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Gwen Ifill, Judy Woodruff to Co-Anchor PBS “NewsHour”

“The PBS ‘NewsHour,’ which was co-anchored for decades by the two men who created it, will soon be co-anchored by two women,” Brian Stelter reported Tuesday for the New York Times.

“PBS announced on Tuesday that Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff would take over the nightly newscast in September, putting an end to the rotating anchor format that has been in effect for several years. Ms. Ifill and Ms. Woodruff will also share the managing-editor responsibilities for the program.

“The appointments are another milestone for women on television and in journalism, seven years after Katie Couric became the first female solo anchor of a network nightly newscast. PBS noted in a news release that ‘this will mark the first time a network broadcast has had a female co-anchor team.’ ”

Stelter continued: “Ms. Ifill, who is black, said that she and Ms. Woodruff were mindful of the broader significance of their appointment. ‘When I was a little girl watching programs like this — because that’s the kind of nerdy family we were — I would look up and not see anyone who looked like me in any way. No women. No people of color,’ she said.

“ ‘I’m very keen about the fact that a little girl now, watching the news, when they see me and Judy sitting side by side, it will occur to them that that’s perfectly normal — that it won’t seem like any big breakthrough at all,’ she added. . . .”

The PBS news release continued, “It was also announced that Hari Sreenivasan will serve as Senior Correspondent for the PBS NEWSHOUR with Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff, reporting several times a week from WNET’s Tisch Studios in New York, along with his duties anchoring PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND Saturdays and Sundays beginning September 7.

“In addition, three PBS NEWSHOUR correspondents have been given specific areas of content responsibility and will be contributing on a daily basis to both the broadcast and online operation. Jeffrey Brown was named Chief Correspondent for Arts, Culture, and Society. Ray Suarez was named Chief National Correspondent. And Margaret Warner was named Chief Foreign Correspondent. . . .”

To Jeff Bezos: “Good on Diversity” Won’t Be Good Enough

“Dear Mr. Bezos:

“Congratulations on buying the Washington Post ,” Farai Chideya, multimedia journalist and distinguished writer in residence at New York University, wrote Tuesday. “And no, I’m not saying that while waving you off into the sunset. I hope you succeed. It will be a tall task to ‘invent’ and ‘experiment’ while also living by your statement that ‘The values of The Post do not need changing.’ — all words from your letter to the employees of the Washington Post.

“In 2010, the Post’s Ombudsman, Andrew Alexander, wrote a piece titled ‘Newsroom diversity: Falling short could be fatal.’ He stated, ‘All told, journalists of color comprise about 24 percent of the newsroom, comfortably above the ASNE [American Society of News Editors] census average of roughly 13 percent in recent years. But here’s the problem: Minorities are 43 percent of The Post’s circulation area, and a large part of the region is edging toward ‘majority minority’ status. For The Post, being ‘good on diversity’ isn’t enough.’

“I agree with Alexander. . . . “

Chideya’s letter was to Jeff Bezos, who agreed to buy the Washington Post newspaper for $250 million, it was announced on Monday. Bezos is founder of Amazon.com, but it is an individual purchase. Amazon’s record on diversity is a mystery; it refuses to release its diversity figures.

A Seattle Times series last year shows the company’s secretiveness on diversity not its only aspect that bears investigation.

“In a four-part series beginning today, The Seattle Times gives readers a glimpse inside the company,” the Times wrote last year.

“From the moment Jeff Bezos launched Amazon.com in a small Bellevue house in 1994, it has cultivated a reputation as the consumer’s friend.

“Even the company’s logo sports an inviting smile.

“That obsession with personalized customer service — ‘If you enjoyed this product, let me tell you about that one!’ — has helped Amazon grow into a global behemoth. Last year, sales topped $48 billion and its headquarters, sprawled across nearly a dozen buildings, has remade Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood.

“But as Amazon prepares to turn 18 this summer, its practices are drawing increasing scrutiny, from civic leaders in its hometown to lawmakers around the country, from business partners to labor activists.

“In a four-part series, The Seattle Times gives readers a glimpse behind the Amazon smile.

