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Dems Flaunted Diversity, but to What End?

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Hillary Clinton at last week's Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia (Credit: PBS)

Writers Speculate on Consequences of Inclusion

Pence: Trump Campaign Will Lift Media Blacklist

Xenophobia Pushes Ethnic Media to Cover DNC

Fox News Passes on Racial Justice Events

2 Broadcasters Out After Offensive Posts

2 Papers Praise Rebuke of N.C. ‘Anti-Voting Law’

Telemundo, La Opinión in News Partnership

Gannett Names Hardy Top Editor in Greenville, S.C.

Manny Garcia Promoted Inside USA Today Network

Arab American-Black Relations: Solidarity, Bias

SNCC Vets Back Black Lives Matter Movement

Short Takes

Writers Speculate on Consequences of Inclusion

“One implicit message on the first night of the Democratic convention: Even if you regard both major-party candidates as economic and foreign-policy disasters, recall the undocumented immigrants that stood on the stage, the black man with a Latino wife, the first black First Lady of the United States, the embrace of LGBT activists, and try to claim that there’s no difference between Hillary Clinton’s America and Donald Trump’s America,” Conor Friedersdorf wrote Tuesday for the Atlantic.

“As if any Democrat could forget it, the DNC aired clips of Trump to remind everyone that Hispanics, Muslim Americans, and African Americans can all expect him to stoke racial tensions more nakedly than any other mainstream politician in the United States would dare to attempt in 2016. . . . ”

How much does Trump have to lose? After all, as Neil King Jr. reported for the Wall Street Journal on July 19, “Just 7% of blacks and 12% of Hispanics in this month’s poll called themselves Republicans. Other polls, meanwhile, have shown sharp gains for the Democrats among Asian-American voters, one of the fast-growing portions of the electorate.

“Exit polls in 2012 revealed that [President] Obama took nearly three-quarters of the Asian vote. A poll in March of 1,000 Asian-American registered voters found that just 19% had a favorable view of Donald Trump, the GOP’s presumptive nominee.”

Many in the news media noted the diversity on display at the Democratic National Convention that ended Thursday in Philadelphia. There was less unanimity, however, on what to make of it.

Was it a way to bring in line the delegates pledged to runner-up Bernie Sanders? Friedersdorf went on:

“For better or worse, identity politics, broadly construed, is the best way for Hillary Clinton to distinguish herself from her rival in a way that helps her to solidify intra-Democratic support. One part of that message, though she would never put it this way:

“If you refuse to back me, Bernie Sanders supporters, you won’t just be making a statement against my economic and foreign-policy visions, or positioning yourselves for future runs at power in the Democratic Party, you’ll be doing so at the cost of consigning those Hispanics, Muslim Americans, and African Americans to bigoted policies and appeals that rightly alarm many in their communities and beyond.

Retired Marine Gen. John Allen and his multicultural backdrop. (Credit: PBS)

“You’ll bring about more deportations, a potential religious test for immigrants, a doubling down on policing that leads to innocent deaths … and who knows what else? You’ll empower a bigoted man whose words have already inspired a hate crime, giving him the biggest megaphone in the free world. . . .”

Did it simply emphasize the lack of white male working class members of Clinton’s coalition?

“For three days, the party’s embrace of diversity in race, gender and sexual orientation was on full display,” (accessible via search engine) Gerald F. Seib wrote Thursday for the Wall Street Journal. “Less numerous were the odes to those who wear hard hats, or drive trucks or go bowling. Finally, Thursday night, a factory worker, a home-care provider and a laid-off restaurant worker appeared on stage.”

Bill Barrow wrote Wednesday for the Associated Press, “Vice President Joe Biden confronted the reality Wednesday, telling delegates in Philadelphia that Trump’s claims of being a middle-class savior are ‘malarkey’ and that the Republican presidential nominee and billionaire real estate mogul ‘doesn’t have a clue about the middle class.’ Earlier in the day, Biden told MSNBC that Democrats have ‘done the right thing’ for white working-class voters, but still haven’t ‘spoken to them.’ . . .”

