Sound Off – Rate this year's primary coverage?

It’s coming down the wire…

With that said, was the local media fair and balanced in its coverage when it came to Sen. Barack Obama and or Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Pennsylvania Primary?

Or did it find itself getting caught up in the “gotcha” issues and not the important ones similar to last week’s debate with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos and Charlie Gibson?

How would you rate the election coverage this year? If you had the chance, what would you have changed?

Sound off…

Instructions to comment: Click on "comments" directly below then leave your statement in the comment box provided and press "publish comment."

Sound Off – ABC dropped the ball in Phila. debate?

Was ABC wrong in granting George Stephanopoulos and Charlie Gibson almost a full hour on “gotcha” issues in Wednesday night’s debate between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton?

Was the tone in Wednesday night's debate anti-Obama?

Why weren’t critical issues such as the struggling economy, crime and the War in Iraq – topics affecting both Philadelphia and the country – avoided until the second hour?

And was it "bad ethics" for Stephanopoulos, who was a former Clinton employee, to ask questions for such an important debate?

Instructions to comment: Click on "comments" directly below then leave your statement in the comment box provided and press "publish comment."

300 of Color Lost Newspaper Jobs

An estimated 2,400 journalists left newsrooms in 2007 through a
combination of buyouts and layoffs, and nearly 300 of them were
journalists of color, the American Society of Newspaper Editors
reported on Sunday.

"Since 2001, newsrooms have lost an estimated 3,800 professionals, a
6.7 percent decline. But the largest loss came last year," the ASNE
said in reporting its annual diversity census.

"The percent of minority journalists working at daily newspapers grew
minimally to 13.52 percent from 13.43 percent of all journalists,
according to ASNE," a news release said as the society opened its
annual convention in Washington.

The figure had risen to 13.73 percent in 2006. The organization first
set a goal of reaching parity with the percentage of people of color
in the general population by 2000, then by 2025. In 2006, the general
population percentage was 34 percent, according to the census bureau.

In a conference call as ASNE prepared to release its figures, the
presidents of the associations of black, Hispanic, Asian American and
Native Americans, plus their umbrella Unity organization, unanimously
agreed that there is no way the industry will reach parity by 2025 at
the rate it is going, Mark Fitzgerald reported Sunday for Editor &
Publisher.

-Journal-isms

Sound Off - What do you think?

Sound off topic:

Do the media go over the top every time Hillary Clinton makes a
negative charge at Barack Obama? Could it be racial
bias or racial ignorance?

David Aldridge leaving Phila. Inquirer

Sports columnist David Aldridge, hit by layoffs at the Philadelphia Inquirer a year ago, then reinstated after protests that a disproportionate number of journalists of color were affected, is leaving the paper, he told colleagues last week on Thursday.
“I'm just tired,” Aldridge told Richard Prince’s Journal-isms. “I've been full-time with the Inquirer and Turner since the fall of '04 and it's been a grind,” referring to Turner Network Television. “I really enjoyed my time in Philly and I've come to really respect the fans there, who only want to win. I don't have anything else lined up other than continuing to work with TNT, which continues to be an excellent place to be.”
Aldridge becomes the third black columnist to leave the Inquirer sports department recently, following Stephen A. Smith, who was reassigned to be a reporter and instead left the paper, and Claire Smith, assistant sports editor and baseball columnist, who went to ESPN.
Sports editor Jim Cohen said in a memo, “David Aldridge will be leaving The Inquirer after next week. As many of you know, David has been juggling responsibilities for The Inquirer and a television network for a number of years, and that has become untenable for him. We will miss him for his reporting, maturity and professionalism. As someone who has worked with David in newspapers and television, I have always appreciated his dedication to doing journalism the right way, regardless of the medium and of the industry trends. At this time, David plans to devote his full attention to television. We wish David and his family well.”
Cohen told Journal-isms on Friday, “I feel very strongly that diversity is very important to our newspaper and our readers. I am committed to making us more diverse. I understand that actions speak louder than words, and I hope our actions in the future will speak positively for themselves.”
In January 2007, Aldridge was one of 71 members of the Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia in the Inquirer newsroom who were notified that they would be laid off. After further negotiations between the Guild and management, he was reinstated.