“We found that the company is a virtual no-show in the civic life of Seattle, contributing to nonprofits and charities a tiny fraction of what other big corporations give. In the political world, the company’s hardball efforts to fend off collecting sales taxes ? a key advantage over brick-and-mortar stores — has ignited a backlash in several states. In the publishing world, smaller companies have begun to publicly criticize Amazon’s bullying tactics. And in some of its warehouses around the country, Amazon is drawing fire for harsh conditions endured by workers. . . .”

ESPN Co-Hosts Battle at NABJ Convention Party

“Always looking for new programming ideas, ESPN has come up with another — battling co-hosts,” Bob Raissman reported Wednesday for the Daily News in New York.

“Hugh Douglas, a first-round pick of the Jets in 1995, apparently had too much to drink last Friday night when he accosted his ‘Numbers Never Lie’ co-host Michael Smith and vowed to beat him to a pulp during a party thrown by the National Association of Black Journalists at the House of Blues in Orlando, Fla.

‘”The Big Lead website reported Douglas called Smith an ‘Uncle Tom’ and a ‘House n—–.’ Douglas, a 6-2, 280-pounder who spent 10 seasons in the NFL, was apparently trying to get on stage to join the DJ. He became incensed when Smith was hesitant to assist him. That’s when Douglas threatened to punch Smith out. Smith attempted to walk away, but Douglas grabbed him by the wrist before party-goers intervened to break things up. An ESPN spokesman said network suits were aware of the altercation and ‘were looking into the situation.’ Still, it remains to be seen if Douglas and Smith will be able to work together. . . .”

In an NABJ Facebook discussion, one member said, “I was at this party and I can tell you most people had no clue this happened.”

Univision Gets $500,000 Grant for Investigative Journalism

“Univision News, the award-winning news division of Univision Communications, Inc, the leading media company serving Hispanic America, announced that it has received a grant from the Ford Foundation to support its quality investigative journalism,” the network announced Wednesday.

“Univision News was the recipient of a one-year, $500,000 grant from the Ford Foundation’s Freedom of Expression Unit to strengthen and expand its Documentary and Investigative units. The funds will allow the News division to devote more time and resources to the production of original in-depth reporting focused on important issues that significantly affect the Hispanic community, including immigration, civic and political participation, building economic security, access to higher education, and health, among others. . . .”

Ebony Devotes Issue to Trayvon; Features 4 Covers

“In response to the watershed moment experienced by the Black community after the ‘not-guilty’ verdict in the George Zimmerman trial, EBONY magazine has devoted the September 2013 issue to Trayvon Martin and explores the ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws,” Ebony announced on Tuesday.

It continued, “The September issue will also have four separate covers, each conveying the message, ‘We Are Trayvon.’ The three separate newsstand issues will feature Spike Lee with his son, Jackson, Boris Kodjoe with his son, Nicolas, and Dwyane Wade with his sons Zaire and Zion, all wearing hoodies. The subscribers’ issue will feature an exclusive photo of Trayvon’s parents and his brother, Jahvaris Fulton, on the cover.

” ‘As a mother of a young Black boy, the tragedy of Travyon Martin affected me deeply,’ said EBONY’s Editor-in-Chief Amy Barnett. ‘We simply cannot allow the conversations on this issue to come to a standstill. As the leading source for an authoritative perspective on the African-American community, at EBONY we are committed to serving as a hub for Black America to explore solutions, and to giving readers the information and tools they need to help ensure a bright future for all of our children.’. . .”

Latinos Disproportionately Among Suspended Baseball Players

“Eight of the 13 players suspended Monday by Major League Baseball were born in the Dominican Republic,” Victor Contreras reported Tuesday in the Sacramento Bee.

“Three came from Venezuela and one from Nicaragua.

“Alex Rodriguez, the player caught in the spotlight in one of major-league baseball’s darkest days, was born in New York City to Dominican parents. He moved to the Dominican Republic at 4, then to Miami.

“The list of suspended players looked more like a lineup card for a World Baseball Classic game.

“Unfortunately, Latinos being suspended for PED use is nothing new.

“Since baseball started suspending major leaguers in 2005 for using performance-enhancing drugs, 38 of the 49 offenders were born in Latin American countries.

“The figures among Latino offenders are even more staggering in the minor leagues.

“But before stereotyping Latino players as cheaters, look beyond the box score. . . .”

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