Black Media Powerhouses Unite: BIN and Real Times Media Forge Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Black News Across America

By Urban Trendsetters News Staff
NEW YORK & DETROIT — October 13, 2025

In a bold and transformative move for Black journalism, BIN: The Black Information Network and Real Times Media (RTM) have announced a strategic partnership designed to elevate, expand, and amplify the stories that matter most to the Black community.

The collaboration, unveiled in New York and Detroit, unites two of the nation’s leading Black-focused media networks—each with a powerful legacy of service and storytelling. Together, they aim to redefine how Black news, culture, and perspectives are shared across digital, radio, and multimedia platforms.

A Partnership Rooted in Purpose

Under the new agreement, iHeartMedia, which owns and operates BIN, will source and distribute local and national news stories from Real Times Media’s publications across BIN’s radio stations and online platforms. In turn, RTM will feature BIN’s news, entertainment, and sports coverage across its network of digital properties, integrating BIN’s 24/7 audio news widget for continuous updates directly from a Black perspective.

This collaboration will also enable iHeartMedia to transform RTM stories into audio news reports—bringing community journalism into the digital soundscape and expanding accessibility to millions of listeners nationwide.

The partnership builds on BIN’s 2022 expansion plan to strengthen local news coverage across all 32 affiliate markets, ensuring that Black communities from Atlanta to Seattle and Cleveland to New Orleans are represented with authenticity and accuracy.

Two Titans of Black Media

BIN: The Black Information Network made history in June 2020 as the nation’s first 24/7 all-news audio network dedicated entirely to the Black community. Built on the principle of service, BIN provides objective, fact-based reporting while maintaining a culturally grounded voice.

Since its launch, BIN has rapidly expanded its reach across 32 affiliate markets, including major cities like Atlanta, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. The network is also accessible nationwide through the iHeartRadio app, available on more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices.

Meanwhile, Real Times Media (RTM) stands as a pillar of historic Black journalism. Headquartered in Detroit, RTM is the parent company of five of America’s most respected and long-standing Black-owned news organizations:

The Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine
The Chicago Defender
The Michigan Chronicle
The New Pittsburgh Courier

Together, these outlets form a multimedia powerhouse with a combined legacy spanning nearly a century, delivering trusted local coverage, cultural commentary, and thought leadership within the Black community.

Leaders Speak on the Future of Black Media

“From the start, our goal at BIN has been to celebrate and invest in the Black community and shine a light on our most important stories,” said Tony Coles, President of BIN: The Black Information Network. “This exciting new partnership allows us to extend our commitment to expanding local journalism, benefitting Black communities all across the country.”

Hiram E. Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media, echoed that sentiment: “Our RTM brands have decades-long reputations within the community as trusted, valued resources for local Black news and perspective. But we can’t rest on legacy alone. Being nimble, creative, and diverse in how we distribute our content keeps us competitive. Partnering with a progressive force like BIN gives us the momentum and reach we need to continue to aggressively chase the future.”

A Win for Black Storytelling Nationwide

This partnership isn’t just a business deal — it’s a powerful alignment of purpose. It bridges legacy Black media with new-age digital distribution, creating a unified front in an era where representation and truth-telling are more critical than ever.

For listeners, readers, and future generations of Black journalists, this collaboration reinforces a simple but powerful message: Black stories deserve Black voices — and those voices deserve the world’s attention.