Articles Feature

NABJ Projects $1 Million Surplus

by richard02350

Reports of Possible Demise ‘Highly Exaggerated’

Judge Drops ‘Riot’ Charge Against Amy Goodman

Reporters Covering Trump Facing Outright Hostility

Arizona Republic Responds to Death Threats

A 19-Year-Old Black Man Is Distorting the Polls

MediaTakeOut Apologizes After Kardashian Suit

Darker-Skinned TV Crew Prompts Call to Police

Morgan State J-School, Undefeated in Partnership

Chris Broussard Leaving ESPN for Fox Sports’ FS1

How Journalists Found Ways to Cover Storm

Short Takes

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton addresses the joint convention of the National Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists in August. Attendance of 3,890 is credited with helping NABJ achieve a projected $1 million surplus. (Credit: xxxx)
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton addresses the joint convention of the National Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists in August. NBC News’ Kristen Welker, one of the questioners, appears on the screen. Attendance of 3,890 is credited with helping NABJ to achieve a projected $1 million surplus. (Credit: Charlie Kadado/Unity)

Reports of Possible Demise ‘Highly Exaggerated’

The National Association of Black Journalists, which projected a 2015 deficit of nearly $380,000, is set to end 2016 with a projected $1 million surplus, the association announced on Sunday.

“The unaudited amount represents a half million dollars more than what NABJ reported as the expected 2016 surplus during its national convention in August,” according to a statement issued in conjunction with a conference-call meeting of the board of directors.

“The projected surplus is a result of disciplined fiscal management and a surge in convention registrations — 3,209 NABJ registrants for the 2016 NABJ/NAHJ Convention, which had a total of 3,890 attendees,” it continued, referring to the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. NAHJ had 681 registrants, NABJ executive consultant Drew Berry told Journal-isms on Monday, but NAHJ Executive Director Alberto B. Mendoza said the convention’s impact on NAHJ’s finances won’t be known “till later during our budgeting process. ”

“I am very proud of the strong business practices NABJ put in place at the beginning of the year. Those efforts contributed to a projected million dollar-plus surplus for 2016. NABJ will meet my goal of no deficit in 2016,” NABJ President Sarah Glover said in the release. “I’m thankful for our partners and members who stepped up in a major way and helped us reach this historic milestone by supporting the 2016 NABJ/NAHJ Convention and other NABJ programs. We could not have achieved these results without the NABJ family. . . .”

Among other steps, the association eliminated three positions, including that of Darryl R. Mathews Sr., its executive director of less than two years.

Gregory H. Lee Jr., a former NABJ president who chairs the NABJ Finance Committee, cautioned, however, “We’re not out of the danger zone yet.” He recalled by telephone that NABJ’s auditor told the group that it would need a successful 2017 as well as 2016 and that with turnover among board members, it was difficult to predict what would happen in future years.

Glover said in the NABJ statement,  “We are working to ensure NABJ’s long-term financial health by focused efforts on Xero-based budgeting and careful fiscal management — watching expenses closely, securing new revenue, and making sound investments.”

At the NABJ business meeting during the joint NABJ/NAJA convention, some members voiced concern that the association was using long-term reserves to cover operating funds, imperiling scholarship money. Lee said at the meeting that some scholarship money was spent. However, scholarships were still awarded.

Glover told Journal-isms by email on Sunday that:

  • “NABJ has a projected million dollar surplus for 2016 after coming off losses for two consecutive years, which totaled more than $600,000.
  • “Present value of investment account is @$600,000 (based on market value)
  • “In 2015, NABJ sold $400,000 in investments after back to back deficit years
  • “In 2009, NABJ took out a loan for $178,000 from investments (balance with interest now is $243,000).”

She added that NABJ awarded $27,500 in scholarships this year and $470,196 in scholarships between 2009 and 2016.

Glover also said, “Now, the NABJ board will look to grow its investment portfolio, which includes considering the establishment of specific short-term, long-term and scholarship investment accounts.

