credit: ashley nguyen
jarrett hill is an artist, professor, and award-winning journalist who’s contributed to The New York Times, NPR, Variety, NBC News, and CNN. hill is co-author of the naacp image award-winning book Historically Black Phrases: From “I Ain’t One of Your Lil’ Friends” to “Who All Gon’ Be There?” (Penguin Random House/Ten Speed Press) Written with Tre’vell Anderson, the book explores and defines one of the most impactful elements of culture: Black language; using humor, thoughtful analysis, and style. The duo embarked on a live game-show tour based on the book in early 2024, having just wrapped four successful seasons and 200 episodes of their hit series, FANTI, one of Apple Podcasts’ first Favorite Shows of the Year.
hill is a renowned host and broadcaster, commanding large stages in front of thousands and masterfully moderating intimate conversations. jarrett has shined on daily nationally syndicated radio, live local and national television, and across network and independent digital platforms.
Until December 2023, jarrett served as president of the National Association of Black Journalists of Los Angeles (NABJLA). Across six years in leadership, first as vice president and then as president, hill redesigned the organization’s leadership structure, developed partnerships with major media and brands, produced frequent live events, conferences, and workshops while strongly focusing on developing a culture of inclusive community for Black journalists and media professionals. In advocacy and activism, jarrett served as part of a coalition of leaders from journalist-serving organizations that formed for press freedom legislation that would be signed into California law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, then-called Senate Bill 98. Additionally, hill worked on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives helping to bring freelance work and jobs for Black journalists at some of the largest journalism brands in the country along with Black and independent media. Their chapter was Professional Chapter of the Year, doubled in size pre-pandemic, rebounded, and did it again afterward.
hill has been an adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Southern California (USC) since joining the faculty in December 2021, teaching graduate-level students at the Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. Prior to becoming a professor, he’s been a guest speaker and lecturer at University of California Berkeley, Columbia University, and Medill, among others.
jarrett is the founder and chief trblmkr of trblmkng., encompassing his varied work as a multidisciplinary creative artist, entertainer, writer, designer, speaker & host, along with client-based media consulting. Named in tribute to ideas about angelic troublemakers and good trouble of Bayard Rustin and John Lewis, respectively, trblmkng. His clients include, but are not limited to: CBS, Starz, Showtime, The CW, Paramount+, Warner Bros., OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, and various private and corporate clients.
A little fun history: In 2016, jarrett made global headlines after breaking the story of Michelle Obama’s speech being plagiarized by Melania Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention. He was named later that year to the 2016 Ebony Power 100.
jarrett lives (and is likely at home) in Inglewood, California where he’s no doubt re-designing some space in his apartment, recipe testing a pastry in the kitchen, or getting that money’s-worth out of his sofa, trying to be a little lazier.