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President's Message
We're entering the close of the summer months. The fall is a time for many of us to pick up what we may have set aside for either a break from action or a break from having an impact.
Many of you have been busy this summer with vacations, stories, assignments and you name it. However, as journalists of color, we should never take a break when it comes to being a positive influence to those who watch or read us regularly.
Having again been in this profession full-time for 20 years, I am constantly reminded of how important it is for each of us to remind ourselves of the roles we play in our community. Whether we work for major and small publications, small or large market radio or television stations, or we are in public relations or we're attending activities not related to our jobs, we all have a role and responsibility to respond in such a way that those who watch or read us can see us as journalists of integrity and credibility. We should never be individuals whom people would question.
My challenge for you as journalists of color in the fall months is this: Remember that people in our community, in our city are watching our actions, our words, what we say and what we do. Because of the role of the media and how people tend to feel about those within the media anyway (mainly skeptical feelings), please remind yourselves that people are watching you. How you present yourself as a journalist and how you respond to those you meet while on assignment (or off assignment) can go a long way toward whether you're either having a positive or negative effect on this field we call the news media.
And hopefully, you're having a positive impact that benefits yourself and all parties.
Post-Arena Politics
The August vote on the new arena downtown ended with the ballot issue being approved. However, a skirmish of sorts continues.
Kansas City Star columnist and radio talk show host Jason Whitlock wrote columns criticizing Third District Kansas City Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver for first being against the proposal and then supporting it. Whitlock supported the ballot measure.
Whitlock also made the issue a topic of his sports talk show. He singled out Kansas City Call columnist and KCABJ member, Eric L. Wesson, for criticism for questioning the push for the arena when growing housing, employment, social and educational needs in the black community in Kansas City remain unmet. In addition, Whitlock attended a Monday Black Agenda Group meeting and leveled more criticisms at people.
But the black community fired back in a letter addressed to Whitlock. KCABJ received a copy. The Call printed the letter Aug. 27 on its opinion page. It was signed by Missouri State Sen. Mary Groves-Bland, State Rep. Sharon Sanders-Brooks, State Rep. Melba J. Curls, State Sen-Elect Yvonne Wilson, Helen Ragsdale, Diane Charity, Kathy Finnell, Bridgette Williams, Carole Edwards, Esther Glover, Cherly Anderson, Tracy Blaylock and Dr. Karen Curls.
It said: "Your articles titled: `Councilwoman Misplaces Race in Arena Debate' dated July 25 and `Mayor Hits a Home Run' with this one dated Aug. 4 has caused a dichotomous stir within the African-American community. While some might find your article 'typical Jason Whitlock reporting calling it like it is,' many of us were disappointed with your depictions and use of such colorful phrases to describe an African-American woman as 'making a complete clown of herself'...'out-Bozo-ed Ringling Brothers'... 'when McFadden-Rosa-Parks-Weaver' ... 'she reached for her big red nose, purple wig and huge floppy shoes' and 'Flip-Flop McFadden.' These are only a few of your descriptors for Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver.
"In a democratic society, you are free to speak your mind, especially when one posses the journalistic and oratorical talents or are blessed to have an audience through one's employment. You are in a unique position to make a difference. You have the eyes and ears of a large number of people in Kansas City and throughout the country.
"Whether you agree with Councilwoman McFadden-Weaver's political stance or not, we as African-American women would appreciate a fact-based article minus negative slurs. Throughout history we have been 'mammy-ized,' trivialized and marginalized to the point of ad nauseam and in the year 2004, we expect and appreciate greater sensitivity. We look for African-American men to support, encourage, protect and love us and if we offend, then talk to us rather than about us.
"It is our belief that the African-American community is in need of healing, not heckling.
"If you so choose, we would be happy to discuss this and other issues such as the importance of Rosa Parks and freedom fighters to both African-Americans and the majority community. Perhaps through our dialogue, you will gain additional insights and the need to work in partnership to address a district that has had problems that began prior to the term of Councilwoman McFadden-Weaver."
KCABJ Media Awards
Thirty-two entried have been received for the 13th Annual KCABJ Media Awards contest, honoring the best enterprise journalism about African-Americans and other people of color. The entries are from two Kansas City area daily newspapers, one magazine, a cable television channel, an independent producer for cable TV, radio news, a radio talk show, one weekly newspaper, one twice-a-week newspaper and a community newspaper. The judges will review the entries in time for the Nov. 13 awards program.
The KCABJ Thumbs Down winner also will be announced. That distinction is given to the journalist or media that have done the most to set back the image of African Americans or other people of color.
At the August KCABJ meeting, KCABJ President Tracy Allen said she was impressed with the diversity of media entering the contest. But she also noted that for the second straight year no broadcast television news stories from the network affiliate stations were entered for media awards.
Media Awards Committee Co-Chair Anita Parran appealed to members for items for the silent auction, which also will take place at the awards program to help raise funds for KCABJ scholarships and programs. Anita can be reached at (816) 822-0588 or at aparran@aarp.org.
KCABJ Essay Contest
Middle and high school students are encouraged to submit entries for the new KCABJ essay contest. The application forms will be ready soon. The deadline has been set for Oct. 15. Students will be asked to write 500-word on the upcoming U.S. presidential race.
"The motivation is to get kids to write and to express why they should be interested in the election process," KCABJ President Tracy Allen said. Awards for the winning essays will be announced soon.
KCABJ members learned that the National Association of Black Journalists Convention will be in Atlanta in 2005. KCABJ Secretary Eyobong Ita also announced at the monthly membership meeting that at the UNITY Journalists of Color Convention a new group was formed called the National Association of African Journalists. Ita, who is from Nigeria, explained that many people like him who were educated and got experience working as journalists in Africa have a difficult time getting newspaper or other types of journalism jobs in America.
"It's especially true if you are in the broadcast media," Ita said. "The accent comes into play. A few of us were blessed to make the transition."
The goal of the new organization is to help others break into the news industry in this country, too. Ita is the group's president. He said his goal is to appeal to NABJ members to help conduct workshops for African journalists. Membership in NAAJ is $60. NAAJ and Ita's election rated a mention in Richard Prince's "Journal-ISMS" column on the Web.
Mark Your Calendars
The next KCABJ meeting will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 at KSHB-TV, Channel 41, 4720 Oak St. Discussion will begin on which of the students in the KCABJ Urban Student Journalism Workshop should be this year's scholarship winners. They include the KCABJ/Roy Wilkins Scholarship, the KCABJ/Laura R. Hockday/Kansas City Star Scholarship, the KCABJ/Lucile Bluford Scholarship and the KCABJ/Nancy Diuguid Scholarship. The top graduates of the two-week program will be considered for the awards. Attendance, test scores, class participation and writing and reporting proficiency on all assignments will be the basis for judging the winners.
Also, an appeal has been made to KCABJ to help sponsor the Oct. 27-31 National Association for Multicultural Education conference at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center Hotel. It is the fourth conference of its kind. The theme is "Unmasking the Legacy of the Brown Decisions Through Multicultural Education."
KCABJ also will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16 at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center, 3700 Blue Parkway, to finalize the Nov. 13 awards program.
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