matter," she said. "As a co-founder of BET, I know why this isn't happening. Advertisers don't buy our programming unless it's music videos or comedy," she said. "That's the only way we can pay our bills. We're really caught between a rock and a hard place." "No Hollywood studio would take that film," she said of "The Butler." To change the trend, Johnson said it was important for African-Americans to diversify their media consumption, including looking at more programs that deal with public affairs and social issues. "Advertisers go where the most eyeballs are," she said. Johnson said despite the large buying power of the black community, many Hollywood studios are reluctant to portray blacks in major roles. "They don't feel for some reason we're important enough to cast," she said. Johnson, who lives in Middleburg, is also the founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, which operates several hotels, spas and golf courses. In 2009, Forbes Magazine estimated her net worth at more than $400 million. In addition to Salamander Hotels and Resorts, Johnson also is president of the WNBA franchise, the Washington Mystics. Johnson's endorsement has been widely sought in recent years in Virginia statewide elections. In 2009, she was a prominent backer of Republican Bob McDonnell's 2009 gubernatorial run. But last year, she supported Democrat Terry McAuliffe. The conference at Hampton University will conclude Friday. Bogues can be reached by phone at 757-247-4536. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!