“Sponsorship Checks Are Still Coming In,” President Says
James J. Kilpatrick’s Racist Past Not Easily Forgotten
S. Africa’s President Defends Proposed Media Tribunal
Bloomberg Seeking More than 100 Journalists, Analysts
New York Post Mixes Up Linda Johnson Rice, Bob Johnson
More Nonwhites Than Whites Positive Toward News Media
Do Color, Beauty Standards Influence Mainstream Coverage?
Given Bonds’ Treatment of Press, Irony in NABJ Donation
“Sponsorship Checks Are Still Coming In,” President Says
The financially pressed National Association of Hispanic Journalists received a payment from one of its convention sponsors on Friday and thus will not have to borrow up to $50,000 from an investment fund, a measure the NAHJ board had authorized the previous day, NAHJ President Michele Salcedo wrote late Monday.
Salcedo issued her statement after Journal-isms reported on Monday that, “With revenue from its June convention falling short of expectations and at least two convention sponsors said yet to pay pledges totaling nearly $100,000, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists is preparing to tap its endowment fund to meet payroll and overhead costs.”
She continued, “Fortunately, a sponsor payment arrived in the office on Friday making it unnecessary to activate the bridge loan. Stocks have not been sold or money withdrawn. The principal remains intact, invested in stocks as it was before Thursday’s call and straw poll was taken.”
Salcedo simultaneously maintained, “Published reports about sponsors not coming through . . . are flat out not true” and that, “sponsorship checks are still coming in.”
Of the reserves, she said, “When and if they will be tapped depends on how we juggle the various pieces of the financial and fundraising puzzle this fall. Some $270,000 in cuts in overall expenses – including personnel and benefits, accounting services, audiovisual costs and printing – have already been made or are projected as we face this financial challenge. We continue to examine ways to trim expenses, including free or subsidized office space.”
Salcedo was elected at the June convention in Denver, defeating Hugo Balta, now managing editor at WCBS in New York, by 13 votes. Her election put her on a board with several Balta supporters. The financial flap was one of the first tests faced jointly by Salcedo, longtime Executive Director Ivan Roman and the new board.
Word reached Journal-isms on Friday that a resolution was presented that began, “Whereas the 2010 convention for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists fell short of the revenue we had hoped to gain, and whereas at least two convention sponsors have yet to pay pledges totaling nearly $100,000 to date . . .”
Salcedo and Roman did not respond Friday or over the weekend to requests for comment. But both are said to have scolded board members for what Salcedo called “this public sharing of internal information” and attempted to identify the source of the “leak.”
Meanwhile, Gregory Lee, treasurer of the National Association of Black Journalists, reported on NABJ’s convention in San Diego.
“NABJ exceeded sponsorship goals by nearly double, and convention registrations exceeded budget projections. We are set to move forward with other fund raisers in 2010, and plans are underway to fund raise for Philadelphia 2011,” he told Journal-isms. He said that more than 1,200 people paid to attend and that 1,706 were present. NABJ met its quota of hotel rooms, he said, avoiding any penalty.
James J. Kilpatrick’s Racist Past Not Easily Forgotten
James J. Kilpatrick, the conservative commentator known to television viewers as a commentator on the “Point/Counterpoint” segment of “60 Minutes,” or as a panelist on the old “Agronsky and Co.,” died in Washington Sunday at age 89, his family said on Monday.
To some African Americans, however, the Virginian’s support of Massive Resistance to school desegregation in the 1950s overshadowed the other aspects of his career highlighted in many of the mainstream media obituaries.
He was “a cheerleader for racism,” said Raymond H. Boone, editor and publisher of the Richmond Free Press, a black weekly in the Virginia capital. He called Kilpatrick a tool of longtime Virginia Sen. Harry F. Byrd’s organization, “a puppet who used his talents in a despicable manner.” Although Kilpatrick later admitted he was wrong, “he could have come out as strong for civil rights as he did for civil wrongs,” as some other whites did, Boone said.
“In a Times-Dispatch interview in 2000, Mr. Kilpatrick said that in later years, he remained troubled by his former editorial stance,” taken as editor of the old Richmond News Leader, the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote. “But, he added, his argument on school integration was ‘an effort to elevate the debate above the blood in the streets. The hope was it might in some obscure way have calmed the waves of passion. That was one of the motives, and the other was to keep the schools segregated until things settled down.’ “
On the e-mail list of the National Association of Black Journalists, Charles Robinson, a reporter for Maryland Public Television, recalled his student days at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, where several of Kilpatrick’s conservative colleagues taught journalism courses.
