Danielle Belton (born c.1977) is an American journalist who is the editor-in-chief of HuffPost. She worked with local and national publications, as well as developing a television series for BET. After joining The Root in 2015, she became its youngest managing editor and its first editor-in-chief. In 2021 she was selected as editor of HuffPost.[2][3][4][5]

Danielle Belton
Belton in 2024
Born1977 or 1978 (age 46–47)[1]
OccupationEditor of HuffPost

Early life and education

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Belton grew up in Black Jack and Florissant, Missouri.[6] After graduating from Hazelwood Central High School, she attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she received a Bachelor's degree in English and Journalism.[6]

Career

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She started her journalism career with The Bakersfield Californian, a local newspaper in Bakersfield, California.[5][7] In 2007 she started the 'Black Snob', an award-winning blog.[3]

In 2011 she worked on developing a television show for Black Entertainment Television (BET) called Don't Sleep, hosted by T. J. Holmes; she became its head writer.[8][9] Although the show was cancelled after 8 months, it was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 2013.[9][10]

In 2015 Belton joined The Root, where she was appointed as managing editor in 2016.[11] She was appointed as its first editor-in-chief.

References

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  1. ^ "Danielle Belton Named Managing Editor of The Root". 22 May 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  2. ^ "HuffPost Names Danielle Belton as New Top Editor". The New York Times. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b Yang, Nu; Mateos, Evelyn (1 July 2021). "10 Women to Watch". Editor and Publisher. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  4. ^ Flynn, Kerry (17 August 2021). "Newsroom leadership has never been this diverse, but that's not enough". CNN. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b Spangler, Todd (24 March 2021). "BuzzFeed Appoints New HuffPost Editor in Chief, Danielle Belton of The Root". Variety. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b "STL native Danielle Belton named leader at HuffPost". St Louis American. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  7. ^ Graham, Michelai (25 March 2021). "Danielle Belton Prepares to leave the Root to Take Over As Editor and Chief of HuffPost". Afrotech. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Danielle Belton". The Citizen. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  9. ^ a b "The Root Names Danielle Belton Managing Editor". Univision. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  10. ^ "BET Drops TJ Holmes, Cancels 'Don't Sleep' Show". The Jasmine Brand. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  11. ^ Giuliani-Hoffman, Francesca (17 January 2018). "The Root's Danielle Belton: 'We were going to fully embrace being black'". CNN. Retrieved 12 September 2021.