Jemele Hill

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Emmy Award-Winning Journalist
Co-Founder of Lodge Freeway Media
Contributing Writer for The Atlantic

Emmy Award-winning journalist Jemele Hill is known for bringing a unique perspective to her analysis of sports and social issues. Hill’s 20-plus year journalism career has included stops at the biggest sports media network and several reputable newspapers. She is currently a contributing writer for The Atlantic, after rising to prominence through ESPN, where she provided undeniably fresh takes on sports content as a host of SportsCenter, First Take, Around the Horn, The Sports Reporters, and Outside the Lines. Her independent commentary took off with a weekly, late-night show on Vice Network called Cari & Jemele: Won’t Stick to Sports, co-hosted with Hill’s longtime friend, former ESPN anchor Cari Champion. As fans flocked to her personal brand, Hill’s podcast career launched with the two-time Webby award-winning podcast Jemele Hill is Unbothered, featuring in-depth, thought-provoking conversation with some of the biggest newsmakers across entertainment, culture, music, and politics. Previous guests include Vice President Kamala Harris, Ice Cube, Spike Lee, Chelsea Clinton, Stephen Colbert, Issa Rae, and more A-listers. Her memoir, UPHILL, one of Oprah Daily’s Best Nonfiction Books, reveals her tumultuous childhood, complicated family dynamics, and her life-saving journey into journalism. Hill explores topical and controversial issues with humorous, candid commentary.

Hill’s career emphasizes the power of dialogue and conversation in bridging divides, fostering understanding, and driving positive change within society. Hill founded a podcast network, Unbothered, and co-founded Lodge Freeway Media to empower other women of color in sports media production. She is a highly lauded journalist, honored with two NAACP Awards and the National Association of Black Journalists’ Journalist of the Year Award. Hill has been invited to speak at Harvard University, Stanford University, Google, and many more.

Past Hosts Include:

University of Delaware’s Center for Black Culture
Winnebago Industries
BET Genius Talks
General Motors

Google
Stanford University
Harvard University
Revolt World

“

The lecture went great! All the students and staff enjoyed her time here on campus. Thank you again for working with us. - University of Delaware’s Center for Black Culture

”

Jemele Hill Speaks On Her Memoir, Forgiveness, Career Risks, Breaking Generational Curses + More | The Breakfast Club - Get Sharable Link

Jemele Hill Speaks On Her Memoir, Forgiveness, Career Risks, Breaking Generational Curses + More | The Breakfast Club

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Jemele Hill: Success is scarier than failure | TEDxPSU

Tamron Hall on Dating and Moving In With Husband After 3 Weeks | Jemele Hill is Unbothered

Jemele Hill: Sports And Politics Have Always Mixed | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Jemele Hill On Traumas Growing Up & Breaking Generational Curses | Tamron Hall Show

Talks & Conversations with Jemele Hill

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Author Talk: ‘Uphill’ (& Breaking Generational Trauma)

Award-winning journalist JEMELE HILL has earned respect and support for her fearless opinions and unshakable confidence, as well as a reputation as a trusted journalist who speaks her mind with truth and conviction. Her memoir, Uphill, revealed that beneath the exterior of one of the most recognizable journalists in America was a need—a calling—to break her family’s cycle of intergenerational trauma. In this impactful conversation, Hill shares her personal story and the insights gained from forging her own path.

Information on book buys and signings available upon request.

Resilience in the Face of Scrutiny

With a history of brave, outspoken commentary, JEMELE HILL shares lessons learned from facing controversy and navigating public scrutiny, offering insights on resilience, and maintaining integrity in the face of criticism.

The Evolution of Sports Journalism

With 25 years of experience in sports media, JEMELE HILL explores the changing landscape of journalism, including the impact of digital media, social media, and shifting audience expectations. Drawing from her own experiences, Hill speaks about the importance of diversity in media and the need for more inclusive storytelling, particularly within the realm of sports journalism.

Amplifying Voices

Award-winning journalist JEMELE HILL has spent her career amplifying the voices of marginalized communities within sports and beyond. She founded a podcast network, Unbothered, and co-founded Lodge Freeway Media to empower other women of color in sports media production. In this engaging presentation, Hill discusses actionable strategies for fostering inclusivity and empowerment both in and out of the newsroom.