“Many of them continued the ideas he championed about no need for integration, even in the wake of court rulings telling institutions to break down barriers. A number of black students wondered about the high attrition rates in the Mass Communications Department. We remained vigilant in spite of the antagonistic attempts to lessen our contributions,” Robinson wrote.
“Remember, there were no role models (Black professors) to turn to for advice. Instead we turned to each other creating a Black newspaper called ‘Reflections in Ink.’ . . .
“I believe it was Soledad O’Brien who urged us to ‘bear witness to change the dynamics.’ I can’t say that I changed the dynamics, but my time at my alma mater taught me a lot about perseverance in the wake of overwhelming odds. I will not speak ill of the dead, but may he rest in peace knowing his brand of journalism did not prevail with members of my class, nor with the majority of journalists who practice our craft.”
South Africa’s sexagenarian head of state, Jacob Zuma, demonstrates his dancing chops. (Video)
S. Africa’s President Defends Proposed Media Tribunal
In South Africa, “President Jacob Zuma has reacted angrily to suggestions that the creation of a media appeals tribunal is an attempt by the ruling party to control and bulldoze the media using the tactics of apartheid regime,” Issa Sikiti da Silva reported for that nation’s bizcommunity.com.
“Writing in ANC Today, the party’s online weekly newsletter, the sexagenarian head of state said [that] to suggest that the ANC and its government could have any similarities to the apartheid regime is not only preposterous, but also disingenuous and an unbearable insult,” referring to the ruling African National Congress.
One of those making the comparison was the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, which wrote to Zuma on Monday:
“The Protection of Information Bill currently before parliament is meant to replace an apartheid-era law dating from 1982. Yet the broad language and far-reaching provisions of the legislative proposal introduced by Security Minister Siyabonga Cwel is reminiscent of apartheid-era regulations since it would virtually shield the government from the scrutiny of the independent press and criminalize activities essential to investigative journalism, a vital public service. Journalists, under the proposed law, would face heavy jail time for violations.
“Under the bill, officials and state agencies would have unchecked authority and discretion to classify any public or commercial data as secret, confidential, protected, or sensitive based on vaguely defined ‘national interest’ considerations and without any explanation, according to our research and legal experts.”
In South Africa’s Sunday Independent, Onkgopotse JJ Tabane said the ruling African National Congress held misguided expectations of black journalists:
“There was a wrong expectation that black journalists in particular were meant to opine as sheep and never say a negative word about the ANC and its various leaders.
“This silly expectation was soon quashed by the reality that every black journalist, columnist or analyst has a brain of his/her own and that no newsrooms caucused anti-ANC stories.
“In fact, some among the ANC faithful who have been journalists would be able to debunk that myth if their colleagues were to listen to them. It’s simply lies to paint the media, made up of so many activists of yesteryear, as suddenly common-minded about their hostility to the ANC.
“What we should focus on is what they are reporting and whether that constitutes lies or truth.”
- Samantha Henig, the New Yorker: Debriefing: Charlayne Hunter-Gault on Jacob Zuma (June 28)
- Raymond Louw, Southern Africa Report: South Africa: Threat to Press Freedom is Already Here
- Jonny Steinberg, Sunday Times: Something else lies behind moves against the media
- Jacob Zuma, African National Congress: Let the Real Media Debate Begin
Bloomberg Seeking More than 100 Journalists, Analysts
“A spokeswoman for Bloomberg News tells FishbowlDC that the powerhouse media organization is hiring in a big way for Washington. Bloomberg Government (BGov) currently has around 20 editorial positions posted on [its] HR site but is actually looking to hire more than 100 journalists and analysts in the coming months,” Matt Dornic reported Monday for Fishbowl DC.
“BGov will cover the business implications of government actions ‚Äî namely legislation, regulation and government spending. They are ‘looking for journalists interested in pioneering a different form of journalism ‚Äî combining reporting with in-depth analysis of data and policy.’ “
Which Johnson does what? Desiree Johnson Rogers, left, Linda Johnson Rice and Bob Johnson
New York Post Mixes Up Linda Johnson Rice, Bob Johnson
“The New York Post has had a somewhat contentious relationship with black New Yorkers over the past couple years, and it didn’t help matters this weekend with a story that mixed up two African-American media powerhouses in a clumsy attempt to discredit a prominent supporter of President Barack Obama,” Jeff Bercovici wrote Sunday for the Daily Finance.