On vox.com Tuesday, Dara Lind said the diversity at the convention might have had an unintended consequence: raising expectations.

” ‘One out of every five Americans walking around is a woman of color,’ Aimee Allison told the attendees of a panel discussion Monday afternoon sponsored by Democracy in Color, ‘but only 3 percent of elected officials are women of color.’

“Ultimately, the ideal isn’t diversity. It’s equity — inclusion and representation.

“At the Democracy of Color panel, mentions of Sanders and Clinton both got ovations. But nothing was as loud or raucous as the crowd’s reaction when Allison asked, ‘How excited are you that Donna Brazile is now the [interim] chair of the Democratic Party?’

“. . . There are a lot of speaker slots on a convention schedule. There are fewer spots available for influential Democratic policy staffers, and fewer still for elected officials themselves. Securing spots at those levels for people who represent the diverse identities that Democrats rhetorically embrace will mean that those spots can’t go to bright young straight white men.

“Will it still be so easy for Democrats to be the party of identity if many of their members are being asked to give up something real?”

Pence: Trump Campaign Will Lift Media Blacklist

“Vice presidential candidate Mike Pence said the Trump campaign is having conversations about lifting the blacklist it has applied to certain media outlets,” Hadas Gold reported Friday for Politico.

“Speaking to radio host Hugh Hewitt on Friday, Pence defended his own history of dealing with the news media, saying he authored legislation while in Congress to help protect journalists’ confidential sources.

“ ‘We’re going to have those conversations internally and I fully expect in the next 100 days we’re going to continue to be available to the media, whether they’re fair or unfair,’ Pence said.

“The Trump campaign has blacklisted certain outlets, including POLITICO, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post and others, from attending his events because of what he considers unfair coverage. On Friday, CNN’s Chris Cuomo said he is blacklisted from the Trump campaign ‘because of how we conduct our interviews.’ . . .”

Momar Visaya, left, editor of an English-language Filipino weekly, the Asian Journal, and Rong Xiaoqing, a reporter for the national Chinese-language Sing Tao Daily (Credit: Anthony Advincula/New America Media)

Xenophobia Pushes Ethnic Media to Cover DNC

“Outside the Wells Fargo Center here, Rong Xiaoqing, a reporter for the national Chinese-language Sing Tao Daily, took a photograph of a throng of Bernie Sanders’ supporters, protesting and chanting, ‘A vote for Hillary is a vote for Trump!,’ ” Anthony Advincula reported Thursday for New America Media.

“Unintimidated by the U.S. Secret Service guards carrying heavy-powered guns, Xiaoqing stopped in the middle of the road and, before walking towards the hall where the delegates were, she took another shot with her iPad.

“Amid the spate of police shootings in a number of states across the country, hate crimes and anti-immigrant rhetoric from the conservatives, the coverage at the Democratic National Convention of journalists from the minority press, like Xiaoqing, comes at a crucial time to inform their communities.

” ‘Most especially this year, it is very important for us to be part of this major national [political] event. The xenophobia is horrific,’ she said. ‘Candidates and party leaders need to be held accountable for their words [and actions].'”No one is at a better position than minority press to do the job.”

“For four days, a delegation of reporters from various media outlets — Reporte Hispano, The Asian Journal, Sing Tao Daily, Glocally Newark.com, Zaman, and NewJerseyNews.com/Media Mobilizing Project — that serve ethnic and minority communities are here at the convention halls and caucus rooms, asking questions and standing side by side with major American and foreign news outlets around the world. The delegation was organized by New America Media, with support from the Dodge Foundation. . . .

“This is the first [time for] most of these reporters to be at political conventions. But it is certainly not their first to cover stories about Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Yet, for most reporters from ethnic media — though a study conducted by pollster Sergio Bendixen said that about 60 million people access them as their source information — credentials for the largest political events such as the DNC and RNC are still hard to come by. . . .”

