Diverse newsrooms can transform our industry
The enormous financial pressures facing the news industry today have led too many to overlook an equally enormous opportunity for newsrooms to both support and advance diversity.
That opportunity lies in developing diverse leadership to help news companies adapt to changing communities and audiences, and UNITY: Journalists of Color urges the American Society of Newspaper Editors to refocus its diversity initiatives on the promotion and retention of journalists of color in management roles, including senior management.
Cronkite School Conducts UNITY Diversity Research
The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University will unveil two major journalism diversity projects at the UNITY: Journalists of Color convention in Chicago this summer. Both projects are funded by the McCormick Tribune Foundation. The work includes a Web-based clearinghouse for research on news diversity issues and a census of ethnicity of the Washington press corps. The Washington study is a follow up to a 2004 study conducted for UNITY by Cronkite Dean Christopher Callahan when he was at the University of Maryland. More
NABJ Partners with CNN on Black in America HBCU Tour
CNN and the National Association of Black Journalists are offering African American students the opportunity to chronicle their experiences at historically black colleges and universities through the network’s Black in America series. More
MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM: Challenges and Opportunities
Saturday, May 3, 2008: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sponsored by Region 2 of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists
LOCATION: City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School of Journalism, 219 W. 49th St. (between 7th and 8th Avenues) NY, NY 10018
COST: $40 NAHJ members/$20 NAHJ student members/$50 non-NAHJ members
Click here for more information and to register
GAO Report Confirms FCC Flying Blind on Media Diversity
The Government Accountability Office has released a report highlighting the dearth of female and minority-owned broadcast stations. The report, requested by Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), found that the Federal Communications Commission lacks any "comprehensive data" on female and minority broadcast ownership. More
The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma invites you to a reception and panel to recognize the winners of the2008 Dart Awards for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma
5:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 23
Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism
Joseph Pulitzer World Room
116th Street and Broadway
New York City
For more information about the awards reception and panel, or to RSVP, please email Kate Black at kate.black@dartcenter.org
Dorothy Gilliam to be Honored for Diversity in Scholastic Journalism/JEA
Dorothy Gilliam, the retired Washington Post columnist and former NABJ president who has been a long-time advocate for high school journalism and scholastic press rights, and the Prime Movers Program of George Washington University, have been recognized with the second annual Diversity Award from the Journalism Education Assn., a national scholastic media teachers' organization based at Kansas State University, Manhattan. She will be presented the award April 19 during the spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Anaheim, California. The award is sponsored and juried by JEA's Multicultural Commission and it recognizes exceptional multicultural approaches and programs that enhance scholastic media. More
Caribbean journalists look to make an impact
More »
NPR Invites UNITY Members for National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation
UNITY members are invited to be part of National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation live broadcast from the Newseum on April 8th. This is a chance to see the Newseum at its new Washington DC location before it opens to the public on April 11th. And the live broadcast will continue each Wednesday thereafter. Each broadcast includes two shows, one from 2-3pm and another from 3-4pm. The topic for the first hour on April 8th will be “The Power of the Press in the 2008 Election.” Likely guests include Bill Keller and Ana Marie Cox. Questions will be taken from the studio audience. The second hour topic for April 8th is still TBD.
For tickets, please contact Amanda Stupi at astupi@npr.org or by phone at 202. 513. 3959. When requesting tickets, please indicate how many you would like and your time preference (2-3 or 3-4).
On-Air: The Bay Area's Asian American Newscasters
AsianWeek
Forty years ago, there were few Asian Americans on the television news. Today, there isn't one news station in the Bay Area without at least one reporter or anchor of Asian descent. With cultural diversity in the Bay Area landscape, the doors have opened for many to enter the field of television broadcasting. AsianWeek queried five notables in the broadcasting realm - Lloyd LaCuesta, Robert Handa, Alan Wang, Kristen Sze and Janelle Wang - on their working lives before the camera.
