Wow! More media. But who's reading, viewing?

I've been a journalist for 25 years, most of those in Toledo. I can't remember a time where I have seen more African-American media outlets and start-ups per the population than here. Where much larger cities try to get along with one black newspaper, Toledo now has three -- the Toledo Journal, the Sojourner's Truth and now the Midwest Urban newspaper. Several weeks ago, I received an e-mail for a black-oriented news internet site, ToledoView.com. That's not to mention that we have three black-oriented radio stations as well.
As a journalist, I always think the more media the better. Would we have ever know the truth about what's was happening in the Civil Rights era in the South AND North if it wasn't for the black press. In the old days, there were at least two daily major newspapers in town for nothing else to keep the other one honest in its reporting. In these days of deregulation, which has all but destroyed radio newsrooms mind you, we see the giants consolidating the gobble up profits -- and the diversity of voices.
The internet has been a double-edged sword in helping keep the big media honest. The Toledo Journal's stories on the Ohio Civil Rights Commission investigation against the Finkbeiner administration is particularly noteworthy of just very good old fashioned muckraking journalism that we should all expect from outlets that profess themselves to "present" the news.
The Sojourner's Truth has proven to be a nice counter-balance with the Toledo Journal, reminiscent of those old two-newspaper days I spoke of before. Now that we have all of this media and ability to stand at the corner and shout out our message like the town crier, who's listening? From a business sense, who's footing the bill (advertisers) so we can stand on that corner and shout? Technology has made it much more inexpensive to do this. Anyone can start a blog, create a web site and proclaim we are the news. But the question also begs, "so, what makes it so?"
In my communication classes long, long ago, one of the things that was drilled into my head is that this profession is the country's great quasi-public service industry, specifically written into the nation's constitution because of its vital importance. Yes, we are a business, but we are public servants providing information, news, issues (yes, comfortable and uncomfortable) to the masses. We are not cheerleaders. Praise is given on merit and criticism is given to those who truly messed up. A free and vibrant press is one of those key elements that allows a democracy to thrive. So when I see a Dennis Hicks, the editor of inToledo magazine, or a Barbara Roose, managing editor of the Toledo Business Review, make their mark, a smile comes to my face.
When I see young people like Chauncey Alcorn and Jasti Simmons get their shot at The Blade, it makes me feel a little better about the profession.
But with that comes responsibility, another foundation of the business. We are responsible to everyone who picks up our publication, listen to our broadcast, and read our words on line that we are there for them with the truth -- even at times when it doesn't necessarily serve our own self interest. Yes, it's impossible to completely absence of bias but our readers and viewers need to know we've given them all sides as we know it and be honest enough to tell them when we aren't. That's what makes what you are doing news and newsworthy.
Now that we have the power of technology at our disposable, will we do the right thing with it?

Karyn McConnell Hancock: Media Coverage

I've been a journalist for nearly 25 years and I have to admit some of the McConnell Hancock media coverage has left me a little under-whelmed. I want to hear from fellow NOBMA and local NABJ members and the public before I throw my tw0 cents in, seeing that I'm living in Indiana now and I can only pick up what's online. I'm sure I'm missing a great deal (I sure hope so.) Since no one else will ask it, I will: how much of this story is affected because she's African-American and a woman? Has that meant better coverage or worse coverage? Why?

Media Consolidation: Join the fight

I remember talking to Charles Welch, owner of WJUC-FM, several years back. Welch fulfilled his dream 10 years ago owning his own radio station. It didn't take long for the big boys came calling, wanting to buy him out. Radio signals go for pretty nice prices these days, but Welch refused to give in. Good for him.

Media consolidation has done more to hurt minority ownership and radio news than anything the FCC has done since. Our parent organization is part of a movement to examine media consolidation and its effects on the industry. I will you with Barbara Ciara, NABJ president, recent post on the organization's effort. It is important that we keep these airways free for the public, the not just a rich handful.

Barbara Ciara: Fellow NABJ members,

Here is what NABJ is doing that is not generating headlines:NABJ has been and still is very active regarding the issue of media consolidation. In early October, we joined with NAHJ and all of the UNITY partners supporting FCC commissioner Jonathan Adelstein's call for the creation of an independent minority broadcast ownership task force that examines policies to increase minority ownership. We also called on the FCC to refrain from issuing new broadcast ownership rules until the work of the task force is complete and minority ownership opportunities are addressed.

