Cyril Josh Barker is an award-winning digital editor and journalist for the New York Amsterdam News and has been at the over 110-year-old African-American newspaper since 2007. He's reported on a wide range of topics including politics, social justice, profiles, crime, education and arts and entertainment.

Josh serves as the newspaper's digital editor for its online platforms amsterdamnews.com, AmNews Curtain Raiser and The Black New Yorkers. On the digital media landscape, he produces content, breaking news, uses social media to engage readers and tells stories using multimedia tools including photography, video and audio formats. He is the host and producer of the "New York Amsterdam News Podcast."

Josh is a co-host/commentator on 107.5 FM WBLS and WBAI 99.5 FM with radio legend Imhotep Gary Byrd. On the air, Josh discusses community, political, education and social issues. He has also made appearances on 1690 AM WVON in Chicago, National Public Radio (NPR), Arise News and the Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN). 

His writing has appeared in news outlets across the nation including the CNN News Wire, Politico, 420 Magazine, Manhattan Times, BlackPressUSA, Philadelphia Tribune, Final Call, Washington Informer, Chicago Crusader, Black Voice News, Milwaukee Courier, Baltimore Afro-American, Los Angeles Sentinel, Chicago Citizen, Dallas Weekly, Louisiana Weekly, Sacramento Observer, The Savannah Tribune, Target Market News, The Muslim Journal , African Globe, Toledo Journal, The Skanner News, The Austin Villager, Kolumn Magazine, The Jacksonville Free Press, and The New Pittsburgh Courier. Josh had an acclaimed cover story in The Source magazine focusing on the issue of police brutality.

He has won several awards from the New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ) including first and second place awards for Best Spot/General News Story. Josh earned a first place award for his coverage on a grand jury's decision not to indict the NYPD officer who fatally shot Ramarley Graham. He was also recognized by the Center for Community and Ethnic Media (CCEM) for his work on the Amsterdam News' website. 

Distinguished people Josh has interviewed include the Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Alicia Keys, actress Mo’Nique, Aretha Franklin, National Urban League President Marc Morial, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, New York City Mayor Eric Adams former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, former Congressman Charlie Rangel, Steve Harvey, the parents of Trayvon Martin (Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin), activist Tamika Mallory, T. D. Jakes, New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo, T.I., Common, Ledisi, Kelly Rowland, Tom Joyner, Julian Bond, actor Lamman Rucker, Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee and others.

Prior to working at the New York Amsterdam News he was a crime, real estate and general assignment reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser (part of the USA Today network) in Montgomery, Alabama.

In the community, Josh has held memberships with the New York Urban League Young Professionals where he served on the community service committee, the HBCU Alumni Council of New York where he served as recruitment chair and served as Vice President of Print and Interim President for the New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ).

A noted speaker, Josh has served on panels, discussions and presented speeches for the NAACP, the National Action Network, New York Urban League Young Professionals, NYABJ, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women and the Society of Professional Journalists. 

In the academic world, Josh has spoken to journalism students at Columbia University, New York University, Long Island University, St. John’s University, The City University of New York (CUNY) Journalism School, Alabama State University, Howard University and Auburn University. He has also served on the York College Journalism Advisory Committee. Josh is the internship coordinator for the Amsterdam News where he hires and mentors college students.

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Josh is a 2006 graduate of Alabama State University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a minor in Sociology. He currently resides in the Bronx.