Multimedia journalist, digital editor, and photographer Polly Irungu is the founder of Black Women Photographers, a community and online database of Black women photographers.
Polly is a Digital Content Editor at New York Public Radio (WYNC), where she is responsible for managing social media for WNYC and PRX’s ‘The Takeaway’, a national NPR show with over 2 million listeners, pitching news stories and features for The Takeaway and her podcast is ranked the 4th most downloaded, amongst others.
As a photographer, Polly’s work has been published in numerous publications, including Refinery29, NPR, The Washington Post, BuzzFeed, CNN, HuffPost, OkayPlayer, OkayAfrica, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the University of Oregon.
In 2017, Polly completed a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Polly has lived around the world from Nairobi, Kenya to Topeka, Kansas to Eugene, Oregon to Washington, D.C., and ultimately to Brooklyn, New York.
Polly Irungu has spoken about social media, branding, podcasting, media diversity, African media, COVID-19, and photojournalism at US institutions such as the University of Oregon, and as a panelist for The Guardian - Nigeria, Public Ambition, Twitter, NBC News, Hustle Summit, National Association of Black Journalists, and Online News Association.
Polly Irungu appears in the following:
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Ethiopia’s government has declared an immediate ceasefire in the Tigray region, where a conflict has been raging since last November.
Monday, June 21, 2021
In her new book, Professor Carol Anderson argues that the right to self-defense is not applied equally to African Americans.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Channing Godfrey Peoples, screenwriter and director of "Miss Juneteenth," joined The Takeaway to discuss the significance of Miss Juneteenth pageants and what they represent today.
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Despite the White House’s stated commitment to closing the racial wealth gap, some advocates believe that the federal government’s new plans don’t go nearly far enough.
Wednesday, June 09, 2021
Last week, the NFL admitted it had been using a practice known as “race-norming," which made it harder for Black players to qualify for a payout if they have dementia.
Wednesday, June 09, 2021
Started more than 40 years ago, the observance celebrates the history and scope of Black music from classical and folk to hip hop and rock.
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Research shows that Black women have historically faced evictions at twice the rate of white people in at least 17 states.
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
It’s been a tough year. We discuss the hope and resilience that got us through the collective trauma and devastation of 2020.
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Last week, the Oscars announced a new set of standards that Best Picture nominees will need to meet starting in 2024. But the vast majority of recent nominees would still make the cut.
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Freelance photojournalist Montinique Monroe talks about her father, Paul Monroe, who was killed by police on April 15, 1993.
Wednesday, September 09, 2020
Over time, school disciplinary policies have been administered unequally, with Black students, Native American students, and students with disabilities punished disproportionately.
Wednesday, September 09, 2020
According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, a person with severe mental illness is 16 times more likely to be killed in an encounter with police.
Wednesday, September 09, 2020
As with so many diseases, colon cancer is one that disproportionately affects the Black community in this country.
Tuesday, September 08, 2020
A look into the killings of Dijon Kizzee, and Andres Guardado.
Tuesday, September 08, 2020
The Census Bureau will stop counting in San Diego and other parts of the country on September 18. That date is even earlier than the previous September 30th deadline.
Thursday, September 03, 2020
This week, people in Tulsa filed a lawsuit demanding reparations for victims and descendants of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Wednesday, September 02, 2020
As protests against police brutality spread across the U.S. this summer, major fashion brands and companies expressed solidarity with Black Lives Matter.
Wednesday, September 02, 2020
On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a nationwide eviction moratorium for renters making less than $99,000.
Thursday, August 20, 2020
According to a recent survey, 87% of Black women identify as Democrats, making them one of the most party-loyal demographics in the U.S. Yet, they’ve often been sidelined by politicians.
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
The 19th Amendment sought to grant all women the right to vote. In reality, it really only applied to white women.