Journal-Isms September 14

“In his upcoming October cover story, Ta-Nehisi Coates explores how mass incarceration has affected African American families http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/404674/enduring-myth-of-black-criminality/ ,” reads a promotional announcement on the Atlantic magazine website. ” ‘There’s a long history in this country of dealing with problems in the African American community through the criminal justice system,’ he says in this animated interview. ‘The enduring view of African Americans in this country is as a race of people who are prone to criminality.’ You can read the full story on September 15, 2015.” (video)

Short Takes

The Pittsburgh Black Media Federation Monday denounced as “a blight on journalism” a Sunday column by Jack Kelly in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that included the line, “Slavery was horrible, but no black American living today has suffered from it. Most are better off than if their ancestors had remained in Africa.” Tom Waseleski, editorial page editor, emailed Journal-isms, “His views are conservative and contribute to the diversity of opinion featured in our newspaper. We have liberal columnists, too, who, like Jack, are provocative and can stir up reaction by readers. Obviously, readers need to keep in mind that our signed columnists, liberal or conservative, speak for themselves and their own views — not for the Post-Gazette. The views of the newspaper, of course, are expressed in its daily editorials.” Tory N. Parrish, president of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, responded, “The words ‘conservative’ and ‘racist’ are not synonymous.”
“Ahead of the September 16th Republican Debate on CNN, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and Define American call on the network to modernize and improve the accuracy of its editorial guidelines and discontinue the use of the word ‘illegal’ when referring to undocumented immigrants,” NAHJ announced on Monday.
“NPR is projecting to end fiscal year 2015 with a $1.5 million surplus following a two-year effort to reach a break-even budget,” Ben Mook reported Friday for Current.org. The prospect of deficit of $6.1 million in 2014 led NPR to cancel the multicultural “Tell Me More” hosted by Michel Martin.

After nearly 26 years, Angela Tuck is retiring from the Atlanta Journal Constitution effective Sept. 25. “I’ve been blessed to work in many roles over nearly 26 years at the ajc: writer, editor, recruiter/intern coordinator and public editor/ columnist. I’m most proud of my work in diversifying the ajc newsroom as well as mentoring dozens of interns and young professionals,” Tuck said in an message.
PBS Monday announced plans to broadcast “America After Charleston,” “a one-hour town hall meeting that aims to explore the many issues propelled into public discourse after a white gunman shot and killed nine African-American parishioners in Charleston’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in June 2015. Gwen Ifill, PBS NEWSHOUR co-anchor and managing editor, and moderator and managing editor of WASHINGTON WEEK, will moderate the special broadcast.” Meanwhile, Ifill has been selected as the 2015 recipient of the Fourth Estate Award, the National Press Club announced. Ifill is to receive the award at a gala dinner on Oct. 15.
Services for Allegra B. Bennett, a journalist who became a self-help writer and appeared on home improvement television spots as the “renovating woman,” will be private, Jacques Kelly reported Friday in an obituary for the Baltimore Sun. Bennett, 68, died of breast cancer Sept. 8. However, “A gathering will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Forest Park Golf Course Club House, West Forest Park Avenue” in Baltimore.”
In a front-page story for Sunday’s New York Times, Jeremy W. Peters wrote, “To listen to the way some Republicans tell it, America is a pretty awful place these days.” Peters said, “Their damning assessments — that the country is diminished and unrecognizable, imperiled by forces foreign and domestic — seem to resonate with voters already feeling angry, alienated and under threat. . . .” Peters’ piece, searching for reasons for this phenomenon, never mentioned the changing racial complexion of the country and the related anxieties by members of the white majority. Nor did he respond to requests from Journal-isms for comment.
“The New York Times announced on Monday that it would sponsor a fellowship in honor of David Carr, the media columnist and reporter who died this year,” Ravi Somaiya reported Monday for the Times. “The David Carr Fellow, The Times said, will spend two years in the Times newsroom ‘covering the intersection of technology, media and culture.’ It is an opportunity, The Times said, ‘for a journalist early in his or her career to build upon Mr. Carr’s commitment to holding power accountable and telling engaging, deeply reported stories. . . .”
Journalist Soledad O’Brien Monday unveiled “I Am Latino in America,” “a national tour of conversations that amplify the Latino voice on critical community issues. The Tour kicks off September 28 at Florida International University, with plans to roll out in five more cities including Edinburg, TX and Los Angeles, CA. Additional tours are planned for the spring and summer of 2016, with more than 15 cities expected to host the live event,” an announcement said. More information on the tour’s website, <www.iamlatinoinamerica.com>.
“Programs by and about Latinos were honored at the Imagen Awards,” Henry Schneider reported Monday for Current.org. “America by the Numbers with Maria Hinojosa, a documentary series that examines how changing demographics are affecting the U.S., won best national informational program for its episode ‘The New Mad Men.’ ABTN is produced by The Futuro Media Group in association with PBS and presented by WGBH. . . . Also honored at the Imagen Awards was Thirteen/WNET for Oh Noah!, which won for best web series (comedy). Oh Noah! follows the adventures of a young boy and teaches kids Spanish words through accompanying games and videos. . . .”
“Colin Cowherd’s move to FS1 is reaping plenty of benefits for the ESPN talent that remained behind,“ Glenn Erby reported Saturday for blackspportsonline.com. “After word that Dan LeBatard would replace Cowherd’s midday spot, SI is reporting that Bomani Jones will move up two hours, to the 4-7 pm slot on ESPN radio. . . . It’s another upward move for Jones who continues to climb the ladder at ESPN, while utilizing his various skills on several ESPN platforms. . . .”
Ali Lmrabet, 55, “is back doing journalism in Morocco now for the first time since 2005, when a court found him guilty of defamation, barred him from practicing his profession, and fined him $5,000,” Sam Kimball reported Friday for Columbia Journalism Review. “In an interview earlier that year with the editors of a Moroccan weekly newspaper, Al Moustakil, Lmrabet had declared that Western Saharans who have been living in camps in neighboring Algeria since Moroccan forces invaded their country are refugees. While there is no law against making such comments, Lmrabet’s words drew a lawsuit from Ahmed Khar, the spokesman for a pro-Moroccan NGO, who said that Lmrabet’s words caused him great pain. Khar’s civil suit was filed only a week after Lmrabet applied for government approval to reopen his newspaper, Demain, known for its unfavorable stance towards the Moroccan monarchy. While the 10-year ban on practicing journalism was the most significant imposed on a Moroccan journalist for defamation at the time, others have since faced even heavier fines. . . .”