Fox News Passes on Racial Justice Events

“Fox News did not air several Democratic National Convention speeches from figures promoting issues that run counter to the narrative the network has pushed for years — including racial justice, reproductive rights, gun safety reform, LGBT equality, and respect for Muslim-Americans,” Alex Kaplan reported Friday for Media Matters for America.

“During the second day of the convention on July 26, members of the ‘Mothers of the Movement,’ a group of women whose African-American children were killed due to gun violence or in officer-involved shootings, shared their experiences and their children’s memories. The women also urged people to support Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who they said ‘isn’t afraid to say that black lives matter,’ and pushed for criminal justice reform and gun safety reform.

“Fox News not only neglected to air the speeches, but the Mothers of the Movement appearance went completely unmentioned at the time. Fox News and right-wing media have repeatedly demonized the Black Lives Matter movement, likening it to ‘a hate group’ and a ‘murder movement.’ They have also dismissed calls for criminal justice reform, pushing the ‘black-on-black crime’ canard as an excuse and calling concerns about systemic racism in American society ‘dumb.’ . . . ”

Dylan Byers and Olivia Beavers, writing Friday for CNN Money, added, “Coming days after the abrupt resignation of Fox News chief Roger Ailes, who left amid multiple sexual harassment allegations, the programming decisions sent a clear signal: Even without Ailes, Fox News would continue to cater to conservatives and Republicans. . . .”

They also wrote, “Fox News defended its coverage of the Democratic convention.

” ‘We reported on the speeches and cited them throughout the evening and into today, as well,’ Jay Wallace, executive vice president of News Editorial, told CNN.”

(Credit: St. Louis American)

2 Broadcasters Out After Offensive Posts

A Dallas meteorologist resigned and a St. Louis television reporter has been fired after each posted racially offensive remarks on Facebook about black men who died in police custody, news outlets in the two cities reported on Friday.

Chief meteorologist Bob Goosmann of Dallas’ KRLD 1080 Radio’s Wednesday post said, “As many of you have probably noticed, I’ve stayed away from politics on FB. The DNC parading the mothers of slain thugs around on their stage has me furious,” according to reports from Liz Farmer at the Dallas Morning News and Kelsey Bradshaw of mysanantonio.com.

“The comment came after black women whose children have died while in custody, in police shootings or other gun violence took the stage at the Democratic National Convention,” Farmer wrote.

“Paul Mann, KRLD’s news director, confirmed that Goosmann had resigned as the station’s chief meteorologist, ‘effective immediately.’ . . . ”

In St. Louis, Rebecca Rivas of the St. Louis American reported Friday, “Fox 2 St. Louis has fired reporter Bobby Hughes after he made a sick joke on Facebook about Michael Brown Jr.’s mother and her son’s shooting death, according to an unofficial report from a Fox 2 employee who would not be identified for fear of retaliation from management.

Rivas also wrote, ” ‘It’s become a safety issue with our crews on the street as we have seen threats against the crews posted in all sorts of social media,’ one black employee told the American. ‘No one wants to go in a news vehicle or live truck with a big bull’s eye on it.’ . . .

“In a July 22 Facebook post about Lezley McSpadden being invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention, Hughes commented, ‘She’s going to talk about the new lead diet she’s endorsed. Five servings and you can lose 200 lbs in two years easily.’

“On July 26, the Ethical Society of Police, an organization that represents 200 minority police officers, released a statement demanding that Hughes apologize to the community and Brown’s family for his remarks. . . .”

2 Papers Praise Rebuke of N.C. ‘Anti-Voting Law’

Two North Carolina newspapers applauded the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision Friday overturning what the Nation magazine called “The Country’s Worst Anti-Voting Law.”

The state’s 2013 elections law included a provision requiring voters to show ID at the polls. The three-judge panel found that the law was adopted with “discriminatory intent,” as Anne Blythe reported for the News & Observer in Raleigh.