“The item in Sunday’s ‘Page Six’ gossip column claimed that former White House social secretary Desiree Rogers is a hypocrite for taking a job as CEO of Johnson Publishing because ‘her new boss, Bob Johnson, who also founded Black Entertainment Television, was one of Obama’s harshest critics.’
“The only problem with the Post’s reasoning: Bob Johnson has nothing to do with Johnson Publishing, which is run by Linda Johnson Rice, daughter of deceased founder John H. Johnson, and which publishes Ebony and Jet magazines. A number of sharp-eyed Post readers pointed out the error in the comments section of the website. ‘Bob Johnson isn’t the only black man to have owned a media company,’ wrote one.”
The Post pulled the column from its website.
The episode became a comedy of errors when Bercovici rendered Rogers’ name as “Desiree Johnson.”
Such mix-ups aren’t restricted to African Americans.
Saturday’s Sacramento Bee carried this correction:
“On Page 7 of Friday’s Ticket, a photo of Bruce Springsteen was incorrectly identified as Bob Dylan.”
More Nonwhites Than Whites Positive Toward News Media
Nonwhites have more confidence in newspapers and television news than do whites, according to a new Gallup Poll, but overall, Americans continue to express almost record-low confidence in those media. No more than 25 percent of Americans say they have a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in either. “These views have hardly budged since falling more than 10 percentage points from 2003-2007,” the Gallup Organization reported on Monday.
Among whites, 23 percent said they had “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in newspapers, while 27 of nonwhites said so. For television, the figure was 20 percent for whites and 28 percent for nonwhites.
Nonwhites were 283 “weighted” respondents of 1,020 in the poll.
“The findings are from Gallup’s annual Confidence in Institutions survey, which found the military faring best and Congress faring worst of 16 institutions tested. Americans’ confidence in newspapers and television news is on par with Americans’ lackluster confidence in banks and slightly better than their dismal rating of Health Management Organizations and big business,” Gallup’s Lymari Morales wrote.
Do Color, Beauty Standards Influence Mainstream Coverage?
“Former American Idol winner and R&B singer Fantasia Barrino tried to kill herself,” Nsenga Burton wrote Monday for theRoot.com. “It is being reported that she took an overdose of aspirin and sleep medication in an effort to escape the media scrutiny related to her role in an alleged affair with Antwaun Cook, a married T-Mobile salesperson.”
“Cook’s wife, Paula, filed for divorce, naming his affair with Barrino as a factor and alleging that the two had made multiple sex tapes. Barrino maintains that there are no sex tapes and that Cook was separated, so she did nothing wrong. . . .
“What I found to be most interesting is that Alicia Keys has been able to escape this type of media scrutiny in the mainstream press, even though she reportedly was engaged in a three-year affair with a married man, which ultimately resulted in the demise of the marriage.
“Keys also became pregnant and engaged to super producer Swizz Beatz while the man was separated but still married nonetheless. She then married Beatz weeks after his divorce was finalized. The black press have let both Fantasia and Keys have it for their indiscretions, but the mainstream media took to the Fantasia story like a rabid dog while ignoring the illicit actions of Keys. . . .
“The sad truth is, even in 2010, skin color and conventional standards of beauty play considerable roles in these real-life soap operas. Keys fits those beauty standards; Barrino does not. The message boards were brutal when Barrino played Celie on Broadway in The Color Purple; ‘ugly’ was a common descriptor. Now, Barrino might not be a cover girl, but she is far from ugly.”
Given Bonds’ Treatment of Press, Irony in NABJ Donation
“Slugger Barry‚Äôs Bonds‚Äô donation of $20,000 to the National Association of Black Journalists is fraught with irony,” Lance Williams wrote Monday for California Watch, website of the Center for Investigative Reporting.
“Throughout his long and exciting baseball career, the former San Francisco Giants star ‚Äî now retired and awaiting trial on perjury charges ‚Äî routinely treated the journalists assigned to cover him like dirt.
“That was true during his early years in Pittsburgh, when Bonds proved so truculent that the baseball beat writers gave the young outfielder their ‘MDP Award’ ‚Äî for Most Despised Pirate.
