Food Network Drops Paula Deen Over N-Word

Comments a Hot Topic Among Blacks on Social Media

35-Plus in Newsroom Laid Off in Oregonian Transition 

25 Journalists Attacked or Detained in Brazil Protests

Heat-Spurs Finale Is Miami’s Highest-Rated NBA Game Ever

Sree Sreenivasan Leaves Columbia U. for the Met

Pacifica’s N.Y. Station WBAI to Lay Off Entire Staff

In Birmingham in ’63, Civil Rights Wasn’t Front Page

A Quiet Conversation About a Hat That Screams

Short Takes

Comments a Hot Topic Among Blacks on Social Media

“Paula Deen, the self-proclaimed queen of Southern cooking and a sugary mainstay of the Food Network, was dropped by the network on Friday, after a bewildering day in which she failed to show up for an interview on the ‘Today’ show and then in two online videos begged her family and audience to forgive her for using racist language,” Julia Moskin reported for the New York Times.

“A network spokeswoman said it would not renew Ms. Deen’s contract when it expired at the end of June. Ms. Deen has faced a volley of criticism this week over her remarks in a deposition for a discrimination lawsuit by a former employee. In the document, she admitted she had used racial epithets, tolerated racist jokes and condoned pornography in the workplace.

“The Food Network statement did not elaborate on its reasons for dropping her, but a person close to the network said its shows featuring her sons, Jamie and Bobby, would not be affected. Ms. Deen currently has three regular programs on the network, including ‘Paula’s Best Dishes. . . .’ “

NPR added, “Deen’s admission that she used the epithet came during a deposition in a sexual and racial harassment lawsuit filed against her and her brother by a former employee. Trying to contain the controversy, Paula Deen Enterprises issued a statement Thursday that suggested Deen’s use of the N-word occurred long ago — after all, she was born in Georgia in 1947, at a time when segregation was still the law of the land in the South. . . .”

The Deen story was a hot topic among African Americans on social media. TV One host Roland Martin, the National Association of Black Journalists’ Journalist of the Year, said he detected hypocrisy.

“Paula Deen made some stupid, racist comments. But if I’m mad at her using the N-word, I’m mad at you too,” Martin tweeted.

Web sites such as Bossip interpreted Martin’s remarks with headlines such as, “Roland Martin Says He Approves Of Butter-Ball Chef Paula Deen Using The N-Word[. If] ‘Black Folks Can Say It Then She Can Too!‘ “

Martin replied, “To the ignorant folks, I never said it was OK for Paula Deen to use the N-word. But cut the pathetic hypocrisy and fake outrage.” He said in another tweet Thursday, “My logic is real clear: ZERO TOLERANCE for the N-word. Black folks can say brother, sister or friend.”

Meanwhile, media critic Eric Deggans wrote in the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times, “This is wrapped up in a syndrome I’ve talked about before here; it’s tough to admit when you indulge stereotypes and prejudice, particularly when you see yourself as a good person, you’re in the middle of a lawsuit and certainly when a multi-million dollar celebrity brand is on the line.

“But history teaches us the only way out of such messes. You admit what you did, apologize and vow to do better, making sure you live up to that claim. . . .”

• David Bauder, Associated Press: Could Paula Deen’s Words Topple Her Empire?
• Wayne Bennett, the Field Negro: The racist in the kitchen, and a “Patriot” is in hot water.
• Tanya Ballard Brown, NPR: Stuff You Might Have Missed In The Paula Deen Brouhaha
• Maria Godoy, NPR: Paula Deen: Child Of Dixie, Meet The Internet Age
• Lee Hawkins, Wall Street Journal: Will Novo Nordisk Drop Paula Deen Next? (video)
• Sherry Howard blog: The world that Paula Deen grew up in
• Noah Rothman, Mediaite: CNN Panel Won’t Forgive Paula Deen: Unlike Limbaugh, Her Audience Cares About Using Racial Slurs
• William C. Rhoden, New York Times: In Ali’s Voice From the Past, a Stand for the Ages
• Angela Tuck blog: So Paula Deen used the N-Word
• Jeff Winbush blog: Paula Deen’s Southern-Fried Racist Fantasies

35-Plus in Newsroom Laid Off in Oregonian Transition

“Newsroom layoffs at The Oregonian have topped 35 reporters, editors and photographers today as the paper reduces home-delivery days and cuts staff,” Aaron Mesh reported Friday for Willamette Week, an alternative paper in Portland, Ore.

