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Taking the windy city by storm

Posted: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 10:56 AM by Barbara Raab
Filed Under:

By Mara Schiavocampo, Nightly News digital correspondent

Good news on the media front: some newsrooms are becoming more racially diverse.

According to a new survey released Tuesday by the Radio-TV News Directors Association and Hofstra University, journalists of color made up 23.6% of local TV news staffs in 2007, compared to 21.5% in 2006. I think we can all agree that the more diverse the voices in journalism, the better.

Speaking of media diversity, when the results of the survey were released yesterday I was headed to the airport for the 2008 Unity Convention, held this year in lovely Chicago.

What's Unity, you ask? Every four years, four minority journalist groups (National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Asian American Journalists Association and Native American Journalists Association) come together for one massive joint convention.

This year, organizers are expecting about 10,000 people.  The stated mission is to "advocate fair and accurate news coverage about people of color, and aggressively challenge the industry to staff its organizations at all levels to reflect the nation's diversity."

The official kick-off is today. I'll be blogging throughout the convention, to give you some insight on what we journalists do when it's just us. (I'll give you a hint: most of the activities involve a barstool and a corkscrew. Just kidding. Sort of.)

While the convention does provide a rare chance to catch up with old buddies, it also offers an opportunity for serious dialogue about the industry. I'll keep you posted on all of that.

Before I go, a quick non sequiter: On Tuesday I took part in a conference sponsored by the Poynter Institute  on "Diversity in the Digital Age."

If our group of about 30 was any sample, Apple computers are the choice of the new media set. I should note that Apple still controls a very small portion of the overall PC market. But of the 12 laptops I counted in the room, 10 were Macs.  Just thought it was worth a passing mention.

Anyhow, I'll have more from Chicago later. For now I'm off to the bar… err, I mean a workshop.

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Comments

Interesting article Mara
Yes minorities have been included in Journalism and that's a good thing. Now as a person of color myself I must admit that some black people get the job but no longer relate to blacks. Armstrong Williams is an example of what can happen. What surprised me this year is how many Journalist are openly racist do to the fear of the Republicans losing office. This year seems like the 1060's all over again. I am a Hillary supporter but I must admit Obama does represent all of the citizens of the USA. Journalist have called themselves White House insiders as the push the Bush propaganda issues. Mara Americans have woke up and see who's reporting the truth. This country was made great by all Americans. I look forward to 2009 when we change Presidents and get new Journalist who just give the real fair/balanced news and don't follow the White House's fake reports.  

Each year on the anniversary of John Kennedy's assassination the media shows the news stations allowing the killing.  I didn't see any faces of color on that black/white clip. When I see the news today I see people of all colors, race and sex leading the news reports. Yes some good some bad but at lease their given equal rights.

Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Wednesday, July 23, 2008 1:16 PM)

I would like to thank all of you journalists for your hard work. Mentioning color, I am white, but can relate to something of all colors. I read and study different religions, especially those of Native Americans and their cultures. I meditate and pray for all people and no matter what color they are. My best friends in school were black, I love Native Americans for their culture and have had mexicans build two barns for me and they did excellent work. Some even shared photos of their families and gave me so insight as who they are and how religiously they were raised. I am a retired steel worker from Granite City, Illinois, was born in East St Louis, Illinois which areas are either mostly black or gaining in black population. Since I retired I moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, raising miniature horses and an amateur photographer. Obama is my choice of President because we both came from the "School of Hard Knocks". No one gave us what we had, we had to work hard for everything. Yes we had many things offered us, but it is personal achievement that made us the kind of people we are today. Keep up the good work.
Frank Conour
conour-62@hughes.net

Frank Conour (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 1:21 PM)

Blacks made up 13.4% of the population in 2006. I certainly hope that 23.6% includes a substantial percentage of other minorities.  Otherwise, it would appear that there are discrimatory hiring practices in those newsrooms.

Tim (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 2:46 PM)

I am part of a minority as well but I do have a problem with your premise of "aggressively challenge the industry to staff its organizations at all levels to reflect the nation's diversity."    I just want the  BEST  in all fields, not numbers and if they are not of  color so be it.   The time has come to all start from the same starting line and may the 'best person get the prize'!  Surely you are not afraid of that?

Orlando Florida (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 4:09 PM)

I'm getting a little tired of hearing about how minorities are discriminated against. If you do the math the White male is the minority in the United Staes. I totally agree with Orland, FL It's time to quit counting colors/numbers and start hiring by best qualified & LEGAL. So far the news coverage of the presidential race has been a bit one sided for Obama count the news articles and see for yourself. No one alive today had slaves, participated in the Alimo or oppressed any of you in any way.
I do applaud you for asking the question and I hope you can!

Oregon AMERICAN (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 5:36 PM)

2008 IS THE MOST EXCITING YEAR FOR BLACK JOURNALIST. I AM LOOKING FORWARD A MORE AGGRESSIVE WRITING AND HEART FELT JOURNALISM THAT REACH PEOPLE ACROSS RACIAL AND ECONOMICAL LINE.  JOURNALISM SHOULD CHALLENGE PEOPLE PERCEPTION ABOUT WORLD WE LIVE AND CHANGING OUR PRESENCE FOR THE BETTER FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.  