Hosting, Emceeing, & Moderating

Emmy and Webby Award-winning journalist JEMELE HILL regularly interviews global celebrities and changemakers on her podcast, Jemele Hill is Unbothered. Hill's experience in high-stakes, high-profile engagements, research skills, and robust knowledge of current events position her to host, emcee, or moderate any event.

An Emmy Award winning journalist, Jemele Hill is the Co-founder of Lodge Freeway Media and a contributing writer for The Atlantic.

On October 25, 2022, Henry Holt and Company published Hill’s memoir, UPHILL: A Memoir. In this character-rich, unapologetically provocative memoir, Hill reveals her tumultuous childhood, complicated family dynamics, and her life-saving journey into journalism.

In April of 2019, Hill debuted Jemele Hill is Unbothered on Spotify. The two-time Webby award-winning podcast features in-depth, thought-provoking conversation with some of the biggest newsmakers across entertainment, culture, music and politics. Hill also explores topical and controversial issues with humorous, candid commentary. In 2022, Jemele Hill is Unbothered, won two NAACP Awards for Outstanding Podcast in the Arts and Entertainment and Society and Culture categories. Previous Unbothered guests include, Vice President Kamala Harris, Ava DuVernay, Common, Ice Cube, Spike Lee, Gabrielle Union, Chelsea Clinton, Dan Rather, Stephen Colbert, Issa Rae, Taraji P. Henson, and Soledad O’Brien.

Unbothered was not Hill’s only contribution in the podcast arena. On April 15, 2020, Hill along with Van Lathan launched the podcast, The Wire: Way Down in the Hole. The podcast breaks down every episode on the HBO classic series. The hosts recap each show, break down signature moments, scenes, and characters.

In addition to breaking new ground as a podcaster, Hill also continued her celebrated television broadcasting career. In 2020, Hill and her longtime friend, former ESPN anchor Cari Champion, launched a weekly, late-night show on Vice Network called Cari & Jemele: Won’t Stick to Sports. The show covered politics, sports, news, current events, and pop culture.

Hill is also stretching her muscles behind the camera. She is executive producer of former NFL quarterback and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick’s documentary, which will air on ESPN and is directed by legendary filmmaker Spike Lee. She also is currently developing a comedy series with acclaimed actress Gabrielle Union.

Hill’s 20-plus year journalism career has included stops at the biggest sports media network and several reputable newspapers. She originally joined ESPN in 2006 as a national columnist for espn.com. Her profile gradually rose as she began to make appearances on television, including SportsCenter, First Take, Around the Horn, The Sports Reporters and Outside the Lines. She also spent a season as a sideline reporter for ESPN college football games.

Her foray into daily television began in 2013, when her and co-host Michael Smith began the daily, sports discussion show, His & Hers, which sprang from their popular podcast of the same name. In February 2017, Hill and Smith co-anchored the 6 p.m., SportsCenter, which debuted as a more personality-driven approach to the traditional SportsCenter. After her stint as SportsCenter host, Hill was a senior columnist for The Undefeated, ESPN’s sub-site that focuses on the intersection of sports, race, culture and politics. She eventually left ESPN in September 2018 and then a month later, she began writing about those same intersections for the highly-acclaimed socio-political magazine, The Atlantic.

Before joining ESPN, Hill was a sports columnist for the Orlando Sentinel from 2005–06 – the lone African American female sports columnist at a daily newspaper in North America. From 1999-2005, she served as a sportswriter with the Detroit Free Press covering Michigan State football and basketball. Hill began her professional career in 1997 as a general assignment sportswriter for the Raleigh News & Observer.

In August 2018, the National Association of Black Journalist awarded Hill with Journalist of the Year Award. In July 2016, Hill participated in Emmy Award-winning The President and the People: A National Conversation – a one-hour town hall with President Barack Obama on race relations, justice, policing and equality.

A native of Detroit, Hill graduated from Michigan State University in 1997 with a degree in journalism. In November of 2019, Hill married Ian Wallace.

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Jemele Hill

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ideal speakers for upcoming events