Dori Maynard, left, Richard Prince and Arlene Morgan, then director of the Let’s Do It Better! Workshop on Journalism, Race and Ethnicity at the Columbia University School of Journalism, in 2007. Prince was one of the award winners. (Credit: Rebecca Castillo/Columbia University)
“JOURNAL-ISMS” IS LATEST TO BEAR BRUNT OF INDUSTRY’S ECONOMIC WOES
Richard Prince, founder, writer and editor of popular column, exploring options for Version 3.0
(Washington, D.C. – Feb. 19, 2016) After more than 13 years, “Richard Prince’s Journal-isms,” the leading column on diversity issues in the news business, and the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education are parting ways.
Prince said the Maynard Institute notified him Feb. 17 via telephone and email, “After much deliberation, the Board of Directors has decided the Journal-isms column is no longer as critical as it has been toward the Institute achieving its goals and aspirations. . . . given new initiatives needing funding and strategic considerations, we can no longer allocate resources to it.”
“I’m disappointed, but I’m thankful to Dori Maynard, the late president of the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, for the idea that resulted in an online version of ‘Journal-isms’ 13 1/2 years ago,” said Prince, a veteran journalist who in 2002 began chronicling online the intersection of news media, race, society and newsroom diversity.
“This column won’t end. Over the years, I’ve received so much support from fellow journalists, friends, diversity advocates and industry executives who have let me know that they appreciate what I do and told me how Journal-isms keeps them up to date.”
Prince is meeting with colleagues, foundations and other partners to help underwrite the expenses of the column. Interested partners should contact Neil Foote, Foote Communications,LLC, at neil@neilfoote.com or 214-448-3765.
“Very few stories of this degree of criticality are covered in their entirety, in real time, by a single highly authoritative publication,” said David Honig, president emeritus and general counsel of the Multicultural Media Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC). “Journal-isms is a rare exception to the rule that ‘you can never find it all in one place.’ If it’s important to minorities in the media, it was in Journal-isms.”
Arlene Notoro Morgan, assistant dean for external affairs at Temple University’s School of Media and Communication in Philadelphia, echoes those thoughts.
“I have come to depend on Richard’s column as one of my main avenues of news and information on how we are doing as a profession in meeting the needs of our diverse communities,” she said. “The Journal-isms column is needed more than ever to document how the media are covering the racial turmoil of the past couple of years and solving the still unresolved issues on how to improve the thought processes of our news organizations in the digital age.”
Prince and a committee of “Journal-isms” supporters had already been exploring new options for its next iteration. These include moving to a subscription-based model. The first iteration of “Journal-isms” was a column from 1991 to 1998 in the printed NABJ Journal, published by the National Association of Black Journalists.
In 2012, Prince received the Ida B. Wells Award from the National Association of Black Journalists and the Medill School at Northwestern University , largely for producing the online “Journal-isms,” which in 2015 accounted for 43.25 percent of page views on the Maynard Institute site. The column also appears on The Root.
Comments may be directed to journal-isms-owner@yahoogroups.com. Media inquiries should be directed to Neil Foote, neil@neilfoote.com.
— Prince Calls for New Ideas for Funding “Journal-isms” (Jan. 17, 2013)
27 comments
Richard: sorry to hear this news. It’s a great column and one I wouldn’t mind paying to read.
I second Joe Boyce’s comment.
Earlier comments were inadvertently deleted. Please resend. Thanks!
Richard, if you go to a subscription model, sign me up!
This is distressing news. Richard Prince’s “Journal-isms” provides a unique and crucial service to the industry and beyond. Somebody find this man a new home!
Richard Prince, please stay strong and keep your integrity. I am truly shocked by the Maynard Institute’s decision and reasoning to cut your “journalisms” reports.
It makes me wonder what new sources of money could have bought them off of their initial vanguard movement. Always follow the money to dig down to the truth! The powers to be in this country have always tried to kill off those who speak TRUTH! Especially in acknowledging the contributions and achievements of AFrican Americans in this country.
We need all the information we can find to counter the far right wing and its spewing of hatred towards blacks, immigrants, the poor and other minority groups and issues! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Too many of the richest 1% and other wanna-be multimillionaries are not just greedy, they seem to be pure evil. Come on, America can do better than this???
Mr. Prince, I will be eternally grateful that you thought enough of my writings to include them in Journal-isms. Best of luck in finding new partners.