“NABJ will continue to award scholarships each year,” she said.

The association made an indirect reference to a 2015 Huffington Post headline for which the website refused to apologize, “Why The Country’s Largest Minority-Journalism Group May Close.” The Pew Research Center linked to  the story under the headline, “National Association of Black Journalists faces large deficit, may close.”

The NABJ statement said, “The organization’s current leadership inherited a significant deficit, prompting far-reaching media headlines that questioned the organization’s viability. The reports of the association’s demise were highly exaggerated. Not only is NABJ now in the black, it’s in a strong position to improve its savings and investments, operations, programs and partner relationships. . . .”

 

Judge Drops ‘Riot’ Charge Against Amy Goodman

“Criminal charges filed against a journalist, who covered a pipeline protest, were dropped Monday after a judge refused to sign the complaint against her,” Caroline Grueskin reported Monday for the Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune. “Judge John Grinsteiner did not find probable cause that Amy Goodman had engaged in a riot while reporting on a clash between protesters and private security in September. “Goodman told the Tribune she was ‘deeply relieved’ to find out the charge was dismissed. ” ‘But it just strengthened my resolve that we have to fight to ensure that the First Amendment is protected,’ Goodman said. ‘It’s not just for journalists. It’s for everyone, because freedom of the press means that there is a way for people to get information so they can make informed decisions.’ “Goodman said she took the arrest warrant issued for her in September as a ‘clear message’ that North Dakota officials did not want her to return to the state. ” ‘This is clearly meant to intimidate, and I think the judge saw that clearly today,’ said Goodman, who indicated she will keep covering the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. . . .” Goodman traveled to North Dakota to face the charges and broadcast “Democracy Now!” from there on Monday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reporters Covering Trump Facing Outright Hostility

“Donald Trump’s rallies have never been the friendliest places for reporters,” Paul Farhi reported Friday for the Washington Post. “But lately, as Trump has come under increasing fire, an unwelcoming atmosphere for the press has turned into outright hostility.

“Reporters who cover Trump on the campaign trail say his supporters have become more surly and abusive in the past week, egged on by a candidate who has made demonizing journalists part of his stump speech.

“Trump’s traveling press contingent of about 20 has been met with boos, shouts and obscenities as it entered — as a single group — the venues where Trump has spoken this week. One reporter who is part of the traveling group described it as ‘a mob mentality,’ particularly at larger rally sites. . . .”

Meanwhile, “In an unprecedented step, the Committee to Protect Journalists today released a statement recognizing that a Donald Trump presidency would represent a threat to press freedom,” CPJ said on Thursday. “In response to Trump’s threats and vilification of the media during his campaign, the chairman of CPJ’s board, Sandra Mims Rowe, issued the following statement on behalf of the organization:

” ‘Guaranteeing the free flow of information to citizens through a robust, independent press is essential to American democracy. For more than 200 years this founding principle has protected journalists in the United States and inspired those around the world, including brave journalists facing violence, censorship, and government repression.

” ‘Donald Trump, through his words and actions as a candidate for president of the United States, has consistently betrayed First Amendment values. On October 6, CPJ’s board of directors passed a resolution declaring Trump an unprecedented threat to the rights of journalists and to CPJ’s ability to advocate for press freedom around the world. . . .’ ”

Arizona Republic Responds to Death Threats

“More than a year ago, The Republic’s editorial board began taking a stand against the actions and positioning of Donald Trump,” Mi Ai Parrish, president of the Arizona Republic and Republic Media, wrote on Sunday.

Mi Ai Parrish
Mi Ai Parrish

“In piece after piece, we made it clear that his principles weren’t conservative. They were bad for the party, bad for Arizona, dangerous for America.

“But in its more than 125 years, The Republic had never endorsed a Democrat for president. So, over the many months of the campaign, we found ourselves with this question: Endorse no one, or endorse a Democrat for the first time in our history?

“We made our choice soberly. We knew it would be unpopular with many people. We knew that, although we had clearly stated our objections to Trump, it would be a big deal for a conservative editorial board in a conservative state to break ranks from the party.