We have been lobbying Black Congressional Caucus members to make this issue a priority.This week we joined with Society of Environmental Journalists in challenging a 2007 Farm Bill now before the Senate. Buried within it is a new exemption to the Freedom of Information Act, and that same provision also makes it a crime for anyone to disclose or "use" anything from the National Animal Identification System. In our reading of the bill it's not at all clear that reporters or their employers can't be prosecuted for publishing or broadcasting such information--some of which is already publicly available through other means.

The Bill is scheduled for a floor debate and vote within days.NABJ was also at the forefront of making our voices heard on the Sheild Law issue.While we work to protect these freedoms and make noise on Capitol Hill, so far it's not generating any attention from the networks, cable news, or major publications.

Open Letter to Toledo School Board Candidates

Before I left Toledo, I had a conversation with a long-time community leader who talked with me about the Toledo Public Schools communications position. I told him that I felt the school district time and time again misses countless opportunities to promote itself and put itself in a positive light in the media, leaving bad news as the only news the general public often hears. As a long-time journalist in Toledo, numerous experiences with TPS have been very good, but other times where painfully challenging where I was met with skepticism and indifference (and I was working on "positive stories.")

There are a lot of good things Toledo Public Schools have going for it. The school district, though, faces significant challenges as well. The Indianapolis Public School District announced this week that it was closing nine schools and virtually eliminating nearly all of its middle schools because of strinking enrollment to charter schools and the suburbs. The battle for students is a national problem facing every urban district in the country. Not a single urban district is immune.

My question with Toledo Public School board candidates would be what are you prepared to do to change the perception of the district with the media and how you communicate with the public? Is it a problem? I can only speak about my experience with Toledo Public Schools. Most of the people I've worked with have been very good. TPS has one communications person and from I see the workload simply not enough for one person. If school board candidates want to make a solid investment that could bring solid return in the community, it should look at hiring another person and create a media team that would initiate a plan to work with media outlets, web sites, bloggers, and others on a daily basis. Right now, a consistent plan with the media is something that's sorely missing. I look at the TPS web site and while it's nice, so much more can be done with it to engage the media and community. How many parents know TPS even has a web site?

As an organization of African-American communicators, I hope this issue can be addressed at one of the debates or at the very least the NOBMA debate on Nov. 3. How the school district honestly communicates its goals to the community could go a long way bringing people to the table to help stem the tide of students leaving. I realize there are meatier issues on the table, but I think this is something that has its place for discussion.

This discussion should not take place only when a levy is under consideration. (That's another discussion for another blog.) NOBMA and its members stand ready to assist if the school board truly wants to talk about its messages to the media and the community. The place I'm working now takes communication to the community to an entirely different level and it's been an incredible learning experience even in my short time here. Thanks for letting me rant. Please let me know if you agree or disagree.

Clyde Hughes, president
NOBMA

Presidential candidates run away from minorities, media

Check out the link to this Washington Post story. I have to admit, when I heard Tavis Smiley was organizing a debate on minority issues for Republican candidates at Morgan State, I said, "how in the heck did he pull that off?" Well seven days before the debate and they are dropping like addicts at a Rolling Stones concert. I'm willing to bet not even half of the Republican field will show up. Actually, Democrats haven't done much better in some respects. Remember my story at the NABJ convention where only Hilliary Clinton and Barack Obama showed up. John Edwards would only come if he was a keynote speaker at one of the night meal functions. Ha! At least Edwards replied. NABJ didn't get a response from a single Republican candidate and the other Democrats. We have had a tradition of hosting both Democratic and Republican candidates. It tells you a lot, or at least I think so. And come up with a better excuse than a "scheduling conflict." C'mon, that's not even real. You set your own schedule and when you have two things going on at the same time, you decided which one you want to attend and which one you will skip. Black folks and other minorities are getting skipped an awful lot this election cycle. When will we wake up? I know, I'm getting crabby in my old age. Enjoy the article and let me know what you think and how we ask journalists and communicators should respond to this affront? -- Clyde Hughes

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/
09/18/AR2007091801781.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

The Media & the Jena 6: Are We On Board?

