ABOUT JUNAE BENNE

Junae Benne is an esports journalist, video game enthusiast, and a natural hair connoisseur. She has been in the gaming industry for eight years. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism from Northern Illinois University, she is a published journalist. She's taken her experience from NBC 5 and NBC Sports and brought it to the gaming and tech industry.  Junae covers EQNX esports team players and is also a member herself.

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As a video game journalist, I've rubbed elbows with the best. I was scouted to work with Microsoft to be the head of Chicago's gaming community. Some of my favorite events were creating a curriculum to teach kids coding, creating events for kids with Autism who love gaming, and raising money for Extra Life with a midnight release and cosplayers the Marvel vs Capcom 4. I was able to continue doing this with the help of Microsoft software. All off of the work I did as a gaming journalist. Besides putting on multiple successful events for Microsoft, I've created and hosted many fighting game tournaments and charity live streams for civil rights.

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As a dark skin, natural hair Black woman operating in tech and the gaming industry, I know how hard it is to ascend to the next level. With every accolade and opportunity I am fighting to close the gap and create more representation for Black women in tech and gaming. 

 

Junae is also a knowledgeable and talented speaker, presenting at events including National Association Black Journalist Conference 20, Ubisoft's Black Game Pros Mixer, PAX, & EVO. At these events, she talks about esports, Black women in gaming, and getting more BIPOC into tech.

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August 2020, Benne released the E-Book How to Become a Successful Video Game Journalist.