Advertise in the Black Kings Journal
The Black Kings Journal is the official publication of the Juneteenth NYC Black Kings dinner gala — a prestige annual event honoring Black men of distinction. With a targeted, high-engagement audience of community leaders, professionals, and cultural influencers, advertising in the Journal puts your brand or organization in front of New York's most civically active Black community.
Reserve Your Ad SpaceA Publication Built on Excellence
The Black Kings Journal is not a generic event program. It is a thoughtfully produced publication that honors the men recognized at the Black Kings dinner gala and serves as a lasting keepsake for attendees, their families, and their communities. Unlike flyers or digital promotions that are forgotten within hours, the Journal is kept, shared, and referenced long after the event ends.
Each edition of the Journal includes profiles of the year's honorees, written reflections on Black excellence and leadership, historical context for the Juneteenth celebration, and curated advertising from organizations and businesses that share the community's values. The editorial team approaches each issue with the same care and intentionality that goes into selecting the honorees themselves.
The Black Kings dinner gala is one of the signature events within the broader Black Kings celebration, which spans multiple days and includes formal recognition of community leaders, mentors, entrepreneurs, and civic servants. The gala draws an audience that is deeply invested in Black community advancement — not casual event-goers, but committed stakeholders.
Distribution of the Journal extends beyond the gala itself. Copies are made available at partner community organizations, faith institutions, barbershops, and cultural centers throughout New York City in the weeks following the event. Select copies are also distributed at the outdoor marketplace and festival during the broader Juneteenth NYC celebration weekend, extending advertiser reach beyond the formal gala audience.
For organizations looking to honor their own leaders through the recognition programs associated with the Black Kings celebration, we encourage you to explore the nominations process. Advertising in the Journal and nominating a community leader can be done independently or together — many organizations choose to do both, purchasing an ad that congratulates their nominee while also sponsoring his recognition.
Advertisers interested in purchasing full tables or reserved seating at the Black Kings gala in addition to Journal advertising should visit our seats and tables page to coordinate a complete gala presence.
Ad Sizes & Pricing Tiers
Choose the ad format that best fits your organization's goals and budget. All sizes are available in full color with premium placement options.
Back Cover — Premier Placement
The most prestigious advertising position in the Journal. Full-page, full-color back cover. 8.5" x 11" bleed. Your brand is the first and last thing readers see. Limited to one advertiser per edition. Includes a complimentary half-page interior ad for a secondary message or organizational profile. Deadline: 8 weeks before the gala.
Reserve back coverInside Front or Back Cover
Full-page, full-color premium interior covers. 8.5" x 11" with 0.125" bleed. Inside front cover faces the first editorial page; inside back cover faces the final editorial spread. Two positions available. High visibility placement that ensures your ad is seen during initial browsing. Deadline: 8 weeks before the gala.
Reserve a cover positionFull Page Interior
Full-page, full-color interior placement. 8.5" x 11" with standard 0.125" bleed. Positioned adjacent to editorial content. Multiple positions available throughout the Journal. Ideal for organizations wanting significant presence without premium cover pricing. Preferred placement may be requested and accommodated when possible.
Reserve full pageHalf Page
Half-page horizontal (8.5" x 5.5") or vertical (4.25" x 11") format, full color. Two ads appear on facing pages, providing strong visual impact at accessible pricing. Frequently chosen by small businesses, professional service providers, and individuals congratulating nominees. Deadline: 6 weeks before the gala.
Reserve half pageQuarter Page
Quarter-page format (4.25" x 5.5"), full color. Four ads arranged on a single page. Perfect for congratulatory messages, small business ads, and professional directory listings. Popular with family members honoring a nominated loved one. The most accessible entry point for advertising in the Journal.
Reserve quarter pageCongratulatory Listing
One-eighth page text listing in the congratulations section. Ideal for individuals, families, or small organizations sending a brief message to an honoree. Includes name, brief message (up to 30 words), and optional phone or website. Deadline: 5 weeks before the gala. Lowest entry point with guaranteed placement.
Place a congratulatory listingAudience Demographics & Distribution Details
Understanding who reads the Black Kings Journal helps you determine whether it's the right platform for your organization's message.
