Cheers to the end of the first week of 2026. If you’re looking for a young freelance journalist skilled in writing about style, entertainment, culture & identity, hit my line at ruthesamuel.com! Feel free to reach out via my contact form below:
In 2026 I want all of the decent people to remember one thing.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
I'm becoming increasingly aware that #TheDoubleTax is going to age like fine wine considering *points at everything*.
Condé Nast finally achieved its dream of wrecking Teen Vogue and killing its politics section.
www.thecut.com/article/teen...
I was laid off from Teen Vogue this week, alongside multiple other phenomenal team members.
At our Summit, I was asked how it felt to be 1 of 2 Black women left and what that meant for representation. Now, there are no Black women at Teen Vogue and that is incredibly painful to think about.
Noah Wyle, 'The Pitt' team champion filming in L.A. at Emmys: 'I hope other producers take note'
Some personal news:
I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Thread incoming.
substack.com/@karenattiah...
Before Frances Tiafoe graces the courts at #ArthurAshe, throwback to my interview w/ his multi-talented girlfriend Ayan Broomfield. We talked WAG culture, the intersection of sport & style, plus her campaign with Veronica Beard — happy #USOpen to all who celebrate! www.essence.com/fashion/excl...
Thank you Essence and @ruthesamuel.bsky.social for giving me space to talk about the economics of Beyoncé, the power of the Black dollar, and why Black culture drives everything. #CowboyCarter #TheDoubleTax
For #Essence, I talked to Black female entrepreneurs about how they've profited from the #CowboyCarter “Beyonce Bump,” selling everything from sashes to press-on nails, themed fans & more. Grateful to @itsafronomics.bsky.social for lending her insights to this piece! www.essence.com/fashion/beyo...
grateful for the opportunity to cover the biggest night in fashion for ESSENCE ✨ was certainly a #MetGala2025 to remember — read up here: www.essence.com/authors/ruth...
So thoroughly impressed (and obsessed) with Seth Rogen’s #TheStudio. Like, wow.
#journorequest A dear 3L friend of mine is writing an academic article on the ways AI impacts how authors share their work. She's looking to hold *confidential* 1-2 hour interviews w/ freelance journos to discuss the topic. If you’re interested, like this post — and contact janeitullis@gmail.com
North Carolina’s Atrium Health says it will forgive the debts of 11,500 people — less than a week after NBC News reported that the company has aggressively pursued former patients’ medical debts, placing liens on their homes to collect on bills.
❤️❤️
Rest in Peace Ms. Giovanni ❤️❤️
Quinn Emanuel, which represents Jay Z in various things, issued this after suing Buzbee for extortion on behalf of anonymous celebrity who is now obviously Jay Z.
“His tactics are unethical and extortionate, and today they seek to hold him accountable for his illegal behavior.”
There goes the other shoe
Jay-Z has been accused in a civil lawsuit of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 allegedly along with Sean Combs
i'm looking to speak to independent journalists for a story about how the rapid growth of the field means an increased number of journalists without institutional legal protection—and how to insulate ourselves from a trump admin that says it will prosecute journalists.
DM me if interested!
The “Women in Male Fields” trend just might be my favorite thing on TikTok.
SKEET stands for Spreading Kindness Everywhere Except Twitter
Bookmarking:
“There are days, and this is one of them, when you wonder what your role is in this country, and what your future is in it. How precisely are you going to reconcile yourself to your situation here? …
Whew, we LOVE to see it! My heart *soared* when I learned it was her banjo on the track. I was introduced to Rhiannon while watching “Nashville” on ABC when I was 13 or 14 — and I don’t play about her!
THANK YOU!!! Also, Rhiannon Giddens on "Texas Hold 'Em!"
www.musicradar.com/news/beyonce...