“And it was especially true in San Francisco during the pressure-packed years when Bonds was driving to break Hank Aaron‚Äôs home run record, even as federal agents were investigating him for using steroids from the BALCO drug lab.”
Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada wrote “Game of Shadows,” a 2006 book that detailed a massive steroid conspiracy in baseball. It cited court documents and transcripts from the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, known as BALCO.
Bonds’ personal trainer, Greg Anderson, and BALCO officials were among those charged in a 42-count federal indictment of running a steroid-distribution ring that provided performance-enhancing drugs to dozens of athletes.
Bonds is likely to stand trial in March on perjury charges in the BALCO steroids case.
Short Takes
- On Tuesday night, “NBC’s Lester Holt will report ‘America Now: Faces Against Violence,’ an edition of ‘Dateline’ focusing on youth violence in the city of Chicago,” Kevin Allocca reported Monday for TVNewser. “NBC had two documentary filmmakers, Brent and Craig Renaud, shoot the episode, which has Holt interviewing a diverse array of Chicagoans dealing with the problem that is fueled by the cities large gang presence. . . . NBC News posted a clip of Holt discussing the report.”
- In Mexico, “Officials from Mexico’s largest television network Televisa say an explosive device went off in front of their station in the northern city of Monterrey,” the BBC reported on Sunday. “The attack followed a similar incident at their studios in Matamoros, in the north-east, just hours earlier. While the blasts caused some damage to buildings, no one was injured.”
- “Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s racial comments this week, which included several uses of the ‘N Word’ on her radio show, have prompted at least one advertiser to review its status as a sponsor of the show,” Joe Strupp reported Monday for Media Matters for America. “Shelly Whitaker, a spokesperson for Advance Auto Parts, said the company is investigating the comments and will review them before deciding to continue with its advertising through a national media buy.”
- DeWayne Wickham, columnist for USA Today and Gannett News Service, gets a shout-out from former Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn., in his new book, “More Davids Than Goliaths: A Political Education.” The mention is for Wickham’s role in calling attention to the role of race in jury selection in Rep. Harold Ford Sr.’s retrial on charges of accepting more than $1 million in bank loans in return for political favors. “Last week, a jury of 11 whites and one black was chosen. Whoever said justice is colorblind?” Wickham wrote for USA today in 1993. “I probably wrote at least six columns on the prosecution of Ford‚Äôs father ‚Äî and as he mentions, those columns forced the White House and Justice Department to act and caused The Washington Post and New York Times to take notice,” Wickham told Journal-isms. Ford won acquittal.
- “‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ may go off the air next year, but an Oprah Winfrey show of some sort will be continuing,” Toni Fitzgerald reported Monday for medialifemagazine.com. “According to Securities and Exchange Commission documents filed by Discovery Communications Friday on behalf of the Oprah Winfrey Network, Winfrey will be hosting a program on the soon-to-launch channel, though details on the show are scant.”
- In the New York Times’ recollection of the life of “Roots” producer David L. Wolper, who died last week at 82, “the one television series that was never mentioned was the one connecting Wolper to Indian Country,” Indian columnist Tim Giago wrote on Monday. “Wolper made an effort to be the first producer to address Native history on commercial television, but in the long run, ‘The Mystic Warrior’ never became another ‘Roots’ and is deeply buried somewhere in the archives of ABC.” Giago was among those who reviewed the script.
- Robert “Rob” Redding, host, website proprietor, former Washington Times reporter and an African American, was named a year ago to be program director of conservative radio talk station KMLB-AM in Monroe, La. Redding said Monday that relationship is ending Aug. 20. “After a year at KMLB, I will focus on my growing Independent news and comment program,” Redding wrote. Redding’s Sunday show is heard from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET on terrestrial radio stations ‚Äî including WAOK-AM in Atlanta and WURD-AM in Philadelphia ‚Äî and on XM satellite radio.
- On his blog Thursday on the Daily Beast, Philip Shenon, former New York Times investigative reporter, wrote about SaharaReporters.com, founded by Nigerian publisher and activist Sowore Omoyele. He called it “impressive muckraking” that has drawn a huge following among Nigerians on the continent and in the diaspora. The site “is dedicated to gathering up ‚Äî from mostly anonymous sources ‚Äî and then publishing all of the dirt it can find on corruption and political skullduggery in Nigeria, Africa‚Äôs most populous nation,” Shenon wrote.
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