Sent to you by Tee via Google Reader: Black Journalists Slashed from Newsrooms at Alarming Rate via Black Politics on the Web by The Admin on 4/21/09 Newsroom jobs held by black journalists were cut by an alarming 13.5 percent in 2008, making African-Americans the single most targeted group for job losses in newsrooms across the country according to a study released by ASNE, the American Society of News Editors.
“While NABJ recognizes the current economic downturn, newspapers must stop the bloodletting of black journalists now,” said NABJ President Barbara Ciara. “It is unconscionable that this industry is willing to jeopardize the accuracy, integrity and bottom line of its publications.” In all, nearly 400 black journalists lost their jobs in 2008, representing the largest drop in all minority employment and scaling back progress toward diversity in newsrooms to 1998 census levels. Furthermore, 458 newspapers still have no minorities in their newsrooms and only 111 out of 633 newspapers surveyed have achieved parity with the minority population in their communities. “Newsrooms without black journalists are unacceptable,” Ciara said. “NABJ calls on industry leaders to re-commit to making diversity a priority - even in this difficult climate.” The decrease in minority representation in newsrooms runs counter to general population trends, which project the United States will become a “majority minority” country by mid-century. In 1999, ASNE defined as its goal to deliver parity in newsroom representation by 2025. NABJ stands ready to work with ASNE and media companies to reach this goal and promote diversity in the nation’s newsrooms. “As minority communities grow in number and influence, newspapers must prepare for the future by preserving the jobs of black journalists and grooming them for the leadership positions of tomorrow,” Ciara said. “The most innovative and profitable newspapers are those with diverse perspectives and minorities in their upper ranks.” ShareThis Things you can do from here: - Subscribe to Black Politics on the Web using Google Reader - Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Black Focus Inc." group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Black-Focus-Inc?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
