Silver Spring, Md. - TV One today announced plans to air a regular series of 60-second social and political commentaries by award-winning journalist and author Roland Martin on a wide range of topics of interest to African Americans.

Executive editor of the Chicago Defender, nationally syndicated columnist and author of the book "Speak Brother! A Black Man's View of America," Martin is known for his provocative opinions and insightful analysis. The former founding editor of blackamericaweb.com and former news editor of Savoy magazine, Martin is also a frequent guest on national television and radio talk shows including America's Black Forum.

"Like many of our fellow citizens, African Americans love to discuss the political, sociological and economic issues that have an impact on our daily lives, and no one is better than Roland Martin at generating conversation on those issues," said TV One President and CEO Johnathan Rodgers. "Roland Martin is relentless in his pursuit of truth and understanding; TV One viewers will benefit greatly from his dynamic, thought-provoking commentaries."

Martin will offer his own unique perspective on a wide range of timely and/or timeless topics ranging from the success or failure of the Voting Rights Act to the definition of black manhood to the health crisis in black America today. The 60-second commentaries will debut in May, 2005.

"I look forward to working with TV One and appreciate the opportunity to play a part in the network's efforts to generate a dialog on issues important to all African Americans," Martin said. "TV One represents excellence in broadcasting and I firmly believe the commentaries will serve a valuable purpose in advancing the network as the voice of black America."

Roland S. Martin is the former editor of the Houston Defender, Houston's leading Black newspaper, and the former managing editor of The Weekly, Dallas-Fort Worth's top Black newspaper, which he led to a number of local, state and national journalism awards.

Mr. Martin served as City Hall reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he also wrote sports and news columns. While at the Star-Telegram, Mr. Martin was a part of the paper's team coverage of the 1995 Oklahoma City federal building bombing, which led to honors from the Texas Associated Press-Managing Editors. Mr. Martin was also a part of the Star-Telegram's award-winning coverage of the fiery end of the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Texas, in April 1993. He also worked at the Austin American-Statesman in Austin, Texas, where he served as a county government reporter and a south neighbors reporter.

He has won more than 20 professional awards for journalistic excellence, including a regional Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television News Directors; several first-place awards from the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Communicators; two citations from the National Associated Press-Managing Editors Conference; the top sports reporting award in 1997 from the National Association of Black Journalists; and honors from the Houston Press Club.