Poynter EyeTrack study helps see through the eyes of news readers—for just $39
In today’s newsrooms, it’s not enough to have a print and online presence – you have to know how to use both effectively. Ever wish you could see through the eyes of your readers? The latest eyetracking research from Poynter helps you do just that. Plus, it’s available for a limited time for only $39. Click here for more information. More
Howard University Paper Struggles With Financial Issues
Journal-isms
Howard University's student newspaper the Hilltop, which in 2005 became the nation's first black daily college newspaper, is struggling with financial issues and alerted advertisers that it planned on March 14 to stop publication for the year. More
Awards to Recognize Outstanding South Asian Journalists
International Center for Journalists
Individual journalists and news organizations in North America are invited to submit entries to this year's contest of the South Asian Journalists Association. The SAJA Journalism Awards recognize excellence in coverage of South Asia, as well as outstanding reporting by South Asian journalists in the U.S. and Canada. The deadline to enter is March 31. More
MIX Magazine and COX 11 Partner to Produce MIX11-TV – Hampton Roads’ Only
Multicultural News And Lifestyle Show
Norfolk, VA – Beginning March 26, 2008, MIX Magazine - Hampton Roads’ first multicultural magazine – will be on the air on COX 11. Targeted Publications + Media, a Virginian-Pilot Media Company, launched MIX magazine in August 2007. More
AAJA SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Initiative to Assist AAJA Members Laid Off from their Newsrooms
Asian American Journalists Association
Recent business decisions by media companies to cut newsroom staff have affected a number of AAJA members. They also have an impact on AAJA's underlying mission to encourage more Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to join the ranks of journalists and to ensure greater diversity in the workplace and in news coverage. More (PDF, requires Adobe Reader.)
NAMME Drops "Minority," Names Award Winners
Journal-isms
The National Association of Minority Media Executives has exchanged the "minority" in its name for "multicultural," chairman Neil Foote told Journal-isms, and the organization announced last Tuesday its annual awards for industry trailblazers. More
A Couple of Firsts for a Harvard Dean ... From Journalism to a College Presidency ... Vanderbilt Names a New Leader
The Chronicle of Higher Education
CRIMSON FIRST: Harvard University, which has never had a female or African-American dean of its undergraduate Harvard College, has made a hire that is a first in both respects.
Evelynn Hammonds, the university's senior vice provost for faculty development and diversity, will start her new appointment in June. More
Martin Reynolds Named Oakland Tribune Editor
Journal-isms
Martin G. Reynolds, managing editor of the Oakland (Calif.) Tribune, has been promoted to editor of the Tribune and managing editor of the Bay Area News Group, he told Journal-isms last Friday. More
San Jose Newsroom Loses 10 of Color
Journal-isms
Assistant Managing Editor Pamela Moreland and longtime columnist L.A. Chung are among 10 newsroom employees of color out at the San Jose Mercury News as the paper cut about 5 percent of its staff, Managing Editor David Satterfield told Journal-isms on Friday. More
Gwen Ifill Gets a Boost with Profile in Vogue
Journal-isms
Vogue magazine this month tosses a mid-winter bouquet to public television's Gwen Ifill, host of "Washington Week in Review" and senior correspondent on "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," profiling her in its March issue. More
State of the News Media, 2008:
The Problems Are Different than Predicted Decoupling of Advertising and News, not Audience Loss, May be the Biggest Issue
Project for Excellence in Journalism
The state of the American news media is more troubled in 2008 than a year earlier. And the problems increasingly appear to be different than many observers have predicted. Newspapers are still far from dead, but the language of the obituary is creeping in. In 2007, the industry got sicker rather than better, and 2008 may be worse. Read the report here.
