Errin Haines: Centering Black Women, Centering the Truth

In a media landscape crowded with noise and half-truths, Errin Haines has carved out a rare and essential space: one that unapologetically centers the experiences, voices, and leadership of Black women. Not as a trend. Not as a token. But as the architects of democracy, culture, and progress that they are.

As the founding editor-at-large of The 19th News, and a veteran political journalist, Errin Haines has made it her life’s work to tell the full story — the one that mainstream media too often overlooks. She covers history as it happens, but with a sharp understanding that history doesn’t just happen to people; it is made by them. Her reporting honors the architects of change, especially the Black women whose labor and leadership sustain the very foundations of democracy.

Errin is not just reporting the news. She is redefining it.

Giving Voice to the Backbone of Democracy

Throughout her career, Errin has illuminated a simple but revolutionary truth: Black women are not a special interest group — they are a cornerstone of political and cultural power in America.

Whether she is dissecting voter mobilization, amplifying the voices of women in the movement for racial justice, or holding elected officials accountable to the communities they serve, Errin brings rigorous journalism to the people who need it most. She has consistently challenged narratives that erase or diminish Black women’s contributions to society, insisting that these stories belong not at the margins, but at the very center.

Her coverage is sharp yet empathetic, intellectual yet accessible. It is journalism that refuses to look away — and in doing so, helps the nation confront itself with honesty.

Breaking Barriers, Building Trust

Errin Haines has never waited for permission to tell the truth. In fact, she has built an entire career on the understanding that permission is not required when purpose is clear.

Her reporting has graced the pages of The Washington Post, The Associated Press, NBC News, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, among others. She has become a trusted voice for audiences seeking not just information, but understanding.

Errin’s work dismantles the notion that journalism must be cold or detached to be credible. Instead, she proves that journalism can be grounded in community, compassion, and conviction — and still maintain the highest standards of truth-telling.

At a time when trust in media is fractured, Errin has emerged as a journalist people can believe in. Because she believes in them.

The Journalist as Activator

Errin’s role extends beyond reporting — she is a convener of critical conversations. Through public forums, panels, and mentorship of emerging journalists, she uses her platform to build not just awareness, but action.

She understands that journalism doesn’t just reflect society; it can also shape it. And she wields that responsibility with grace and power, inspiring a new generation of journalists to follow her lead in centering justice, accuracy, and humanity.

Her work underscores a vital truth: informed communities are empowered communities. And empowered communities change the world.

A Founding Force in The Machetes Collective

Errin Haines is not walking this path alone. As one of the ten visionary women of The Machetes, she amplifies her mission alongside fellow truth-tellers, advocates, and cultural architects.

Together, Errin and her Machete sisters — including Joy Reid, Angela Rye, Tiffany Cross, Jemele Hill, LaTosha Brown, Alicia Garza, Cari Champion, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, and Sunny Hostin — are building a new kind of media ecosystem. One where truth is not sacrificed for profit. One where the stories of marginalized communities are not afterthoughts, but headlines. One where power is shared, not hoarded.

In the Macheteverse, Errin’s work takes on even greater resonance. She becomes not just a journalist, but a torchbearer in a collective movement committed to cutting through misinformation, dismantling systemic barriers, and empowering communities with the truth they deserve.

Her reporting will inform the conversations of this generation. Her leadership will shape the media narratives of the next.

Together with The Machetes, Errin Haines is ensuring that no one — and no story — is left behind.