Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Accomplishments
Languages
Timeline
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Ivie Ani

New York,NY

Summary

Ivie Ani is an award-winning, internationally recognized journalist, writer, editor, and media strategist with more than 10 years of experience in print, digital, and broadcast media. Ivie is a New York University alumna with a dual degree in Journalism and Africana Studies. A proven leader in editorial direction, content strategy, and cultural criticism, with expertise in media consulting, on-air hosting, and audience engagement adept at shaping editorial visions, leading cross-functional teams, and driving innovative content across global platforms. Recognized for sharp editorial judgment, cultural insight, and the ability to create impactful narratives that resonate across diverse audiences. A trained and decorated journalist and media professional with expertise in traditional print, digital media, editorial leadership, and beyond, Ivie sets the tone and the bar for culture reporting, media analysis, content curation, and strategy to enlighten, engage, and produce work with a purpose.

Overview

10
10
years of professional experience

Work History

Content Specialist

Meta
New York, NY
08.2023 - 04.2024
  • Reviewed content and conversations across Meta platforms (Instagram and Facebook), including credible news, entertainment, and short-form video/reels from a diverse set of publishers, broadcasters, brands, public figures, everyday users, creators, and influencers.
  • Analyzed short-form video content and Reels on Instagram and Facebook, ensuring alignment with content guidelines, platform standards, and audience engagement strategies.
  • Applied content strategy frameworks to assess and refine Reels content at scale, maintaining accuracy and consistency across Meta platforms.
  • Worked with a deep knowledge of the social media landscape and short-form video content, excellent skills in editorial strategy, and what makes digital content translate well online, advanced communication skills (verbal and written), the ability to perform and support basic data analysis and visualization, and proficiency in spreadsheet apps (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets, MS Excel, and other data analytics tools).
  • Assessed insights and analytics around content and trends while using concise editorial judgment, a strong command of social media, and an abstract understanding of data analysis.
  • Managed workflows for content review processes, optimizing execution to enhance the user experience, and drive platform engagement.
  • Produced reports with actionable insights based on data analysis, content performance trends, and audience behavior to inform internal teams, product strategies, and company-wide departments, and partners.
  • Maintained and expanded knowledge of the social media landscape, short-form video trends, and influencer content strategies to support content evaluation and platform innovation.
  • Followed repeatable workflows and content templates to support operational efficiency in a fast-paced, iterative work environment.

Editor In Chief & Editorial Director

AMAKA Studio
01.2020 - 01.2022
  • Developed and built the entire editorial framework from scratch for an international start-up 360 media publisher for and by African women from the company's start through its launch rollout and into its two-year mark
  • Led the editorial direction of an online platform spotlighting and telling nuanced stories for women from Africa and across the diaspora
  • Visionary leadership set the overall editorial direction and vision for the publication, ensuring the content aligned with the organization's goals and target audiences
  • Effectively led a global team of writers editors and other staff members across Africa, Europe, and America fostering a collaborative editorial environment, while executing daily EIC duties and building the editorial tone, website, programs, and more
  • Created and spearheaded a diverse range of editorial programs across written, video, and audio mediums under politics & society, music, arts & culture, business & innovation, lifestyle & wellness, and fashion & beauty
  • Conceptualized and produced various podcasts and video series for the multimedia angle of the publication
  • Implemented strategic planning and development of editorial strategies, including content calendars and team-building
  • Created and edited the publication's highest-performing editorial output in two languages- a French culture and arts column
  • Oversaw and led direction on all editorial contributions across the website's sections and editorial programs beyond the daily publication
  • Liaised between editorial, marketing, and commercial departments to ensure publication maintained editorial integrity and consistency while leading the editorial department on major commercial campaigns and brand partnerships
  • Served as the public representative of the company at live events, panels, and activations

