Today, BIN: Black Information Network, the 24/7 national audio news network dedicated to providing trusted, fact-based journalism with a Black voice and perspective, announced a new special public awareness campaign with a focus on a critical and urgent issue: Black maternal health.
“Saving Black Moms: A Maternal Health Crisis” will shine a light on the issue of Black maternal health and advocate for change through an integrated media campaign including special on-air reports, news features, public service announcements, social media engagement, a dedicated microsite, and community partnerships.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black mothers die at a higher rate than other women during and after pregnancy, one of the most significant moments in a family’s life. CDC statistics show that in 2023, 50.3 Black women died for every 100,000 live births compared to 14.5 White women, 12.4 Hispanic women and 10.7 Asian women.
Those numbers include Black women of all ages, educational levels, and socio-economic backgrounds. Experts cite several reasons for the difference including a lack of health insurance and access to healthcare, poor pre-natal and post-partum care, transportation and housing issues, and geography, among others.
BIN’s “Saving Black Moms: A Maternal Health Crisis” will roll out in two phases. The first phase begins the week of April 14 with news reports highlighting Black Maternal Health Week activities in Washington, DC. The following week, a special hour-long program previewing the issues surrounding Black maternal health will air at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 23. The program will include a personal message from Tony Coles, President of the Black Information Network. The first phase will conclude with a Mother’s Day feature in the Black Perspective on Sunday, May 11, and a preview of the second phase of the campaign.
The second phase of the campaign will launch on Monday, June 2 with a dedicated microsite, a comprehensive social media drive, PSA’s, weekly news reports and special features that will continue through the end of September.
The campaign will feature interviews with leading maternal health professionals, advocates, survivors, and community leaders who are working to protect the lives of mothers during their maternal health journeys. In addition, the campaign will offer insight on how community members can get involved and help expectant and post-partum mothers in their communities.
“As a network committed to amplifying underrepresented voices, it is our responsibility to shine a light on the alarming disparities that Black women face before, during and after childbirth,” said Tony Coles, President, BIN: Black Information Network. “This campaign is about advocacy, action, and partnership. By working with trusted community organizations and The BIN Local Roundtable, we can help raise awareness and ensure every Black mother receives the care and support she deserves.”
The BIN Local Roundtable was designed as a forum for business and civic leaders from local communities across the U.S. to provide perspective and collaborate with BIN’s leadership team regarding the network’s programming and local engagement. The new campaign follows “The Lock It and Store It! A BIN Gun Safety Awareness Campaign,” developed in 2024 in partnership with The BIN Local Roundtable and included the airing of special features, news reports and digital content on the costs and impacts of unintentional shootings by Black children in America.
“I am honored to be a part of the Black Information Network’s movement to educate listeners about the meaningful things we are doing and can do, community by community, to help eliminate the alarming disparities in the Black maternal mortality rate,” said Thana Hickman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Viola’s House, BIN Local Roundtable Member and official Black maternal health advisor for the campaign. “Uplifting Black mothers and babies requires the support of everyone in the village. We know that awareness, action, and advocacy can save the lives of mothers across this country. When we tap into our power, we can make real and lasting change to sustain Black motherhood.”