Jasmyn Lawson
Jasmyn Lawson (born 1991)[1][2] is an American digital media executive. Lawson has been manager of original series at Netflix since 2020. She previously worked for the streamer's Strong Black Lead initiative, and was a culture editor at Giphy.[3]
Early life and education
Lawson was raised in Jackson, Michigan.[4] She received her bachelor's degree from Spelman College, where she was a drama major and a film studies minor.[4][5] During college she held an internship at Cartoon Network.[5] Lawson also blogged regularly and at 21 wrote a post expressing her desire to work at Netflix.[6]
Career
Lawson's first position out of college was as a page at NBC.[5] After her program term ended she worked at social media marketing agency Glow.[5]
She left Glow in 2016 to worked as a culture editor at Giphy. She developed GIFs relevant to Black culture and used Twitter to inform which ones to create.[7] Maintaining a Twitter presence is central to Lawson's work and she credits Black Twitter with driving cultural trends.[5]
Lawson was scouted by Netflix in 2018 to join their fledgling Strong Black Lead initiative.[8][6] She was hired as the editorial and brand manager for the project and oversaw social media communications.[1][8] Lawson produced the podcasts Strong Black Legends and Strong Black Laughs.[4] She noticed conversations Twitter users had about the desire to stream Black sitcoms from the late 1990s and early 2000s.[9] That influenced her to advocate for Netflix to pick up licensing rights for programs such as Sister, Sister and Moesha.[9] The shows had high viewership ratings after they debuted on Netflix.[9]
In November 2020 Lawson was promoted to the executive level as manager of original series including Never Have I Ever and Dear White People.[10][6] She also oversees the development of new comedy shows.[10]
Personal life
Lawson resides in Los Angeles.[11]
Accolades
- 2020 – The Root 100, Entertainment, The Root[12]
- 2021 – 30 under 30, Hollywood & Entertainment, Forbes[10]
References
- ^ a b "Under Jasmyn Lawson's Unapologetically 'Strong Black Lead,' Our Lives Are That Much Better and Blacker". The Root. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- ^ Lawson, Jasmyn (2020-09-28). "I'on work jobs, I am a job". Twitter.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Cut, The (2018-04-04). "No Filter Wraps Up, and How Culture Editor Jasmyn Lawson Makes Herself Visible". The Cut. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
- ^ a b c Khan, Nisa. "Young Michigan experts make Forbes's annual 30 under 30 list". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
- ^ a b c d e Truong, Peggy (2017-05-22). "Get That Life: How I Became the Culture Editor at GIPHY". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
- ^ a b c Evans, Erin E. (2021-04-29). "Jasmyn Lawson Is Working To Get Iconic Black Shows And Films Back On Your TV". HuffPost. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Wheeler, André-Naquian (2018-01-05). "giphy culture editor jasmyn lawson is making gifs more black". i-D. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- ^ a b Ifeanyi, K. C. (2020-07-30). "Inside Netflix's Strong Black Lead: How the streamer showcases a variety of Black experiences". Fast Company. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- ^ a b c Schneider, Michael (2020-12-10). "'Sister, Sister,' 'Girlfriends' and Other Beloved Black Sitcoms Are Finding New Life on Netflix". Variety. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c "30 under 30". www.forbes.com. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Breaux, Adrienne. "Jasmyn Lawson's Rental Apartment Features Black Art from Black Artists in Almost Every Room". Apartment Therapy. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ "The Root 100 - Jasmyn Lawson". The Root. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)