8 Questions For Economist and TheLoop21’s Founder Darrell Williams
TAP: What do you see on the horizon for the black community in the midst of the slow economic recovery?
DW: I think we start by looking at the broader landscape of the American economy. The recovery is going to be long and hard for a lot of people, not just African Americans. What people aren’t talking a lot about is that the lost jobs aren’t coming back. What this means is, there’s going to be a long term impact on people. The challenge is going to be how the U.S. economy and labor market adjust to the structural changes. There’s so much international competition and a lot of work that can be done more cheaply elsewhere, and it will be done elsewhere. A lot of the middle class jobs won’t exist anymore. There are plenty of jobs for people who have advanced degrees and a lot of jobs at the lower end of the spectrum with lower wages. The challenge will be how to create jobs in the middle which has sustained the middle class since World War II; jobs that provide a great living without a lot of advanced education. Those jobs are the ones that are least likely to come back.
TAP: What is one of the most important lessons you’ve learned since getting into the publishing business?
DW: I’ve learned a lot of things. As an economist, I’ve spent most of my life studying industry dynamics. The internet has been disruptive in the media space and how its changing the media landscape both in audience consumption and advertisement. What’s most fascinating is the introduction of a new technology and how its shaping and forming an existing industry.
TAP: Are there any examples of a time when TheLoop21.com has sparked a lot of debate or dialogue?
DW: Our race and media series is something that’s gotten a lot of attention and has ignited several debates around the role of mainstream media. We’ve had packages on gender issues that have had a huge impact and ignited a lot of discussion.
TAP: Where do you see TheLoop21.com going from here?
DW: Our goal and mission remains consistent; to just have a bigger and broader impact on the public discourse and issues that matter to our community. We’ve gotten off to a great start doing that, and we’re improving all the time. But our long term goals are to lead that discussion and allow the issues in our community to percolate to the top and to the role of national prominence so that we have a voice in the public debate. One that matters and influences policy and public opinion.