YOLANDA LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 8:11 PM)

    Mr. Frank Conour, it was a great accomplishment for you to have worked so hard to have what you do.  However, to say Obama worked for what he has is ridiculous.  He has been handed everything in life with a silver spoon.  He was given an IV League education that 95% of Americans could never hope for and has never had any real form of a job (such as your work in the steel industry or even in some white colar job).  He is a brand new senator who has no accomplishments to speak of and the most divisive voting history.  Yet he is now the democratic nominee in a year when the democrats can not lose.  All because of his charisma.  We must remember all our past leaders who reached the top on charisma alone and what that led to.

Matt N, Sacramento California (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 8:39 PM)

How do you call this a "Unity Conference" if there the majority of the population is not involved or invited; this being the white journalist?  Just curious as an American or should I say Puerto Rican American.  

Rey (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 10:25 PM)

After listening to some of the most one-sided and ridiculous analysis and opinions on the major news media, I am hoping that integrity and diversity in the news can be restored.

Elizabeth (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 11:33 PM)

I find that blacks seem to need to stand behind a lost cause.The black people I know are really smart and there job performance shows it.My belief is just like O.J. they need to free some one of there race they will stand behind Obama knowing he a socialist anti-america fraud.

george c paree anderson in (Sent Saturday, July 26, 2008 11:30 AM)

I dont know. Can white reporters cover white candidates fairly?

Hubert Turner (Sent Saturday, July 26, 2008 5:33 PM)

This is the dumbest question that could ever be asked, did the originator even reflect on how this might apply to them if the candidate was one of their race, ethnicity, culture, nationality. The stupidity of the US becomes scarier everyday. No wonder we are in a mess. Can a white person who is a journalist objectively cover a white candidate? I might ask, what were you thinking, but it's obvious that THINKING had been suspended.

denise, nyc (Sent Saturday, July 26, 2008 6:34 PM)

Why would this question even be raise?.  White reporters have been reporting on white candidates forever.  Anything to cause a divide will be printed, discussed, studied. I for one believe this was another attempt to divide Americans and just pure ludicrious.

Bessie Scott, Converse, TX (Sent Saturday, July 26, 2008 7:22 PM)

I find it ironic that an article that mentions how great it is that we are getting more diversity in journalism also talks about a convention that excludes white journalists.
Reverse racism is alive and well in America.

Let's exclude whites and be proud, usa (Sent Saturday, July 26, 2008 10:21 PM)

I endorsed Frank in thanking all hard working Journalists. I must say it is not agressive news that should be at the forefront but unbiased and fair reporting.

Too many jounalists toe the racial line.

Winston Donald (Sent Sunday, July 27, 2008 9:58 AM)

It is time for unbiased news reporting

Winston Donald, 1 Tom redcam Ave., Kingston 5, Jamaica (Sent Sunday, July 27, 2008 10:00 AM)

The real issue isn't about journalistic integrity or cultural bias because like it or not everyone has a little bit of ethnocentricism, social classism, gender identity issues, etc. It seems it all boils down to "power" in the newsroom. The Station Manager has the authority to dole out assignments and decide which stories are considered news worthy. Then there are the corporate sponsors who control the money and who represent a particular demographic; educated White males (the "status quo"). This conversation reminds me of a question which came up when I was attending college, which was,"Are White Professors qualified to teach Black History?" Those PhD educated individuals thought they were capable and could bring a [refreshigly?] different perspective on the subject as from one who is outside the culture. The verdict is still out on that one but in the end it doesn't matter a whole lot because they aren't the ones who set the curriculum; that is done by the Board of Education and implemented at the campus by the Department Chair. So, it is great that more diversity is taking shape in journalism, it is imperative that there be a crack in that ceiling which allows a non-White to decided what stories get reported and how they are reported. Until that happens, don't rest on your laurels just yet.

Robert Randle, Tacoma, WA (Sent Sunday, July 27, 2008 12:36 PM)

I think Black journalists can cover Obama's campaign as objectively as white journalists can cover McCain's.  And, I'm white.

w Goin chicago, IL (Sent Sunday, July 27, 2008 2:52 PM)

Of course black journalists can cover Obama fairly.
It is preposterous that this black journalist felt a need to write such a silly article. Lest we forget, not that long ago Obama had a somewhat contentious relationship with the National Association of Black Journalists which questioned his authenticity as an true African-American. So did I, and I am not a journalist. But, over time, we took a hard,balanced look at Obama and decided he was worthy of our support. But that was only after he proved
himself to us.Now several months later, the objectivity of black journalists is
now put into doubt? How ridiculous! Unlike the white press, which focused on his name, his religion,his former pastor, his ethnicity, and his wife; we blacks focused on his platform for health care, the war, energy, the economy, climate control, education, foreign policy, and infrastructural development. And yes, we had pride that he was an African American who appeared to be attempting to do the right thing for all Americans. We see an adjustment in the world order to a new world order: from white supremacy (i.e.: western supremacy) to fairness and inclusion of the majority of earth population, which is comprised of non-caucasian people of color.

Charles Reaves, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Sent Sunday, July 27, 2008 4:40 PM)



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