Music Editor

Okayplayer
01.2017 - 01.2019
  • Spearheaded the editorial direction of the outlet's music vertical, while effectively revitalizing the name and ethos of the company through fresh, dynamic reporting, writing, and leadership
  • Successfully shifted the tone of the company's music coverage to be more current, reputable, and engaging for audiences. As a result, the editorial output of the company was more widely shared, recognized, and respected
  • Effectively kept a finger on the pulse of new genres, artists, discourse, and topics in order to maximize editorial coverage
  • Executed and led music coverage through news, online and video interviews, long-form written features, and playlist curation
  • Built a robust network of contributing writers from across the industry and worked one-on-one to ideate, guide, and edit stories
  • Helmed assignments, edits, and CMS publishing of freelance writers' work
  • Conducted extensive reporting, researching, and writing for individual stories alongside Editor duties
  • Successfully published articles that went on to have viral moments across socials, effectively increasing traffic on the website
  • Writing garnered attention and amplification from reputable outlets and platforms outside of the company, in turn boosting the company's appeal and widening the company's audience
  • Duties beyond editorial included managing the company's social media posts and engagement- writing copy for posts and uploading posts directly to Twitter and Instagram
  • Served as a co-producer on multiple video series interviews, developing questions for on-air, and guiding the direction of video segments and edits
  • Served as a liaison for artists, brands, and entities on behalf of the company. This included booking talent for office visits and video editorial franchises, as well as fostering and maintaining relationships between labels, artists, reps, and other entities to grow the company's network and public appeal

Freelance journalist and cultural critic

01.2017 - 01.2019
  • Ideated and wrote full-length features covering current events, news, politics, arts, music, and culture across a number of media publications including Teen Vogue, VIBE Magazine, BBC, PAPER magazine, Pitchfork, Complex, and LEVEL Magazine, and more
  • Many of these articles were widely shared, amplified across socials, and used as reference pieces in other works
  • Effectively published thought-provoking and conversation-starting writing that garnered traction for each outlet and long-lasting cultural impact within media
  • Contributed on-air commentary to various television, radio, and digital media platforms and networks including MTV News, NPR, BBC, Genius, Hot 97, REVOLT TV, Netflix, and more
  • On-air clips have gone viral and been widely referenced, effectively expanding the music and culture discourse of the times

Mary Wright Fellow / Culture Reporter

Village Voice
01.2016 - 01.2017
  • Writing and reporting on compelling socio-political topics, politics, music, art, and all things culture
  • Contributing to several of the Village Voice's final print issues, including a written profile for the cover of the 2017 Spring cover story
  • Executed assignments from editors and pitched full-length features, interviews, and profile pieces on artists, politicians, and public figures

Editorial Director and Social Media Manager

Cypher Magazine/Cypher League
12.2014 - 06.2016
  • Editor and architect for Hip-Hop arts collective, CypherLeague.com
  • Editor for the company's print publication, Cypher Magazine
  • Managing and recruiting staff of writers, assigning stories, training writers and editors
  • Interviewing artists and celebrities
  • Hosting publication's live shows and events
  • Social media manager for the company's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts
  • Content editing, copy editing and pitching story ideas for the writing team
  • Writing full-length features for print magazine and website
  • Connecting with companies/brands, building publication network

Trending News Team Content Curator/Journalist

Facebook
07.2015 - 02.2016
  • Curating and reporting national/international/political/entertainment/tech/finance news for Facebook's Trending News section- at the time, the social media network's premiere hub for news and information
  • Research, social media navigation, fact-checking, and corroborating content online
  • Conducting real-time headline writing and hard news delivery at Facebook's Media Central, keeping up the pace with the social media platform's trending news
  • Keeping up with news quotas and deadlines while ensuring tone and accuracy of news briefs and current events being covered

Women In The World Freelance Writer

The New York Times
02.2015 - 01.2016
  • Worked as a contributing writer for feature articles on national and global issues affecting women

Vote Entry Operator

Associated Press
New York, USA
10.2014 - 01.2016
  • Worked as vote entry operator for local and national political elections, including the 2016 Presidential Election
  • Conducted phone calls while operating Vote Tracker computer software and system data
  • Handled web scraper duties of navigating official county websites and updating tabulations from county reports to AP software

Casting and Research Assistant

BET Networks
New York, USA
07.2014 - 02.2015
  • Assisting casting director and lead producer in search of potential on air-hosts
  • Navigating social media platforms for leads, gathering artist bios, and contact information, and reviewing online submissions
  • Acting as a liaison between the control room, research room, and film studio
  • Writing and pitching commercial interstitial scripts
  • Pitching leads, and assisting producers in the control room while taping show 106 & Park and commercial interstitials
  • Editing video and audio, and producing talent audition packages for head casting directors
  • Worked as an on-camera correspondent for 106 & Park speaking on the nation's pressing current events