Citizen Journalism Academy
A new breed of citizen, part-time and volunteer journalist is emerging, evolving and gaining respect on the media landscape. These people are practicing journalism and contributing to the world’s 24/7 news cycle through blogs, Web site production, interaction with mainstream news Web sites and through their own highly innovative social networks. The Society of Professional Journalists believes the world benefits from more news coverage, not less. Through its Citizen Journalism Academy, which takes place May 17 in Chicago, SPJ seeks to help everyone wanting to practice journalism to do so accurately, ethically and fairly. The Society aims to help participants understand how responsible practices could increase their reach and help them have strong journalistic reputations within their communities and around the world. Click here to register.
More People See Federal Government as Secretive;
Nearly All Want to Know Where Candidates Stand on Transparency
Washington — Three-quarters of American adults view the federal government as secretive, and nearly nine in 10 say it's important to know presidential and congressional candidates' positions on open government when deciding who to vote for, according to a Sunshine Week survey by Scripps Howard News Service and Ohio University.
Continue to read the press release and survey here »
Read Senator Clinton’s response to Sunshine Week here »
State of the News Media, 2008:
The Problems Are Different Than Predicted
Decoupling of Advertising and News, not Audience Loss,
May be the Biggest Issue
Washington, D.C. – The state of the American news media is more troubled in 2008 than a year earlier. And the problems increasingly appear to be different than many observers have predicted. Newspapers are still far from dead, but the language of the obituary is creeping in. In 2007, the industry got sicker rather than better, and 2008 may be worse. Cable news had a better year in 2007, but network TV news audiences continue to decline. The same problem afflicts local TV news, though, thanks to the power of TV advertising and the ability to add or shift timeslots, the industry is still robust.
Read the report here »
Journalism on Tap
Atlantic Media is pleased to partner with the area chapters of the Asian-American, Black, and Hispanic Journalists Associations for a lively discussion on political reporting.
Race and Gender in Today’s Elections:
Headlining News or Clever Distraction?
The 2008 election marks the first time either an African American or a woman will be their party’s nominee for president. But is that really the news? Have domestic and international issues taken a backseat to gender and race? Do race and gender affect how media covers presidential candidates? How can the media effectively cover the issues that are most important?
Click here for PDF of event information »
NABJ Member to head S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Longtime NABJ member Lorraine Branham has been named dean of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications effective July 1. She is currently the director of the School of Journalism and G.B. Dealy Regents Professor at the University of Texas (UT) in Austin. Branham was selected from among 300 nominations and 60 applicants following a seven-month national search. More »
UNITY is Number 10 on Peter Roy Clark's list of Wonders of Journalism (Institutions/Organizations)
Details »
Michaela Saunders: So many newsgathers, not enough news judgment
Education Reporter from the Omaha World-Herald
A recent entry in a respected news industry blog left me baffled about the editing choices that allowed a culturally insensitive comment to figure prominently in a story about newsroom layoffs. More »
ABC NEWS UNITY DIGITAL FELLOWSHIP
The ABC NEWS UNITY DIGITAL FELLOWSHIP will give college students an opportunity to receive hands on instruction in the state-of-the-art ABC NEWS Digital Bullpen. Fellows will work on daily production for ABC NEWS NOW, ABC NEWS DOT COM, and the WORLD NEWS WITH CHARLES GIBSON WEBCAST. This is a 12 week summer program.