“We chose patriotism over party. We endorsed the Democrat.

“And then the reaction started pouring in. Threats against our business. Threats against our people.

“So, what is the response?

“What is the correct response to any of the vile threats against me? What is the correct response to the more disturbing actions and words directed against so many others?

“I’ve thought about those responses a lot. Today, I offer you a few. . . .”

A 19-Year-Old Black Man Is Distorting the Polls

(clipartkid.com )
Who is this man? (clipartkid.com)

“There is a 19-year-old black man in Illinois who has no idea of the role he is playing in this election,” Nate Cohn reported Wednesday for “TheUpshot” in the New York Times.

“He is sure he is going to vote for Donald J. Trump.

“And he has been held up as proof by conservatives — including outlets like Breitbart News and The New York Post — that Mr. Trump is excelling among black voters. He has even played a modest role in shifting entire polling aggregates, like the Real Clear Politics average, toward Mr. Trump.

“How? He’s a panelist on the U.S.C. Dornsife/Los Angeles Times Daybreak poll, which has emerged as the biggest polling outlier of the presidential campaign. Despite falling behind by double digits in some national surveys, Mr. Trump has generally led in the U.S.C./LAT poll. He held the lead for a full month until Wednesday, when Hillary Clinton took a nominal lead.

“Our Trump-supporting friend in Illinois is a surprisingly big part of the reason. In some polls, he’s weighted as much as 30 times more than the average respondent, and as much as 300 times more than the least-weighted respondent. . . .”

Kim Kardashian West dominated GQ's 10th anniversary
Kim Kardashian West dominated GQ’s 10th anniversary “Love, Sex, and Madness Issue” cover in June.

MediaTakeOut Apologizes After Kardashian Suit

Days after reality television star Kim Kardashian West sued it for libel, the lurid gossip site MediaTakeOut contritely apologized Friday for stories questioning whether Kardashian West faked her robbery at gunpoint in Paris.

“We can understand how reports questioning if the robbery in fact took place can be hurtful, and so we apologize,” the website publishers wrote.

“No one deserves to go through such a traumatic experience. Kim is not just celebrity, she is a person, a wife and a mother — who in no way deserved what happened to her.

“We wish her the best as she emotionally recovers from the traumatic incident.”

As Nicole Bitette reported Saturday for the Daily News in New York, “The 35-year-old reality TV personality was tied up and robbed at gunpoint of $5.6 million dollars worth of jewelry in a Paris hotel on Oct. 3.”

Lisa Respers France reported Wednesday for CNN Money, “The reality star filed suit in a federal lawsuit in New York against MediaTakeOut.com — and its founder Fred Mwangaguhunga — alleging they libeled her.

“According to the suit Media Takeout published a series of stories ‘in which they claimed, without any factual support whatsoever, that Kardashian faked the robbery, lied about the violent assault, and then filed a fraudulent complaint with her insurance company to bilk her carrier out of millions of dollars.’ . . .”

France also wrote, “The stories ran under headlines which said evidence pointed to her staging the robbery, that French police suspected Kardashian West of letting the robbers in, and that she was guilty of a federal crime if she had indeed faked the robbery and filed a $5.6 million insurance claim.

“The articles have since appeared to have been removed from the site. . . .”

Mwangaguhunga retreated in an article Friday by Chloe Melas of CNN Money. He “said he believes the lawsuit will be ‘resolved very soon.’ ”

It could not be determined whether Mwangaguhunga’s apology will be enough to cause Kardashian West to withdraw the lawsuit.

The ComScore, Inc., research company reported that MediaTakeOut last year recorded 2,188,000 unique visitors, ranking ninth on a list of African American-oriented websites for whom Journal-isms sought figures.

That represented a drop in popularity. In 2011, when the Wire, a website from Business Insider, compiled “the 50 most influential people in media this year,” the only two African Americans on its list were Oprah Winfrey and  Mwangaguhunga.

