Can black journalists cover Obama fairly?

Barbara Raab — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:26:00 GMT

By Mara Schiavocampo, Nightly News Digital Correspondent

All this week, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm in Chicago for the Unity Convention. Every four years a coalition of four organizations (the national associations of Black, Hispanic, Native American and Asian American journalists) hold a joint convention. This year organizers expect about 10,000 people.

A few days before the convention began, it was announced that Senator Barack Obama will be speaking here on Sunday. Sunday just happens to be the last day of the convention, when most people return home. So a lot of folks who may have wanted to hear the Senator speak will miss it. Others are scrambling to change their travel plans at the last minute. (Senator McCain was invited but declined, citing travel obligations.)

When it comes to Senator Obama, one issue we as Black journalists face is that of a perceived bias in favor of his candidacy. Many African Americans -- journalists and non-journalists, conservatives and liberals alike -- admit that Obama's success inspires great pride.

So I asked a question of some my colleagues here at the convention: Can Black journalists cover Obama in an unbiased way? Here's what some of them said:

Marcus Mabry, Assistant Business Editor, New York Times and author of "Twice As Good: Condoleezza Rice and Her Path to Power":

"Is a Republican journalist unable to cover George W. Bush? Part of being a journalist is being able to put your personal feelings aside to do your job. According to polls, a plurality of White Americans support John McCain. Does that mean no White reporters should cover John McCain?"

Nicole Childers, Executive Producer, NPR News & Notes:

"I think it's definitely a symbolic victory for all African Americans. I do think it requires us to be extra diligent… in making sure that [the coverage] is balanced."

Carole Simpson, former Anchor, ABC News:

"Yes, yes, of course I feel proud of him. I'm happy and I'm proud that someone has been able to do it. I just hope he can back it up.

"You're a reporter and you have to be objective and you have to be fair and you have to tell the good and the bad of who you're covering or you're not doing your job."

Patrick Riley, Pop culture blogger and freelance producer:

"I think it's quite accurate that Blacks are across the board proud of this moment because it is history. So, hands down, I think most journalists are just that: proud as all get-out. I empathize with those journalists that are bound by their objectivity…because I know they just want to scream and holler. I know they do."

Taking the windy city by storm

Barbara Raab — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:56:00 GMT

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.

The Daily Nightly : Unity Convention

Can black journalists cover Obama fairly?

Taking the windy city by storm