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Journal-isms Jan 8

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NABJ to Consider Leaving Accreditation Council

ASNE Fixes Diversity Panel That Lacked Diversity

NAJA Leader Blasts Michael Steele’s "Injun" Remark

Columnists Unanimous on Gilbert Arenas’ Gunplay

Much of Freelancing Has Become All Too Free

Sam Cooke Documentary Debuts Monday on PBS

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NABJ to Consider Leaving Accreditation Council

The National Association of Black Journalists is considering pulling out of the major accrediting council for college journalism, a decision that would leave none of the journalist of color organizations on the body.

The Asian American Journalists Association, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and NABJ sat on the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication as one way to ensure that diversity remains a priority in college journalism programs, both in staffing and curriculum.

The groups fought to be included, but finances have become an issue.

"We are taking a second look at any expense that is not an essential service," Kathy Times, president of NABJ, told Journal-isms on Friday. "The board will be approving the NABJ budget this month and will decide if it wants to continue paying $4,000 for the ACEJMC membership."

When AAJA withdrew in 2006, the dues were $5,000. AAJA cited the cost, and the then-president, Sandra Keyes, flew to the association’s annual meeting in Hawaii to urge it to stay. NAHJ left in 2007 "in protest over their failure to vigorously apply the standards that would have been required for significant diversity gains in the 10 years of our membership." The same year, NLGJA decided to leave, but reversed itself.

Other journalists and educators of color remain members of the council, however, including a representative of the Black College Communication Association. Peter Bhatia of the Oregoian in Portland, who is Asian American, is president of the council and Jannette Dates, dean of the John H. Johnson School of Communications at Howard University, who is African American, is vice president.

David Boardman, Thom Fladung, Susan Goldberg and Bernard Lunzer

 

ASNE Fixes Diversity Panel That Lacked Diversity

"Diversity and downsizing: Can the two coexist?‘ asked the promotion for a Jan. 26 panel conducted by the American Society of News Editors.

Pictured were three panelists — David Boardman, Thom Fladung, Bernard Lunzer — and its moderator, Susan Goldberg.

A member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists wrote Journal-isms asking, "Is it me or I am missing something. What’s wrong with this picture?"

All the panelists were white, as they are in many such panels assembled throughout the industry. But this time, the response was different.

"You’re right," responded Richard Karpel, ASNE’s executive director. "We made a mistake by not including a person of color. We’re going to rectify that. Debra Adams Simmons, managing editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and former editor of the Akron Beacon Journal, will join the panel. We will also seek a representative from AAJA. Thanks for bringing it to our attention."

NAJA Leader Blasts Michael Steele’s "Injun" Remark

"The head of the Native American Journalists Association is calling on Michael Steele to apologize for his "scurrilous tongue" in the wake of a derogatory statement the RNC Chairman made about Native Americans," as Sam Stein wrote Friday for the Huffington Post.

"Ronnie Washines, who heads the association, accused Steele of resorting to ‘uneducated archaic racist remarks’ when he used the phrase ‘Honest Injun’ on Sean Hannity’s radio show to underscore his support for the RNC’s document of principles.

“I am thoroughly outraged that the leader of the National Republican Party would use such repulsive language on national television," Washines said. Those of us in journalism have tirelessly worked to ensure that political leaders, newsrooms and the public be respectful to all cultures when speaking [publicly]. Michael Steele’s scurrilous tongue does no service to his group and only undermines the positive work of those who sincerely seek to respect one another in all of our working relationships. I urge Michael Steele to carefully word a sincere apology to the Native American community, which could help stop such uneducated archaic racist remarks from being made in the future. We here at NAJA are available to assist him and his organization with obtaining an accurate understanding of Native America.” .

Stein noted, "Washines’s rebuke comes days after similar push back was offered by Rep. Dale Kildee, (D-Mich), who co-chairs the Congressional Native American Caucus."

Columnists Unanimous on Gilbert Arenas’ Gunplay

"It’s difficult to imagine any more laughter coming from Gilbert Arenas on this matter of having guns in the locker room," the hometown columnist, Michael Wilbon of the Washington Post, wrote Thursday about the Washington Wizards’ star player. "It’s safe to assume there will be no more pulling a fake trigger for the cameras, no more Twittering, no more seeing this gun episode as another prank. Even Arenas knows the laughter stops when NBA Commissioner David Stern says you are suspended indefinitely. Wednesday, funny turned into career threatening.

"If you read Stern’s statement on the matter, where he says, ‘The actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, perhaps worse,’ it’s the ‘perhaps worse’ part that should wipe any smile off Arenas’s face for awhile. Not only is the remainder of his $111 million contract in jeopardy, so perhaps are his playing days in the NBA. This indefinite suspension that Stern says ultimately will be ‘substantial’ could last beyond the remainder of the season. Don’t be surprised to see consideration of a suspension that goes into the 2011 season. Perhaps beyond that, too."

The denunciation of Arenas’ conduct went far beyond the Wizards’ home turf:

Much of Freelancing Has Become All Too Free"

"Today’s reality is that much of freelancing has become all too free," media writer James Rainey wrote Wednesday for the Los Angeles Times.

"Seasoned professionals have seen their income drop by 50% or more as publishers fill the Web’s seemingly limitless news hole, drawing on the ever-expanding rank of under-employed writers.

"The crumbling pay scales have not only hollowed out household budgets but accompanied a pervasive shift in journalism toward shorter stories, frothier subjects and an increasing emphasis on fast, rather than thorough.

" ‘There are a lot of stories that are being missed, not just at legacy newspapers and TV stations but in the freelance world,’ said Nick Martin, 27, laid off a year ago by the East Valley Tribune in Mesa, Ariz., and now a freelancer. ‘A lot of publications used to be able to pay freelancers to do really solid investigations. There’s just not much of that going on anymore.’

"Another writer, based in Los Angeles, said she has been troubled by the lighter fare that many websites prefer to drive up traffic. A new take on any youth obsessions (‘Put "Twilight" in the headline, get paid’) has much more chance of winning editorial approval than more complex or substantive material.

"The rank of stories unwritten — like most errors of omission — is hard to conceive. Even those inside journalism can only guess at what stories they might have paid for, if they had more money."

With ‘You Send Me’ in 1957, Sam Cooke became the first African American to reach No. 1 on both the R&B and pop charts. (Video)

Sam Cooke Documentary Debuts Monday on PBS

After Sam Cooke was shot to death at age 32 in 1964, his record company told listeners that "Sam Cooke lives on in his songs." Every time one hears "A Change Is Gonna Come," "You Send Me" or "Chain Gang," it proves the company right.

On Monday, PBS’ "American Masters" series debuts "Sam Cooke: Crossing Over," an hour documentary on a gospel-turned-pop singer who, the documentary says, was the first black crossover singer, the first African American to have his own record label, the first black man to go to RCA Records with a $1 million contract, and a man who, in 1963, refused to appear at segregated concerts and had stopped straightening his hair.

Made over 10 years, the film features Danny Glover, Muhammad Ali, Herb Alpert, James Brown, Dick Clark, Smokey Robinson, Jerry Wexler, Billy Preston and other, some of whom died before the film could be completed. Check local listings for airtime .

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