Richard
I’m very worried about the possible loss of Journal-isms, which is my only source of news about minorities in the media. Please hurry up and find a new home.
I’m disappointed. I’ve been reading Richard Prince’s Journal-isms for over ten years. Each morning, I knew I’d find an item that meant something to me, personally.
On my doorstep right this minute, there lies a Wall Street Journal. I could read it cover-to-cover. And, I can guarantee you that what’s happening in Nevada won’t resonate with me like what I’d find in Journal-isms.
Stay Tuned….
Richard, I value and support what you do. if I can help, let me know.
Richard,
sorry to hear this, but I’m positive another door or window will open. More than eager to support a subscription model, if that’s what the next version takes. It’s a much needed professional source.
Richard very sorry about the news, but you’re right you will go on with your column and the important stories that matter about people of color in our industry. They took a job, but not your passion to keep us informed.
I am grateful that you have shined a light on people and issues ignored by others. I’ve got your back. Let me know how I can help. –Rebecca
Richard,
When I read in your column that you and Journal-isms were no longer being supported by the Maynard Institute, I was saddened, surprised and baffled. Regardless, you must keep up the good work and provide your unbiased reporting on issues that are important to our profession. Be strong and continue to do what you do best: Report the truth and promote diversity in the media.
Lynn Norment
I support Richard Prince and I would pay to read his column!
Greg Thrasher
Director
Plane Ideas
Alternative Think Tank
DC
absolutely disappointing. This is a one of a kind column that provides a unique public service and underscores diversity’s unique perspectives in all its many iterations.
Joyce Ferriabough Bolling, Boston, MA (Feb. 19)
Shortsighted ….. I am a black journalist, and this was my most valuable source of information about ethnicity in journalism. If it accounted for more than two in five of the Maynard Institute’s hits, I don’t know what they can be thinking.
Martin C. Evans (Feb. 19)
Goodbye it has been fun. We can’t be partisan and eltist about the news we cover. I will not miss it.
Rob Redding (Feb. 19)
Richard, you have one of the, if not the most important columns for Black and Latino journalists and their communities. We cannot afford to lose such a valuable resource! I’ve watch Journal-isms grow over the past 13 years to become a “must read” daily. Your coverage of the important issues to the communities I mentioned. Your column stands out in a universe of bloggers.
I know I don’t stand alone in pledging support and help to find you a new home. Journalism just isn’t without Journal-isms!
Not to have Richard Prince’s Journal-isms publishing regularly in these desperate times is akin to not having the NY Times, despite all its faults, publishing “All the Truth Fit to Print.”
RP/Journalisms a long-running bedrock source for stories about lack of/struggle to attain diversity in newsrooms (usually with added much needed insight). Have referenced it often on MEDIA WATCH.
Very disappointed; it makes no sense. I hope you find a way to keep it going. I would most definitely pay to read it if you go that route.
I love this column and think Richard Prince has done a fine job with it. I have come to look forward to each installment and believe it to be critical to the ongoing discussion about diversity in the media. I would definitely pay to subscribe to this and I hope you adopt a subscription model and give Richard Prince a hefty raise!!! 🙂 Keep me posted, please. Thank you.
Ishmael Reed The possibility that Richard Prince’s “Journalisms” will discontinue is indeed a blow to those of us who believe that the media give a one-sided view of black life and traditionally has served as the mob leader against unpopular groups. In fact, I have suggested that the News Museum in Washington have a Hall of Shame which would display the front pages of newspapers that promoted wars and lynchings.Almost single-handedly, like a one-man think tank, Richard Prince has kept an eye on the racism and lack of diversity in the nation’s newsrooms and the negative consequences for unpopular groups-blacks, Muslims, Hispanics in everyday life.
Richard: You should know that I depend on you to keep me posted on developments in the media impacting people of color. Without “Richard Prince’s Journal-isms” and its watchdog effort, the industry would be even more rambunctious in turning the clock back to pre-Kerner Commission days. If you go to a subscription model, I will pay.
Thank you for reporting truth✔️: ? ?
This column is vital for our industry, and I for one would be happy to subscribe if that is what is needed to keep it in publication.
I’m just glad Richard Prince’s Journal-isms™ lives on. Keep up the brilliant and necessary work Mr. Prince.