Imara Jones

Imara Jones is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning political journalist, activist, and media entrepreneur whose work focuses on the intersection of race, gender, and social justice. Before her journalism career, Jones worked on international trade policy at the Clinton White House and served as an executive at Viacom. At Viacom, she contributed to the campaign Know HIV/AIDS and Fight for Your Rights: Protect Yourself, which received two Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. Jones holds an undergraduate degree in political science from Columbia University and a master's degree in economics from the London School of Economics.

As founder of TransLash Media, Jones has played a significant role in shifting media narratives about transgender people, producing award-winning films, documentaries, and podcasts to promote inclusive media coverage. At TransLash, Jones hosts the Webby-nominated "TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones" and the investigative limited series "The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: A Plot Against Equality." The first season of "The Anti-Trans Hate Machine" examines the rise in anti-trans legislation, exploring funding sources, organizations, and ideologies behind anti-trans sentiment and the spread of disinformation. Jones has also served as executive producer for TransLash's films, documentaries, and animated shorts in partnership with outlets such as PBS.

Jones was recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People and featured on the cover as part of its New American Revolution special edition. She is the first trans person to receive an award from the National Black Journalists Association, earning the Journalist of Distinction Award. The "TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones" received the Outstanding Podcast Award from GLAAD, while "The Anti-Trans Hate Machine" received the Excellence in Podcasting Award from the National LGBTQ+ Journalists Association. Politico named Jones as one of the 40 power players at the intersection of race, politics, and policy in the United States.

Jones chaired the first United Nations High Level Meeting on Gender Diversity, convening over 600 participants. She served as the first Journalist-in-Residence at WNYC's The Greene Space, where she hosted the monthly program "Lives At Stake." Jones was named a Champion of Pride by The Advocate magazine and is a Nathan Cummings Foundation Fellow and a Soros Equality Fellow. In addition to her media work, Jones serves on the New York City Commission on Gender Equity, is vice-chair of GLSEN's board, and is former chair of the board of the Transgender Law Center. Through journalism, advocacy, and institution-building, Jones has contributed to the ongoing evolution of American media and social justice.