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT RESUME: MARCH 17, 2008
More »
Optimism Guarded, 40 years After Riots
The Tennessean
There are certain things that you make sure you keep up with, certain things that you never forget. One for me is the date March 1. That's the date of my birth, but it's also the date in 1968 that the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, better known as the Kerner Commission, came back with a report that concluded: "Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white - separate and unequal.'' More
Read the Kerner Plus 40 Report here
Scott Trust promotes diversity in media
Guardian Media Group owner The Scott Trust has expanded its bursary scheme which promotes diversity in the media. The Trust’s six postgraduate newspaper journalism bursaries now include a course in online journalism. In addition, the Trust is funding two new postgraduate bursaries in broadcast journalism, and a further two in technology. More
Too Much Purley and not Enough Peckham
National newspaper coverage cannot be truly fair while such a vast majority of senior staff are white, says Joseph Harker
The Guardian
Just as Americans discuss the significance of potentially having their first black president, for the British press the appointment of the first black editor, if it ever happens, will also be hugely symbolic. But how likely is it? And how soon? More
Senators Seek to Cancel Easing of Cross-Ownership
Los Angeles Times
A bipartisan group of 15 senators wants to reverse changes to media ownership rules made in December, a potential problem for Tribune Co. and other companies with newspapers and broadcast stations in the same city. More
SBS- MEGA TV To Celebrate Its Launch in Puerto Rico
News Blaze
Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) hosted a party to celebrate the launch of MEGA TV over DirecTV Channel 169 in Puerto Rico. Last year, SBS signed an exclusive contract with DirecTV to broadcast MEGA TV programming across the United States on Channel 405. More
Dorgan Offers Resolution of Disapproval, Challenges FCC Ownership Rule Rewrite
TV Week
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is making good on his threat to try overturning the Federal Communications Commission's new media ownership rules if Chairman Kevin Martin pushed forward with them. More
Millionaire Wants Minority-Owned Satellite Radio Network
arstechnica
A coalition of civil rights groups, led by an ambitious black entrepreneur, wants the Federal Communications Commission to set conditions for the union that would establish a new, minority-controlled satellite radio broadcaster. Chester C. Davenport has done more than offer his own scenario for the XM/Sirius marriage; he's changed the tone of the debate. More
Knight Fellow Molds Journalism's Future Voices
The Knight Foundation
Knight Fellow Carrascalao, who was born in Dili but has lived abroad for many years, is working in East Timor on a year's leave from her job as acting program manager and executive producer for SBS Radio in Melbourne, Australia. SBS is comparable in some ways to National Public Radio in the U.S.-except that it broadcasts in 68 languages, including some that are fairly out there, such as Amharic and Nepalese. More
For Whom Zell Tolls
New York Post
New Tribune Co. owner Sam Zell yesterday struck Newsday with a vengeance, whacking 120 jobs, including 25 unionized editorial people in the newsroom and about 10 top editors, including the paper's entire national desk. More
Sarah Nordgren named an AP deputy managing editor with new global recruiting responsibilities
Herald Tribune
Sarah Nordgren, director of state news for The Associated Press, has been named a deputy managing editor for the news cooperative, taking on responsibility for global recruiting. More
Meet Key Political Players, News Insiders at Region 6 Conference
University of St. Thomas Communication & Journalism Department hosts April 5 event featuring Media Job Expo
Develop your reporting skills, learn high-tech story telling, and network with top journalists in the 13 states that make up The National Association of Hispanic Journalists Region 6. Job seekers stop by the Media Job Expo. Our Bronze Sponsors KSTP-TV/5 Eyewitness News and WCCO-TV will be recruiting along with the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune Company, St. Paul Pioneer Press and others. More
Download the agenda, register or book a hotel »
AAJA J Camp announced
AAJA is pleased to announce J Camp, a multicultural journalism program for talented high school students. J Camp is a one-of-a-kind program to develop the next generation of journalists. This free six-day training camp will bring together a multicultural group of high school students from across the nation to sharpen their journalism skills and work together in a unique learning environment. The curriculum consists of interactive workshops, hands-on training, and field trips. The program will be held from July 18 to July 23, 2008 at Loyola University in Chicago, IL. If you have any questions regarding J Camp, please contact Nao Vang, AAJA Student Programs Coordinator at: (415) 346- 2051 x102 or programs@aaja.org. The deadline to apply is April 11, 2008.