Editor Peter Bhatia, asked how the reductions affected newsroom diversity, replied by email, “It’s a little premature to be specific because there’s still some flux in who is going and staying, but I’ll let you know.”

The Oregonian reported 16.4 percent journalists of color in last year’s American Society of News Editors newsroom census: 0.6 percent American Indian, 8.8 percent Asian American, 2.9 percent black, 3.5 percent Hispanic and 0.6 percent multiracial. Bhatia is of South Asian background.

The Willamette Week story continued, “Staffers gathered last night at Higgins Restaurant, where they spent the entirety of a $3,500 bar tab donated by citizens who called the restaurant, including Mayor Charlie Hales, who personally chipped in $50. (More money has been donated today.) During the evening, reporters huddled over a bar table to read a hand-written list of colleagues who had been fired.

“The Oregonian and its New Jersey-based owners, Advance Publications Inc., revealed Thursday morning that the paper will be reducing home delivery to four days a week — Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday — and offering subscribers a web version of the newspaper called ‘MyDigitalO.’ (That name will be abandoned, the paper’s publisher told Oregon Public Broadcasting today.). . . “

• OregonLive.com: Oregonian Media Group to launch with digital, print products

25 Journalists Attacked or Detained in Brazil Protests

“At least 25 journalists have reported being attacked or detained amid protests that have swept Brazil over the past two weeks, growing from discontent in São Paulo over public transportation fare hikes to wider nationwide demonstrations against government policies,” the Committee to Protect Journalists reported Friday.

The story continued, “At least 15 journalists reported being attacked on June 13 as military police cracked down on protesters in São Paulo, according to the local association of investigative reporters ABRAJI. Two reported being hit in the eye with rubber bullets fired by police. News accounts said that both Giuliana Vallone, a reporter for Folha de S. Paulo, and Sérgio Andrade da Silva, a photographer for Futura Press agency, were hospitalized for their eye injuries.

“Pedro Vedova, a reporter for GloboNews, said he had been hit in the head by a rubber bullet fired by police while covering protests in the city of Rio de Janeiro on June 20, according to news reports. He sought treatment at a local hospital for a forehead wound, the reports said. A security officer on June 19 punched and kicked Vladimir Platonow, a reporter for Agência Brasil, at a bus terminal in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro state, where he was documenting protesters fleeing from police, according to news reports. Platonow was not hospitalized for any injuries. A spokesman for the bus terminal said the assailant was not affiliated with the company.

“Military police also detained at least five journalists covering the protests. . . .”

Heat-Spurs Finale Is Miami’s Highest-Rated NBA Game Ever

“The Miami Heat’s win against the San Antonio Spurs in game 7 of the NBA finals delivered a 17.7 overnight rating, the second-highest rated NBA game in ABC history, ” Merrill Knox reported for TVSpy. “The ratings peaked at 22.6 from 11:30 – 11:45pm ET, during the game’s last five minutes.

“With a 44.2 metered market rating on WPLG, the game was the highest-rated NBA game ever in Miami. In San Antonio, KSAT’s coverage of the game delivered a 46.4 metered market rating. . . .”

Meanwhile, some Cleveland Cavaliers fans were still hatin’ on ex-Cav LeBron James, who claimed his second consecutive NBA title Thursday.

Chief meteorologist Mark Johnson of Cleveland’s WEWS-TV excised the word “heat” from Thursday night’s postgame late local news forecast, Timothy Burke reported for Deadspin.