The influence of bloggers and the internet has been realized again with the coverage of the Jena 6. In the past, it would have been difficult for the mainstream media to pick up a story like this in the tiny town of Jena, La. if it wasn't for internet writers informing (and many times pushing) the mainstreamers along. The case of six blacks who are (grossly over) charged in the beating of a white youth is making national headlines.

The question remains if the mainstream media "really" is on board with the coverage of this case? What does the Jena 6 mean to us in Toledo, Lafayette, Ind., and African-Americans in general. Since I'm not in Toledo, so how has The Blade, television and radio handled the Jena 6??? If you don't know what I'm talking about when I say "Jena 6," then, uh, we need to talk. LOL. NABJ national president Barbara Ciara has already sent a note to all members asking them to give coverage to what's happening there. How about you? Here is a plea from another blogger. -- Clyde Hughes

The Afrosphere Jena 6 Coalition “ask that the mainstream traditional media step forward and discharge their duty to provide coverage of this vitally important event to their viewers and readers and act as “the fourth institution" of governmental "checks and balance” that constitutional framers intended the press to be.” To further this effort the Afrosphere Jena 6 Coalition will embark on a ‘Day of Blogging for Justice’ on Thursday August 30th.

Jena, LA, August 29, 2007 --(PR.com)-- There is growing concern surrounding the Jena Six case in Jena Louisiana. Yet, inexplicably, the national media, most particularly on television, has been abysmally silent on an occurrence of grave social, political and legal importance.

The 'common folk' media of the blogosphere, has stepped up to the plate in the absence of adequate traditional media coverage. Bloggers have taken to hanging banners to blog side-bars and placing them in blog entries at an increasing rate; displaying the words 'Free the Jena 6' accompanied by the evocative symbolism of a noose hanging from a tree. On these blogs strategies that can assist in bringing awareness to these young targets of racist psychological abuse are finding willing participants in discussion, and action; but they need the media’s help.

This issue, like Katrina, highlights how some people receive deference in treatment over others. “The Jim Crow style racism and government negligence, reflected in the Jena 6 case, are both quite worrisome. Unfortunately, the case is another incident that points to the entrenched racial and socio-economic disparities in the South, which this country has yet to fully confront,” says political scientist Dr. Sekou Franklin of Middle Tennessee State University. As the Congressional Black Caucus has noted “…we must speak out against injustice and inequality. This tale of two standards depicts a pattern of gross violations.”

The Afrosphere Jena 6 Coalition “ask that the mainstream traditional media step forward and discharge their duty to provide coverage of this vitally important event to their viewers and readers and act as “the fourth institution" of governmental "checks and balance” that constitutional framers intended the press to be.”

In furtherance of this effort the Afrosphere Jena 6 Coalition will embark on a ‘Day of Blogging for Justice’ on Thursday August 30, where dozens of the coalition’s members (and all else who wish to join with them) will write entries in their blogs on behalf of these six young men who are victims of racially motivated civil rights abuses. A list of bloggers who’ve signed on to participate can be seen here: http://www.blackperspective.net/index.php/day-of-blogging-for-justice/

Along with blogger support, a united front of more than 300 concerned community members gathered at the steps of the courthouse in Jena on July 31, 2007, in a show of support for the African-American youth civil rights victims who were imprisoned after reacting to the provocation of Caucasian students who received only a school suspension of 3 days for hanging nooses from a ‘whites only’ tree in the schoolyard that all students share.

In addition to online and in-person support, those who could not travel to join others at the steps of the courthouse have added their signatures and comments, some 45,000, to petitions generated by individuals globe-wide who are appalled enough to take action.

A coalition of civic groups has formed www.freethejena6.org as a standing central location, providing solutions for those who are seeking information with intent to take action.

Afrosphere Jena 6 Coalition Advisory Group:
Wayne Hicks electronicvillage.blogspot.com
D. Yobachi Boswell www.BlackPerspective.net
Francis Holland afrospear.jconserv.net/
Daz Wilson http://purplezoe.blogspot.com/