For more information and application, please visit AAJA website
Copy Editing Cut from This Year's Metpro Program
Journal-isms
The Tribune Co.'s Metpro program, which has trained more than 240 reporters and copy editors of color over the last two decades, has stopped training copy editors, at least for the time being. More
Long Island University Announces Winners of 2007 George Polk Awards
Long Island University Press Release
Brooklyn, N.Y. - Long Island University has announced the winners of the George Polk Awards for 2007, recognizing journalists in 14 categories for media coverage that exposed corporate and government misfeasance, revealed the industrial roots of environmental catastrophe and uncovered the abuse of vulnerable populations including children, the elderly and veterans. More
Journalist Stamps Saved From Early Obsolescence
Journal-isms
An upcoming stamp series from the U.S. Postal Service honoring four American journalists, including Ruben Salazar, the first Mexican-American reporter to have a major voice in mainstream news media, has been rescued from near-instant obsolescence. More
TV's black reporters Left Out in the Cold
Tribune Review
It's a trend many of us noticed back when WPXI hired Yolanda Hawkins, a tiny, pixieish black woman who seemed less suited for sub-zero duty than an Orlando Beach Hooters waitress. Yolanda, however, was no shrinking violet, and we half-winced, half-cheered her on as she dutifully covered late-night car accidents, house fires and other events in weather that could chill even Dick Cheney's heart. She was not the first black TV journalist in Pittsburgh to take the concept of cold chillin' to its most literal interpretation. More
Strident Voice will be Heard
The Florida Times-Union.com
This week's mail brought sharp criticism for how we covered a marathon and mixed reactions to an announcement that a black woman has become a member of the Times-Union's editorial board. More
40 years later, still larger than life
It must be an unwritten axiom: When you meet people who are considered larger than life, you expect them to be physically larger than what they are. More
Net Neutrality Is a Civil Rights Issue
By Mark Lloyd and Joseph Torres
You might not know it, but there's a crucial debate happening now in Washington about the future of the Internet. Decisions made by Congress and the Federal Communications Commission in the next few years - if not sooner - will determine whether we protect free speech online, close the digital divide, and bring a greater diversity of voices to this transformative medium. More
CNN Expands Coverage to Reflect American Diversity
CNN
CNN announced Friday it will expand its "Uncovering America" award-winning programming initiative. Originally launched in 2007, "Uncovering America" is now a weekly multiplatform commitment to compelling coverage through diverse people, programming and perspectives. For this political year, CNN's 2008 series launches on Friday, Feb. 15, and continues each subsequent Friday, with coverage of how race and gender issues are impacting this presidential election. More
Tulalip Tribe TV Station Hits the Airwaves
King5.com
A Western Washington tribe is now in the broadcasting business. The Tulalip Tribe in Snohomish County has its own TV station. It's called KANU TV and it is the first and only nationally broadcast tribal network. More=
UNITY to FCC:
Increase minority ownership of broadcast stations
UNITY Supports FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein’s Call for the Creation of an Independent Minority Broadcast Task Force that Examines Policies to Increase Minority Ownership.
Click the links below to Promote Minority Voices in Media Ownership by:
UNITY: Diversity should be prime factor in reshaping America's Newsrooms
McLEAN, Va. – As the news industry continues to face dramatic change, protecting and advancing diversity should be of prime consideration in executive decisions to reshape the future of American journalism. More »
UNITY Joins the Society of Environmental Journalists opposing journalist fees in national parks
Media groups sign on to letter stating that a proposal to charge journalists a fee to enter national parks for to gather still and motion images goes against First Amendment protections of a free press.
UNITY launches yearlong Challenge Fund IV
UNITY launches an effort to raise $75,000 to help individuals take a stand to promote diversity within the news industry, while promoting fair hiring and retention practices. More »
10,000 Expected at Next Year's UNITY Convention in Chicago
UNITY’s goal of increasing newsroom diversity and coverage is crucial, especially with consolidation and downsizing roiling the industry, leaders said. More »
UNITY's 2008 Chicago Convention Kickoff Reception
UNITY gears up for its fourth major convention, expected to draw more than 10,000 journalists of color to Chicago.
» Click to view a slideshow!
