MediaJustice
MediaJustice is a national racial justice nonprofit founded in 2001 that builds power to challenge corporate and government use of media and technology, serving communities of color, low-income communities, and allied organizers through convenings, narrative strategy, and coalition campaigns.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What MediaJustice does
MediaJustice is a national racial justice nonprofit founded in 2001 in Oakland, California, that builds power to challenge how corporations and governments use media and technology to shape collective futures. The organization serves communities of color, low-income communities, organizers, tech workers, academics, and allied movement groups, operating as a bridge between media reform, surveillance resistance, immigration justice, and environmental justice constituencies. Its programs span narrative strategy, political education, and movement building, anchored by four core offerings: the Take Back Tech convening series (launched 2019 in San José, with the third iteration in Atlanta in April 2026 drawing 500+ attendees), the Electronic Monitoring Map (an interactive, filterable tool cataloging state-level case studies and videos), the Black Future Newsstand traveling exhibition (co-presented with Media 2070 and Black River Life), and the Shifting Terrain strategic framework launched in 2024 to position the organization as a cross-movement bridge builder.
The organization sustains its work through donations and grants rather than product or service sales — typical of a 501(c)(3) advocacy nonprofit — and its go-to-market is multi-channel: owned social platforms (Instagram, BlueSky, LinkedIn, Facebook), two podcasts (Bring Receipts, Revolutionary Spirits), email newsletter, earned media in outlets including the Washington Post, LA Times, The Guardian, and TechCrunch, and recurring in-person convenings. Technology serves as an enabling layer rather than the core product: the Electronic Monitoring Map is a manually curated reference tool, and the website (mediajustice.org) is built by an external progressive-sector design partner (Design Action Collective). Coalition leverage is substantial, with the MediaJustice Network uniting 80+ grassroots organizations (2009–2024) and active co-leadership in the NY Renews coalition (~400 climate, labor, youth, and community groups) on data center moratorium advocacy.
Operationally, MediaJustice runs with a staff of 11–50 under Executive Director Steven Renderos, with recent senior additions including Jacinta González as Head of Programs (March 2025), a Data Center Fellow, and directors across narrative, movement building, and research functions. Founders Malkia Devich Cyril, Amy Sonnie, and Jen Soriano established the organization originally as a Black-led media accountability coalition before its 2009 expansion into broader communications and technology rights. Disclosed foundation support includes a Knight Foundation grant (April 2022) and Race Forward funding for the Cultural Week of Action; specific revenue figures, donor mix, and budget are not publicly disclosed in available materials.
MediaJustice firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MediaJustice
- Legal name
- MediaJustice
- Website
- https://mediajustice.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MediaJustice is a national racial justice nonprofit founded in 2001 that builds power to challenge corporate and government use of media and technology, serving communities of color, low-income communities, and allied organizers through convenings, narrative strategy, and coalition campaigns.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MediaJustice industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Justice Advocacy and Movement Organizing
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Nonprofit & Cause Communications (BPAFADAK)
Keywords
Where MediaJustice is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
MediaJustice business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels10 records
MediaJustice product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MediaJustice is a non-profit racial justice organizing hub that builds power to challenge how corporations and governments use media and technology to shape collective futures. Its core offerings include the Take Back Tech convening series, the Electronic Monitoring Map (an interactive surveillance tracking tool), the Black Future Newsstand traveling exhibition, and the Shifting Terrain Strategy framework for community organizing against corporate power. Programs are delivered free to communities of color and allied grassroots movements, funded by donations and grants.
Product overview
MediaJustice is a national racial justice organization that advances the media and technology rights of people of color, offering a portfolio of movement-building programs and advocacy initiatives rather than a unified software product. The organization's core offerings include Take Back Tech (a movement convening against tech oligarchy), the Electronic Monitoring Map (an interactive tracking tool for case studies), the Black Future Newsstand (a traveling art exhibition celebrating Black media), and the Shifting Terrain Strategy (a framework for community organizing against corporate power). The organization does not operate as a technology product company but rather as an advocacy and movement-building organization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Take Back Tech A movement convening series bringing together organizers, artists, tech workers, academics, and lawyers to strategize power-building moves against tech oligarchy. Co-organized with Mijente and allies, free to participants.
- Electronic Monitoring Map An interactive map and list tool that tracks case studies and videos related to electronic monitoring across U.S. states, with category filtering and toggle between map and list views. Free public resource for advocates, organizers, journalists, and researchers.
- Black Future Newsstand A traveling art exhibition celebrating the long history of Black media and uplifting community narratives to re-envision the future of media. Features Black-owned publications, magazines, and artworks. Co-presented with Media 2070 and Black River Life.
- Shifting Terrain Strategy MediaJustice's 2024 strategic framework positioning the organization as a bridge builder that equips communities with the vision, analysis, and organizing needed to challenge corporate power at its roots across media, technology, and racial justice.