The News & Observer editorialized, “North Carolina’s 2013 election law was advertised as preventing voter fraud. Instead, it has been exposed as fraudulent lawmaking – voter suppression in the guise of voting protections.” It called the restoration of the status quo “a stain on the state’s Republican leadership.”

In Wilmington, the Star-News wrote, “History matters. That’s an important message to take away from Friday’s decision by a federal appeals court to overturn North Carolina’s recent election-law overhaul that, among other things, requires voters to show an ID at the polls.

“If North Carolina — like many other states — did not have a history of racial discrimination, the law, which was passed in 2013, may have stood. But that is not the case. In fact, until several years ago, some states were required to get federal approval before making such changes to election laws. . . .”

The Star-News also wrote, “We applaud the court’s decision. Unlike having to show an ID at the bank or to board an airplane or to buy Sudafed, voting is a sacred, constitutional right, the very basis of our democratic values. Any changes made to voting laws must meet a very high standard of being necessary and nondiscriminatory. . . .”

Separately,  U.S. District Court Judge James Peterson Friday struck down parts of Wisconsin’s voter ID law, limits on early voting and prohibitions on allowing people to vote early at multiple sites, Patrick Marley and Jason Stein reported for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Peterson also turned back other election laws Republicans have put in place in recent years.

“Wisconsin’s voter ID law was a mistake from the start; a political talking point dressed up as policy, aiming to fix a problem that doesn’t exist,” it  editorialized.” And although the law isn’t particularly onerous for most people, there are some for whom obtaining the necessary ID is substantially difficult. So difficult that some won’t — or won’t be able to — go through the hassle of getting one. . . .”

Telemundo, La Opinión in News Partnership

“Noticias Telemundo, the news division of Telemundo Network, and La Opinión, the leading Spanish-language daily newspaper in the U.S., announced a partnership to produce and publish news content aimed at Hispanic Americans,” Portada reported on Tuesday.

“The partnership includes the launch of “Telemundo and La Opinión Present,” a series of stories on Latino issues that will appear on Telemundo Network, La Opinión newspaper, and the digital platforms of both organizations.

“The agreement, announced in the midst of an election cycle in which Latinos are expected to play a critical role, allows Noticias Telemundo and La Opinión to share a massive wealth of news information and resources to research, develop and deliver news content for multiple platforms. . . .”

Veronica Villafañe added Friday for her Media Moves site, “The content agreement may end up being more favorable for La Opinión, which during the past year has seen a massive editorial exodus between layoffs and staffers leaving the paper for better opportunities with only a handful of reporters remaining to cover local news.”

Gannett Names Hardy Top Editor in Greenville, S.C.

Katrice Hardy

“Katrice Hardy, managing editor of The Virginian-Pilot, is leaving the newspaper after 21 years for a position with Gannett Co. in South Carolina,” Kimberly Pierceall reported Friday for the Norfolk, Va., news organization.

“Hardy, 42, will be executive editor of The Greenville News. She also will be one of Gannett’s 15 regional editors, leading the southeast and overseeing three other newspapers in Asheville, N.C.; Anderson, S.C.; and Staunton, Va.”

Born in Baton Rouge, La., Hardy has spent her entire career at the Pilot, starting as an intern in 1995, Pierceall wrote.

Hardy’s appointment raises to two the number of African American top editors in the Gannett organization, which owns 109 dailies. The other is Hollis Towns, editor of the Asbury Park Press in Neptune, N.J.

Gannett was once a leader in newsroom diversity. Last month, Mizell Stewart III,  newly named vice president of news operations of the Gannett Co.’s USA Today Network and incoming president of the American Society of News Editors, said there “has been an acknowledgement that diversity is off the front burner” at Gannett and now will be addressed.

Manny Garcia Promoted Inside USA Today Network

“Manny Garcia has been named the east region executive editor for the USA TODAY Network,” Laura Layden reported Friday for the Naples Daily News.

