Interactive One Dedicates Black History Month to Pop Culture Icons and Everyday Heroes With Original Features Across Its Suite of Sites

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Interactive One, the largest digital media company serving Black Americans, will celebrate Black History Month by honoring the achievements of African Americans over the past three decades with an exciting array of features across its sites.  Beginning today, Interactive One sites NewsOne.com, HelloBeautiful.com and TheUrbanDaily.com will shine the spotlight on a variety of Black Americans, from those known the world over to quiet heroes making a difference in their community and the world.

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NewsOne.com, the premiere online destination for up-to-the-minute, comprehensive news coverage relevant to African Americans, will identify 28 people breaking barriers and making history with "28 Game Changers," a month-long editorial feature.  Sponsored by AT&T, the original series will feature Black Americans' inspiring stories of success in the face of adversity with a profile of their achievements and an accompanying photo gallery.  The list includes such notable figures as Benjamin Alvin Drew, the first Black NASA astronaut to perform two spacewalks; NFL player Chris Draft whose Family Foundation addresses literacy issues; Velma Scantlebury, a transplant surgeon working to get more minority organ donors; and Lucille Singleton, an 87-year-old three-time marathoner who runs nearly everywhere she goes.

"Though we at Interactive One celebrate the achievements of African Americans year round, we dedicate this month to acknowledging some of the country's most extraordinary figures in business, healthcare, the arts, sports, entertainment and philanthropy," said Smokey Fontaine, Chief Content Officer, Interactive One.

TheUrbanDaily.com, Interactive One's pop culture property, will celebrate Black History Month with "Way Black When," a look back at memorable moments in African American pop culture from the 1970s, 80s and 90s. The month-long feature will include several content pieces presented in association with advertising partners. Gillette will sponsor a feature on Black celebrities' evolving style over the decades from Mr. T's iconic Mohawk-style haircut to Sean "Diddy" Combs' ever-changing fashion choices. Boost Mobile will sponsor a series of profiles of 25 up-and-coming musicians, actors and other artists that need to be heard.

HelloBeautiful.com, the definitive lifestyle website for Black women, will present "Black History In Love: A Celebration of Black Love Through The Decades," a retrospective focusing on the history of love in Black America over the last century.  Through profiles of notable couples and interviews with living legends, HelloBeautiful will explore the changing concept of love, relationships, marriage and family.  The site will also feature "Beauty of the Week," a series sponsored by returning partner Ambi Skincare that highlights images of iconic Black women through the decades such as Lena Horne, Grace Jones and Sade.

"We tip our hats to Ambi, AT&T, Boost Mobile and Gillette for their commitment to recognizing the contributions of African Americans to Black history," said Keith Bowen, Chief Revenue Officer, Interactive One. "Their partnership means more robust content and a more meaningful experience for our readers."

Throughout the month of February, HelloBeautiful, TheUrbanDaily and NewsOne will feature new Black History Month content daily and will be supported through Facebook and Twitter with posts, hash tags and photos.

ABOUT INTERACTIVE ONE

Interactive One has more than 15 million members and reaches more than 5 million Black Americans each month. With approximately 3 billion annual page views on its suite of sites, the company has become the definitive social network for Black America through BlackPlanet, as well as a number of leading content sites.  These sites include: NewsOne (http://www.NewsOne.com), which provides up to the minute, comprehensive coverage of newsworthy events relevant to Black Americans across the country and the world; TheGrio (http://www.TheGrio.com), a video-centric interactive community and division of NBC News that provides original content on topics ranging from breaking news and politics to health, business, and entertainment; TheUrbanDaily (http://www.TheUrbanDaily.com), the eyes and ears for Black Americans looking for what's hot online, on the airwaves, in theaters, and on the street; HelloBeautiful (http://www.HelloBeautiful.com), the definitive lifestyle resource for today's Black woman; and Elev8 (http://www.Elev8.com) a site devoted to elevating the mind, body and spirit.

Interactive One was launched by Radio One in 2008 to complement Radio One's existing portfolio of media companies targeting the African American community. Since its launch, Interactive One has quickly become the #1 online platform for the African American community.  Interactive One is powered by the mission to create an online community that engages and positively impacts the lives of African Americans.

SOURCE Interactive One