 

 

Darker-Skinned TV Crew Prompts Call to Police

“Two minority journalists for KXAS-TV (NBC5) had the police called on them Wednesday because they appeared ‘suspicious’ while reporting a story in Plano,” Sarah Mervosh reported Thursday for the Dallas Morning News.

“Reporter Homa Bash tweeted that she and photographer C.J. Johnson were approached by police responding to a call that a ‘Hispanic-looking woman and black man with a suspicious white truck and camera’ were near a school.

“Bash, who joined the station from Cleveland last month, is of Indian descent. Johnson is black.

“Bash’s tweet struck a nerve in a country grappling with racial tensions. It has been retweeted more than 43,000 times since Wednesday afternoon. Commenters offered apologies, observations about racial profiling and stories of their own encounters with police.

“The Plano police officer who responded to the call, Laurie Hunter, is a veteran on the force who immediately recognized that the journalists were not a threat, said Plano police spokesman David Tilley.

“She let Bash and Johnson continue reporting near Davis Elementary School, where they were working on story about a proposal to ban dogs from Plano ISD campuses.

“NBC5 said in a statement that ‘the police officer and our crew were doing their jobs. Everyone acted professionally.’ . . .”

Morgan State J-School, Undefeated in Partnership

“Serena and Venus Williams. The eight African-American players on the 2007 Rutgers University women’s basketball team. Every black player in the WNBA,” Jill Hudson wrote Friday for The Undefeated.

“What do these women have in common? All are top-level athletes who have been vilified, demeaned or criticized at some point in the media and by the public for their appearance and performance.

“The negative images of these women — and other popular black athletes — will be the focus of a symposium at the newly established Center for the Study of Race, Sports and Culture at Morgan State University on Oct. 18.

“The symposium kicks off a yearlong journalism and research partnership between ESPN’s The Undefeated and Morgan State, the largest of Maryland’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Later this year, the center will begin an examination of the pipeline for African-Americans to head coaching jobs in college football and the NFL. . . .”

Chris Broussard Leaving ESPN for Fox Sports’ FS1

“ESPN’s Chris Broussard announced on Friday that he’s leaving the network after 12 years to re-join former coworkers including Skip Bayless, Jason Whitlock and Colin Cowherd at FS1,” Nina Mandell reported Friday for USA Today.

Chris Broussard
Chris Broussard

“ ‘Had a wonderful 12 yrs @ESPN!‘ Brousaard tweeted. ‘Can’t thank them enough for the support & opportunities they gave me. But time for a new chapter in my life.’ ”

Michael McCarthy, who first reported the story for the Sporting News, added Friday, “The veteran NBA reporter would give Fox Sports a strong NBA voice to compete with ESPN’s army of NBA insiders/reporters, ranging from Rachel Nichols and Marc Stein to Zach Lowe. The tip-off the new 2016-2017 NBA season is only 11 days away. . . .”

“ ‘While we attempted to re-sign Chris, we want to thank him for his contributions to our NBA coverage and wish him the best,’ said ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz in a statement to SN. ‘We have an impressive array of NBA voices who will continue to help make our NBA coverage thrive.’ . . .”

How Journalists Found Ways to Cover Storm

“On Saturday, The Robesonian flooded in Lumberton, North Carolina,” Kristen Hare reported Friday for the Poynter Institute.

“That day, The Fayetteville Observer in Fayetteville, North Carolina lost power for awhile.

“By Monday, the floods hit the building of The Times-Leader in Grifton, North Carolina.

“As of Friday, 22 people have died in North Carolina since Hurricane Matthew hit the Tar Heel State. Many roads remain closed, and thousands of people still don’t have power. But journalists there have found ways to keep working: relocating, focusing on Facebook and working with competitors to cover a fast-changing story. . . .”

Short Takes

 

 

 

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Richard Prince’s Journal-isms originates from Washington. It began in print before most of us knew what the internet was, and it would like to be referred to as a “column.” Any views expressed in the column are those of the person or organization quoted and not those of any other entity.
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