Reader Demographics
The Black Kings Journal reaches a highly specific and highly desirable audience: Black professionals, community leaders, entrepreneurs, faith leaders, educators, and civic advocates in the New York City metropolitan area. Gala attendees are typically adults aged 30–65 with above-average household incomes and deep ties to organized community life.
Gala attendance skews toward established professionals and community institution leaders — people who make purchasing decisions for organizations, recommend service providers within their networks, and have significant influence on community spending patterns. This is not a general consumer audience; it is a network of community connectors.
Secondary distribution reaches a broader audience that includes family members of honorees, partner organizations' staff and members, and the wider Juneteenth NYC festival audience. This secondary readership extends the Journal's reach to tens of thousands of additional readers beyond the formal gala guest list.
Distribution Reach
Print run for the Black Kings Journal is determined each year based on gala capacity and partner distribution commitments. Typical editions print 500–800 copies for gala distribution, with an additional 200–400 copies distributed through community channels. Digital editions are distributed to the full Juneteenth NYC email list, which numbers in the thousands.
Community distribution sites include Harlem-area barbershops and beauty salons, YMCA branches serving predominantly Black communities in Brooklyn and the Bronx, faith institutions that serve as community partners of Juneteenth NYC, and select libraries and cultural centers in the five boroughs.
The Journal is also shared extensively on social media by honorees and their families, creating viral reach beyond the print distribution. Photos of honorees holding their Journal profiles generate strong organic engagement and extend advertiser visibility to entirely new audiences on Instagram and Facebook.
Design Specifications & File Requirements
All ads must be submitted as print-ready PDF files with embedded fonts and linked images. Resolution must be 300 DPI at final print size. Color mode should be CMYK for print fidelity. RGB files submitted for print will be converted by our production team, which may result in color shifts — for accurate color reproduction, submit CMYK files.
Bleed: 0.125\" on all sides for full-page and cover ads. Safety margin: keep all critical text and logos at least 0.25\" from trim edge. For layouts involving specific fonts, please embed fonts in the PDF or provide a font list so our production team can verify compatibility.
If you need design assistance, we can connect you with community-based graphic designers who are familiar with the Journal's aesthetic and production requirements. These designers are recommended partners, not an in-house service — coordinate directly and factor design timelines into your submission schedule.
Key Deadlines
Ad space reservation deadline varies by placement tier (8 weeks for covers, 6 weeks for full and half pages, 5 weeks for quarter pages and listings). Reserving early ensures preferred placement and allows maximum time for design and review. Space is limited and popular placements sell out each year.
Final file submission is due 4 weeks before the gala for all placements. Late submissions are accepted on a case-by-case basis with a late fee; however, late files may not be accommodated if production has already begun. Payment in full is required to confirm your reservation.
Proof review: our production team will provide a digital proof of your ad layout within 5 business days of file receipt. You will have 48 hours to review and approve or request changes. A second round of revisions is included; additional revision rounds may incur fees.
Reservation process: complete the order form to initiate your ad space reservation. An invoice will be issued upon confirmation of placement availability, with payment due within 5 business days.
Editorial Standards & Content Review
All advertising content in the Black Kings Journal is subject to editorial review for alignment with the publication's values and community standards. Ads that conflict with the spirit of the Juneteenth NYC celebration — including content that is disparaging of Black culture, promotes harmful products, or misrepresents services — will not be accepted.
Alcohol and tobacco advertising is not accepted. Political candidate advertising is not accepted. Direct comparisons to competitors or negative comparisons of any kind are not permitted. All claims in advertising copy must be accurate and verifiable.
Ads from organizations, businesses, and individuals that actively support Black community advancement, employ Black professionals at leadership levels, and engage authentically with Black communities are given preference in the space allocation process when demand exceeds availability.
For the complete advertising standards document, contact our Journal editorial team at journal@juneteenthnyc.org. Questions about specific content or categories can be directed there before you begin the design process to avoid wasted effort on content that may need revision.
Reserve Your Ad Space in the Black Kings Journal
Space is limited and fills quickly each year. Secure your placement today to reach New York City's most engaged Black community audience at the Black Kings dinner gala and beyond.