“Johnson — who’s been at the Cleveland ABC affiliate since 1993 — eventually ran out of adjectives, relying at the end on ‘Ninja Turtles’ as a substitute for describing what is most certainly hot North Coast weather. . . .”

• Henry Abbott, ESPN: J.A. Adande and Bomani Jones on how LeBron James and company pulled it off, and what it means about how the world sees the MVP (video)
• David Barron, Houston Chronicle: Heat-Spurs series cracks Nielsen double digits, but with little help from Houston or D-FW
• DJ Dunson, the Shadow League: Dan Le Batard Loses It Over Heat Repeat (June 22)
• Grant Hughes, Bleacher Report: Drake Denied Access to Heat Locker Room by Security, Responds: ‘I Am Media’
• Chris Joseph, New Times Broward-Palm Beach: LeBron James Tells Media “Get the F*ck Outta My Face” During Locker Room Celebration [You Tube video]
• Tim Kawakami, San Jose Mercury News: LeBron James caps memorable series
• Jason Reid, Washington Post: Miami Heat’s Big Three come together as repeat NBA champions
• Khalid Salaam, the Shadow League: Down With The King: LeBron silenced all haters and critics once and for all.

Sree Sreenivasan Leaves Columbia U. for the Met

“Sree Sreenivasan, a longtime presence at Columbia University — first at its Graduate School of Journalism, and then more recently as its first chief digital officer — will be leaving the university in August to take a position with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York,” Arik Hesseldahl reported Thursday for All Things D.

“The hyper-connected Sreenivasan, who often for the sake of simplicity goes by just his first name, will become the Met’s first chief digital officer, starting Aug. 12. In the new role, he’ll lead the museum’s Digital Media department into some new initiatives, especially in the areas of documentation and interpretive materials on the museum’s collection. He confirmed the move to AllThingsD after Capital New York reported on it this morning.”

Sreenivasan, who is also a founder of the South Asian Journalists Association, “said he wasn’t looking for a new job, but when the museum came calling, it was hard to resist. ‘I loved what I was doing at Columbia, but when you’ve been in love with something like the Met Museum for 30 years as I have, it’s very hard to say no. . . .”

Pacifica’s N.Y. Station WBAI to Lay Off Entire Staff

“The saga of Pacifica’s 99.5 WBAI New York has taken another twist as the station has begun issuing notice to its entire staff and management that they’ll be out of work come July 15,” Lance Venta reported Thursday for Radio Insight.

“The station has been having problems coming up with money to meet payroll and pay rent on its studios and Empire State Building transmitter site. The announcement comes a day after word that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is withholding funding to Pacifica’s five stations for insufficient accounting practices, misreported revenues and failure to comply with CPB rules on open meetings and financial transparency. One of the WBAI hosts claims that the layoffs have come about because ‘The Labor Department got wind that they were refusing to pay us.’ “

Pacifica Foundation Radio operates noncommercial radio stations in New York, Washington, Houston, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area, and syndicates content to more than 100 affiliates. “It invented listener-supported radio,” the foundation’s website says.

