Janice Ellis – Award-Winning Author and Columnist

Janice Ellis Addresses Political, Racial, Educational, Socioeconomic News and Issues

Janice S. Ellis is an award-winning author of six books and has been a columnist for nearly five decades. She has written columns throughout her career for newspapers, radio, and online on education, politics, race, and socioeconomic issues. Her columns currently appear in publications across the United States and internationally.

Book III of the Real Advocacy Journalism® series, USING MY WORD POWER: Advocating for a More Civilized Society (2025), is receiving great editorial reviews. Here is what one reviewer has to say: "A veteran Black journalist inveighs against classism, racism, and sexism in this latest compilation of writings. In many ways, this collection serves as a stark reminder of how much work remains to address the discrimination that has flared in recent years. The aphoristic nature of such phrases as "Real change often comes very slowly" sounds particularly bleak when rights are swept away by judicial fiat.... If nothing else, the unflinching resolve that the author expresses throughout should serve as a wake-up call for those who don't understand that the struggles she describes don't merely exist in history books. As long as such fights persist, the author's calling will clearly continue, and books like this collection will always be needed. A set of works that effectively makes a case for sweeping social change, with an eye toward convincing readers to fight for it."

In the new edition of her book, From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream (2023), Ellis chronicles the conditions and forces that shaped her life and works. The book is written for girls and women who seek to discover their purpose in life, their role in society, and dare not let any obstacle stop them from realizing their quest, their dream—no matter the place of their birth, socioeconomic status, or station in life.

In her book, Using My Word Power: Advocating for a More Civilized Society (2022), according to one reviewer "Ellis tackles some of the most difficult and enduring issues of our time." It is Book I of three books in the Real Advocacy Journalism® series. As a collection, the selected commentaries are snapshots of history and are included because of their timeliness and timelessness. They have been written for a large radio station, a major metropolitan daily newspaper, community newspapers, and currently online. The book has received great editorial reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Midwest Book Reviews, and Chanticleer International Book Reviews and more. The book received First Place for the Nellie Bly Nonfiction Journalism Award.

In writing her commentary, Ellis has endeavored to following the standards and practices of what she calls Real Advocacy Journalism®, which is the focus of her award-winning book, Shaping Public Opinion: How Real Advocacy Journalism® Should Be Practiced (2021). More information about the book and Real Advocacy Journalism® can be found at realadvocacyjournalism.com.

Janice Ellis, a native daughter of Mississippi, grew up and came of age during the height of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s. Born and reared on a small cotton farm, she was influenced by two converging forces that would set the course of her life. The first was the fear and terror felt by blacks because of their seeking to exercise the right to vote along with other rights and privileges afforded to whites. The second was her love of books, the power of words, and her exposure to renowned columnists, Eric Sevareid and Walter Lippmann, whose work solidified her belief that the wise use of words is what advances society.

Ellis became determined to take a stand and not accept or allow the conditions of that farm life, or the strictures of oppressive racial segregation and entrenched sexism limit what she could become. She became determined to use whatever talents God had blessed her with and the power of words to help improve the human condition.

Contact Janice Ellis today to learn more about her work. She writes about social issues affecting people in Kansas City, Missouri, and throughout the country. These topics include gender inequality issues and life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Janice Ellis’ first book, From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream received the Gold Medal Award for Nonfiction Books from the Non Fiction Authors Association (NFAA), the highest award bestowed for nonfiction authors. From Liberty to Magnolia also received a notable review and honor from Kirkus Reviews, one of the oldest and most credible reviewers of books for libraries, schools, bookstores, publishers, agents and other industry professionals. The book is also receiving great customer reviews on Amazon.