Tanya Kersey

As one of Hollywood's most respected and well-regarded entertainment journalists and commentators, Tanya has her finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the world of urban entertainment. Throughout her career, Tanya has developed and earned a reputation for covering the entertainment industry, focusing on celebrities, film, television, music, fashion, award shows, special events and the business of entertainment in a trend-setting, groundbreaking format.

Among the countless radio and television programs, and print and internet publications Tanya has been interviewed for: The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Hollywood Reporter, Daily Variety, the Associated Press, the Boston Globe, Entertainment Weekly, Black Enterprise, the Miami Herald, Upscale Magazine, Diversity Magazine, Los Angeles Sentinel, Rolling Out Magazine, American Legacy Magazine, Turning Points Magazine, “The Tavis Smiley Show,” CNN News, KNBC Sunday Morning Live, "BET Tonight" and Biography Channel's "Famous."

Empowerment has been the guiding force behind every personal and professional endeavor taken on by veteran entertainment journalist and festival producer, Tanya Kersey.  Kersey is perhaps best known as the Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the entertainment trade publication, Black Talent News and its companion website, Blacktalentnews.com; and as the Founder and Executive Director of the Hollywood Black Film Festival, an annual 6-day celebration of black cinema drawing together established filmmakers, popular film and TV stars, writers, directors, industry executives, emerging artists and new audiences from Southern California and around the world.

On the entertainment beat for more than 15 years, Tanya has covered a variety of high-profile events such as the Oscars, Emmys, SAG Awards, BET Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards; and has conducted countless celebrity interviews including Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Steve Harvey, Omarion, Mo’Nique, and Bernie Mac, to name just a few.  As a contributing writer/editor, Tanya’s many essays and articles about the entertainment industry have appeared in Upscale Magazine, BRE Magazine, EUR, Target Market News, Raw Story, L.A. Sentinel, The Portland Observer, The Westside Gazette, Columbus Post, Black Journalist and Los Angeles Times, among other publications.

Tanya can currently be heard on KPFK (90.7FM) Radio as a contributor and frequent co-host on the “Samm Brown for the Record” show delivering the Urban Entertainment Report.

Her awards and activities include being named a “Living History Maker” by the prestigious Turning Point Magazine in recognition for her accomplishments in publishing.  She was named as one of Hollywood's 'Urban Movers and Shakers' by Daily Variety (November 8, 2002) for her work as publisher/editor-in-chief of Black Talent News and founder/executive director of the Hollywood Black Film Festival. 

Topics:
Arts/Culture/Music, Celebrity, Media, Black History, Women in Society

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