Companies that use MediaJustice
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MediaJustice technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
MediaJustice partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MijentecoreCo-organizer of Take Back Tech convenings. Mijente is a political home for Latinx and migrant communities. Both organizations share strategic alignment in challenging tech oligarchy and immigration enforcement technology.
- Media 2070coreCo-presenter of Black Future Newsstand traveling exhibition. Media 2070 (a project of Free Press) focuses on media reparations and documenting harms against Black communities in media.
- Black River LifecoreCo-presenter of Black Future Newsstand exhibition. Black River Life is a media outlet focused on Black narratives and community storytelling.
- Design Action CollectiveminorProvides website design and development services. Design Action Collective provides graphic design and visual communications for progressive, non-profit and social change organizations.
- NY RenewscoreCoalition of nearly 400 climate, labor, youth, and community groups working on climate justice. MediaJustice partners on data center moratorium advocacy in New York State.
- The Clean Air Coalition of Western New YorkcoreBuffalo-based environmental justice organization partnering on data center opposition campaigns in New York State.
- UCLA Center on Resilience and Digital JusticeminorAcademic research center focused on digital justice. Dr. Safya Noble, Director, participates in Take Back Tech convenings as a speaker.
- Electronic Frontier FoundationminorDigital rights organization. Sarah Hamid, Director of Strategic Campaigns, participates in Take Back Tech as a debate panelist.
- Tech Policy PressminorMedia outlet focused on tech policy. Justin Hendrix, CEO and Editor, participated in Take Back Tech III closing plenary.
- Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP)minorLocal environmental justice organization. Director KeShaun Pearson spoke at Take Back Tech III about data center pollution resistance.
- Climate Justice AllianceminorCoalition of frontline communities and organizations. Veronica Moreno, Director of Operations and Technology, participated in Take Back Tech III debate.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MediaJustice competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Free Press: National media justice and reform nonprofit that co-presents the Black Future Newsstand exhibition with MediaJustice through its Media 2070 project; directly comparable in mission, constituency (communities of color), and policy advocacy on media and tech.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation: Leading digital civil liberties nonprofit whose staff participate as panelists in MediaJustice's Take Back Tech convenings; comparable in tech-policy advocacy and surveillance resistance, though EFF emphasizes privacy/forensics while MJ centers racial justice.
- Mijente: Latinx and migrant-led tech justice organization that co-organizes Take Back Tech with MediaJustice; directly comparable in constituency, immigration-tech advocacy, and movement-building model.
- Fight for the Future: Digital rights activist organization running internet freedom and tech accountability campaigns; comparable in grassroots mobilization around Big Tech harms, though lighter on racial-justice framing.
- Color of Change: Largest online racial justice organization in the U.S.; comparable in centering Black constituencies, tech and media accountability campaigns, and national advocacy scope—though significantly larger in membership scale.
- Public Knowledge: DC-based public interest tech policy nonprofit working on broadband access, media diversity, and platform accountability; comparable policy advocacy portfolio though operating through a Washington insider model rather than grassroots organizing.
- Access Now: International digital rights organization defending user rights, privacy, and surveillance resistance; comparable in digital rights advocacy but global in scope rather than U.S. racial-justice focused.
- Race Forward: Racial justice nonprofit that has funded MediaJustice-affiliated work (Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy); comparable in movement-building, narrative strategy, and racial equity framing across issue areas.
- Demand Progress: Progressive advocacy organization running online campaigns on internet freedom, privacy, and tech accountability; comparable in digital rights mobilizing tactics though oriented more toward federal legislative fights.
Broad incumbents
- Open MIC: Media accountability organization focused on media consolidation, diversity, and ownership; comparable in media-reform advocacy but operates more narrowly on ownership/concentration issues than MJ's full tech-and-media mandate.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MediaJustice social profiles
Digital presenceMediaJustice financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MediaJustice leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
MediaJustice funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MediaJustice M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MediaJustice
What does MediaJustice do?
MediaJustice is a non-profit racial justice organizing hub that builds power to challenge how corporations and governments use media and technology to shape collective futures. Its core offerings include the Take Back Tech convening series, the Electronic Monitoring Map (an interactive surveillance tracking tool), the Black Future Newsstand traveling exhibition, and the Shifting Terrain Strategy framework for community organizing against corporate power. Programs are delivered free to communities of color and allied grassroots movements, funded by donations and grants.
Is MediaJustice a public or private company?
MediaJustice is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was MediaJustice founded?
MediaJustice was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is MediaJustice based?
MediaJustice is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
Who are MediaJustice's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Free Press, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Mijente, Fight for the Future, Color of Change, Public Knowledge, Access Now, Race Forward and Demand Progress. Open MIC is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does MediaJustice have an API?
No public API is recorded for MediaJustice.
What industry is MediaJustice in?
MediaJustice's product category is Social Justice Advocacy and Movement Organizing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAK, Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good), with a secondary code of BPAFADAK, Nonprofit & Cause Communications. Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8600.