Short Takes

• African media will be among the concerns of President Obama on his trip next week to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser, told reporters on a conference call Friday. Obama’s visit to the University of Johannesburg in Soweto is to include a town hall that continues his Young African Leaders Initiative. “You may recall that the President launched this initiative when he hosted African leaders from across the continent at his town hall meeting at the White House, with the idea being that we need to reach the next generation of African leaders in civil society, in entrepreneurship, in journalism,” Rhodes said. Grant Harris, senior director for African affairs, added, “We are engaged in building capacity for effective and responsive governance, for supporting civil society, independent media, and all the different institutions that it takes for a democracy to flourish. . . .”
• “Leave it to Geraldo Rivera to put a contrarian’s spin on things,” Erik Wemple wrote Thursday for his Washington Post media blog. “Yesterday on Twitter, the Fox News personality wrote: ‘Reporter Michael Hastings KI tragic car wreck Condolences to familyBut hard to forget he destroyed career of 1 of our best fighting generals.’ ” It was a reference to President Obama accepting the resignation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal in 2010. McChrystal was then commanding U.S. forces in Afghanistan and the subject of an article by Hastings in Rolling Stone.
• C-SPAN plans to air Wednesday’s congressional ceremony dedicating the statue of Frederick Douglass in the U.S. Capitol Saturday at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern time.
• Media reporter and critic Howard Kurtz said Thursday he is pulling up stakes at CNN this month and taking his “independent brand of media criticism” to Fox News, Chris Ariens reported for TVNewser, linking to early reaction.
• “Sean (Diddy) Combs‘ new network Revolt TV, has finalized a national carriage agreement with Time Warner Cable,” Jon Lafayette reported Thursday for Broadcasting & Cable. However, Claire Atkinson reported in the New York Post Wednesday, “Revolt TV will have to pay for the cable carriage, in contrast to more established media players that get fees from pay-TV providers to offer their programming to subscribers, sources said.”
• In Atlanta, “Former Fox 5 anchor Amanda Davis was sued this week in Fulton County Superior Court by the driver she hit in a wrong-way accident last November,” Rodney Ho reported Thursday in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Davis at the time was arrested on charges of DUI, failure to maintain lane and reckless driving. . . .”
• “The W. K. Kellogg Foundation has awarded the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) with a $100,000 grant to fund six free media access trainings and an education forum on structural racism at the 2013 AAJA National Convention,” Kathy Chow, AAJA executive director, reported on Friday.
• “The Native American Journalists Association was informed that press junkets associated with the premiere of the movie ‘The Lone Ranger’ have been well attended by journalists but not by Native journalists,” NAJA announced on Thursday. “While Disney has attempted to reach out to Native American audiences with the film, they have curiously forgotten to invite media from Indian Country to cover it.” Sarah Gustavus, executive producer of national programs for “Native America Calling,” told Journal-isms by email Friday that the show had reached out to several Disney publicity people, but that “I’m not willing to share names at this time. We continue to cover the release of ‘The Lone Ranger’ and are sending staff from Native America Calling and National Native News to the premiere. We received media credentials for the premiere yesterday,” she said.
• MSNBC will broadcast live from the 2013 Essence Festival in New Orleans July 4-7, the magazine announced last week. On July 5, “Now with Alex Wagner” will air at noon ET, followed by “Hardball” at 1 p.m. ET, “NewsNation” at 2 p.m. ET, “PoliticsNation” at 3 p.m. ET and “The Ed Show” at 4 p.m. ET. On July 6, “Melissa Harris-Perry” airs from 10 a.m. to noon ET, followed by “The Ed Show” at noon ET and “PoliticsNation” at 1 p.m. ET, and on July 7, “Melissa Harris-Perry” from 10 a.m. to noon ET, “The Ed Show” from noon to 1 p.m. ET and “PoliticsNation” from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET. More here.
• Under Ecuador’s new communications law, “journalists may have to pay far more attention to ribbon-cutting ceremonies and other government PR events,” John Otis reported Friday for the Committee to Protect Journalists. “Article 18 of the law forbids the ‘deliberate omission of … topics of public interest.’ But this wording is so vague that nearly any action by local, state, or national government official could be considered of public interest. . . .”
• “Recent attacks against journalists in Zimbabwe could make it difficult for citizens there to receive relevant and timely information ahead of the country’s July 31 parliamentary and presidential elections, according to International Press Institute Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie,” the institute’s Sasu Siegelbaum reported Friday.
• “As Vietnam prepares to celebrate its journalists on Friday, many of the country’s most well-known political bloggers are living under constant fear of arrest,” Marianne Brown and Pham Bac wrote Friday for Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the German news agency. ” ‘It will be my turn, whether I post anything online or not,’ said Nguyen Huu Vinh, who writes a popular political blog under his own name. ‘When they do not like us, anything can happen.’. . . ”

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