BET Correspondent Search Internship

New York, USA
07.2014 - 02.2015
  • Assisted casting director (REVOLT, MTV, mtvU, BET, Discovery) in search for a correspondent/floating host for television shows
  • Worked as a production hand on the final episodes of BET's biggest show to date, 106 & Park
  • Utilized social media as an effective tool to search for talent for various BET shows and projects
  • Pitched leads, assisting producers in the control room while taping show 106 & Park and commercial interstitials
  • Organized casting leads, maintained casting files, gathered artist information, and conducted outreach
  • Liaised between the control room, research room, and film studio
  • Assisted in editing video and audio, and produced talent audition packages for head casting directors
  • Appeared as an on-air correspondent for 106 & Park speaking on the nation's pressing current events

Education

Bachelor of Arts degree - Double Major - Journalism and Africana Studies

New York University
New York, NY
05-2014

Skills

  • Editorial and Communication Skills: Editorial Strategy and Leadership, Writing, Copywriting, Editing, Interviewing and Reporting
  • Digital Media and Production Skills: Content Ideation, Development and Production, Digital Media and Audience Growth, Final Cut Video Editing, Creative Directing
  • Consulting and Public Engagement Skills: Media, Editorial, and Brand Consulting, On-Air Hosting and Commentary, Public Speaking and Moderation
  • Technical Skills: Microsoft Office, Adobe, WordPress
  • Additional Skills: Cultural Analysis and Trend Forecasting, Event Hosting

Websites

Accomplishments

  • Ivie's writing has been published in The New York Times Women in The World, The Village Voice, NY Magazine, GQ, Teen Vogue, Vanity Fair, VIBE Magazine, The Fader, NBC News, BBC, PAPER magazine, Pitchfork, Complex, LEVEL Magazine, OkayAfrica, Grazia UK, NYU’s Social and Cultural Analysis Journal, and more. She hosted her own live radio show “In Full Effect” on Amazon Music’s AMP platform.
  • Ivie has received Harvard’s 2022 Eminence Award and the 2024 Journalist of the Year Unlabelled Award. Her writing has been nominated for The American Society of Magazine Editors Reader’s Choice Award.
  • Ivie has spoken at Harvard University, Yale University, New York University, Wesleyan University, Fordham University, and Howard University. She has moderated panels for Sony Music, Sephora, United Masters, Instagram, Audiomack, AFROPUNK, Afrofuture (Afrochella), Twitter, and more. She's done on-air commentary for ABC News Live, BBC Radio, NPR, BET, Entertainment Tonight, MSG Network, Sirius XM, Genius, Hot 97, MTV News, Netflix, and Revolt TV, with more commentary that has been featured in Nylon, Tidal, The Cut, Bustle, Racked, and more. She's been profiled in The Washington Post & APM Reports podcast and has appeared as a guest host on Red Bull Radio.
  • Ivie speaks on and moderates panels about media, music, journalism, identity, pop culture, the diaspora, socio-political issues, and history.

Languages

English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Limited
Nigerian Pidgin English
Limited

Timeline

Content Specialist

Meta
08.2023 - 04.2024

Editor In Chief & Editorial Director

AMAKA Studio
01.2020 - 01.2022

Music Editor

Okayplayer
01.2017 - 01.2019

Freelance journalist and cultural critic

01.2017 - 01.2019

Mary Wright Fellow / Culture Reporter

Village Voice
01.2016 - 01.2017

Trending News Team Content Curator/Journalist

Facebook
07.2015 - 02.2016

Women In The World Freelance Writer

The New York Times
02.2015 - 01.2016

Editorial Director and Social Media Manager

Cypher Magazine/Cypher League
12.2014 - 06.2016

Vote Entry Operator

Associated Press
10.2014 - 01.2016

Casting and Research Assistant

BET Networks
07.2014 - 02.2015

BET Correspondent Search Internship

07.2014 - 02.2015

Bachelor of Arts degree - Double Major - Journalism and Africana Studies

New York University

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