Manny Garcia (credit: Corey Perrine, Naples Daily News)

“Garcia, who joined the Naples Daily News as editor in October 2013, will assume his new job immediately. In his new role, he will direct editors across the eastern region of the country as the USA TODAY Network continues to grow. His territory includes more than 50 markets from Florida to Vermont where parent company Gannett Co. Inc. owns and operates newspapers. . . .”

Layden also wrote, “During Garcia’s time at the Naples Daily News, the newsroom added a Tallahassee bureau, elevated investigative reporting, increased diversity, created an internship program and expanded coverage of local communities. Daily News stories have exposed government waste, led to reforms and comforted victims. Readers have responded to those in need with major financial donations, college scholarships, medical care and transportation — even showing up in the newspaper’s lobby with checks and cash in hand.”

“. . . Garcia, 56, is an award-winning investigative reporter and a former executive editor of the Miami-based Spanish-language newspaper El Nuevo Herald. . . .”

Randy Lovely, vice president for community news for the USA Today Network, also announced that “Tim Archuleta, editor of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Peter Bhatia, editor of The Cincinnati Enquirer and Hollis Towns, editor of the Asbury Park Press, are among 14 editors given additional responsibilities as Regional Editors for the USA TODAY NETWORK. The three will oversee newsrooms in Texas, Ohio and New Jersey, respectively, in addition to leading their current newsrooms. . . .”

As Shan Wang reported July 19 for Nieman Lab, “Gannett split off its broadcast assets into a separate company called Tegna (sorry, ‘TEGNA’) and rebranded its constellation of local news organizations as part of the ‘USA TODAY Network.’ ”

Arab American-Black Relations: Solidarity, Bias

“Arabs and African Americans appear to have a common struggle against white supremacy,” Ali Harb reported Friday for the Arab American News, based in  Dearborn, Mich.

“But when former State Rep. Rashida Tlaib participated in a protest demanding accountability for the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by a Dearborn police officer in December 2015, she received disparaging messages from prominent members in the Arab American community.

“ ‘Why are you there? Why are you against Chief (Ronald) Haddad? This makes the Arabs look bad. You guys shouldn’t be there. This isn’t your issue,’ Tlaib said she was told.

“Tlaib was demonstrating after the death of Kevin Matthews. A month later, Dearborn Police fatally shot Janet Wilson, a black woman they accused of using her car as a weapon to run over an officer who stopped her.

“’No one, I don’t care what color, what faith, should be dehumanized like that,’ Tlaib told The Arab American News.

“According to Tlaib, there is an anti-black attitude in Arab societies, even in the Middle East. ‘The anti-blackness that’s happening across this world is real. It’s very painful,’ she said. . . .”

Harb also wrote, “Amer Zahr, a comedian and adjunct law professor at the University of Detroit Mercy, said Arab-black relations have improved over the past few years as more Arab Americans are identifying as people of color. . . .”

SNCC Vets Back Black Lives Matter Movement

Veterans of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, known as the SNCC Legacy Project, issued a statement Friday supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement.

“The reason for today’s powerful and persistent insistence that Black lives matter is based on the irrefutable evidence throughout American history that Black lives have never mattered,” it said.

“The Black lives that were enslaved for 250 years never much mattered beyond the kind of economic concern held for livestock. The Black lives that suffered a hundred years of brutal segregation and discrimination following slavery’s abolition never mattered until Black people themselves raised their voices loudly in demand and battered down the walls denying their humanity.

“We in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) were part of that long struggle in the 1960s. . . . ”

Full statement in the Comments section.

Morehouse College students went to Philadelphia to cover the Democratic National Convention. From left: Ugo Unigwe, DeShay Kidd (of Spelman College), Kingsley Iyawe, actress Donzaleigh Abernathy, adviser Ron Thomas. Ayron Lewallen is in foreground. Abernathy, daughter of civil rights leader the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy, moderated a panel. (Credit: Morehouse College)

Short Takes

 

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