National News

Award-winning Final Call writer flexes her media muscle

By Nisa Islam Muhammad -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Oct 11, 2018 - 12:35:18 AM

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In the era of “fake news,” it can be difficult for some to know fact from fiction.  That’s why Charlene Muhammad, long-time journalist and national correspondent for The Final Call Newspaper, has grown her weekly radio show Liberated Sisters. It has grown from just an idea she had into a weekly radio show and now a live video podcast.

Liberated Sisters is broadcast on Pacifica Network’s 90.7 FM/KPFK.org and its expansion now brings Charlene Muhammad’s show to three stations on the internet.

Every Tuesday 10 a.m. PST, the video podcast airs on MorrisMediaLive.com and is also streamed at Liberated Sisters on YouTube and on Facebook Live at “Charlene Muhammad.”  Liberated Sisters is a founding member of Radio Justice L.A., a newly-formed grassroots community station, and airs every Friday at 8 a.m. PST.

“I was tired of the barriers to the truth in media, so I decided to create my own,” she told The Final Call.  This expansion of Liberated Sisters is a continuation of her award-winning work at the independent Black-owned weekly founded by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. 

“I want to thank the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan for helping me find my voice.  Broadcasting has always been my dream.  The Final Call gave me a chance.  Liberated Sisters takes it to another level,” she said.

Charlene Muhammad also extended a special thanks to Richard Muhammad, Editor in Chief of The Final Call, “for being my long-time mentor and editor.”

Not only does she write hard hitting stories of what’s happening in the Black community across the country for The Final Call, she also anchors “The Justice Report,” a mini-news segment highlighting various issues, protests, social ills, and the work of advocates and activists to raise awareness and seek justice about those problems.

Charlene Muhammad has also created “Pumps on the Ground,” an independent media project out of Liberated Sisters that travels into the trenches, to the scenes of crisis, triumph, advocacy and activism in Black and underrepresented communities to raise awareness about issues impacting them and their families.

Her work includes serving as news anchor and field reporter for the KPFK midday and evening newscasts, and she is a founding member, producer and host of “Some of Us Are Brave,” a Black women’s radio program (currently on hiatus on KPFK). She contributed to Free Speech Radio News and worked four years as a producer of 102.3 FM- KJLH Radio’s “Front Page,” morning public affairs show. There she also produced and hosted the mini- news segment, entitled “The Next Page,” which highlighted news overlooked by mainstream media.

She accomplishes this all while caring for her family which includes her husband Ali and their children, Ra’eesah and Mustapha.  That’s part of what she wants to share.

“I want people to see the versatility of the women in the Nation of Islam.  We do a lot even though generally people don’t know it.  I’m mostly working alone now putting together a weekly radio show and video podcast without a producer.  It’s time consuming but it’s a very necessary work that I enjoy.”

Her expansion has opened internship opportunities for anyone interested in production, promotions, sponsorship, management and research. For more information, contact Charlene Muhammad at [email protected].

—Nisa Islam Muhammad