Are You In ‘The Loop’?

Call it a corollary of the “Obama effect”, but more websites are appearing which chronicle the breadth of the Black experience through our history and current times. One of the newest sites joining the chorus is The Loop 21, an interactive website providing in-depth analysis of economics, politics, social issues and the day’s top stories from a minority perspective.

The California-based website has Dr. Darrell Williams at the helm. Williams, an economist and former UCLA economics professor, stated that “there is a need for relevant and informative content in [the African-American] community beyond the stereotypes portrayed in mainstream media.” The site features articles in a number of different categories, including jobs, politics, entertainment, and the economy (Williams’ experience as a worker with the President’s Council of Economic Advisors and the Office of the Chief Economist at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission no doubt influences this section greatly). While the site just launched in January of 2009, it’s already brimming with articles in all the aforementioned sections with lively commentary. The Loop 21’s editorial board consists of writers and journalists from Essence Magazine, the Los Angeles Daily News, and many other periodicals. The Loop 21 even has their own video installments with a corresponding Youtube channel.

Users can not only check out the articles via Twitter, RSS or through a daily or monthly e-mail newsletter, but can create their own user profiles which keep track of recent comments they have made on the site. The most powerful feature about this section is that users can also submit their own stories for inclusion with The Loop 21’s current editorial and written content. Eager college students and recent graduates are encouraged to become a part of the site’s paid internship program. These features really round out the content of the site with a good mix of professional and citizen journalism.

In keeping with the site’s promise of news and social issues from a minority perspective, The Loop 21 has just partnered with IAC’s Rushmore Drive. A recent press release states that the partnership “compliments our site by providing content that will help to enlighten and educate our users, subsequently inspiring them to search for more information on RushmoreDrive.com,” says Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President and CEO at RushmoreDrive.com.

I really feel that The Loop 21 is doing an exemplary job of creating and fostering an online presence and community with their large amount of content, social media offerings, and strategic partnerships. Keeping everyone interested involved and joining forces with other content networks…isn’t that what staying in “the loop” is all about?