-By Richard Prince’s Journal-isms

Election 2008: Without minority presence in Phila. debate, journalists argue news leaves out issues

Eric Mayes
Tribune Staff Writer

The fact that both moderators in ABC’s Democratic debate, to be held next week in Philadelphia, are white men has raised concerns among some, who agree that it raises broader issues about the lack of diversity among journalists covering this campaign.
“I think that considering the fact the debate is in Philadelphia, it’s a bit disingenuous,” said Denise Clay, a vice-chair for the Media Watch Committee for the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. “You’re in a city that is majority minority. I guess this is ABC’s show and they wanted their people. But couldn’t they find anyone?”
Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton are scheduled to participate in the event, which is to be held at 8 p.m. April 16 at the National Constitution Center.
It is to be moderated by the anchor of ABC’s World News, Charlie Gibson and the network’s Washington bureau chief George Stephanopoulos.
ABC said the two men were chosen to moderate the event because of their experience in the political arena.
“They certainly have the resumes for something like this,” said ABC spokeswoman Natalie Raabe.
Raabe said the network, on Thursday afternoon, would issue a statement further explaining the network’s position. It had not been received at the time story was published on Friday, April 11.
Clay said the network’s choice deprived voters of a broader voice.
She immediately suggested ABC anchor Diane Sawyer or former ABC correspondent Michelle Martin.
“There are too many journalists of color, too many women, too many people who could actually be a voice,” she said. “It’s a shame that in the year 2008 journalists of color are still fighting to get a seat at the table,”
Barbara Ciara, president of the National Association of Black Journalists agreed.
“Based on the rich diversity that Philadelphia has among its population, it’s reasonable to expect that would be considered when selecting a moderator,” she said. “I don’t think all white people think alike, nor do I think all Black people think alike. But the fact that there are so few African Americans in the journalism mix during this election cycle profoundly affects the vision, message and perspective that you see, hear and read in the media.”

To read story in its entirety: www.phillytrib.com/channel/news/301news6345.asp

Former Phila. columnist, Stephen A. Smith gives up radio show

Stephen A. Smith, the former Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist who is now an NBA analyst and commentator for ESPN, is giving up the radio show he began three years ago on ESPN's radio network, he told listeners to his show on Friday.
"ESPN wanted me to concentrate on television and I agreed," Smith told Journal-isms. "I'm a bit tired. It's a two-hour radio show. It was physically taxing. I don't think a lot of people realize that about radio."
Smith's New York-based show aired from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. In September, the last hour began airing nationally. Its final broadcast "for right now" will be Thursday, he said.
"You used to see me on TV" frequently, Smith said. "Now you might see me on Friday night or occasionally on 'SportsCenter.' Now you're going to see me a lot more."
Smith said he had to be in New York or at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn., to do the radio show, which limited his mobility.
"I don't like to talk about people that I can't talk to, he said. "I want to be where I can see you. I don't want to be on the sidelines pontificating."
ESPN announced in September that Smith's radio show was going national, a month after the Inquirer stripped him of his column and reassigned him to the reporters ranks, an assignment he never accepted.
He also hired a high-powered attorney, Florida trial lawyer Willie E. Gary.
In January, the Inquirer fired Smith for job abandonment, and he shot back at the newspaper, saying through Gary, "What they have done to me is malicious, intentional and vindictive."
Smith told Journal-isms that without the radio show, he will have more time to write for ESPN: The Magazine and espn.com, although no arrangements with those units have been worked out.

–Richard Prince’s Journal-isms

Election 2008: Speaking on progress and race, Mayor Michael Nutter sparks controversy

Larry Miller
Tribune Staff Writer

Back in December, newly elected Mayor Michael Nutter endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for president — a political move that drew a negative response in some quarters.
And while Nutter’s endorsement has elicited some questions as to why he chose Clinton, some recent comments made by him, specifically those published in Monday’s edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer, has raised some heated responses.
The latest came during a Monday morning broadcast of “The Morning Show,” hosted by Bill Anderson and heard on WURD 900AM.
“There are no automatics in life that all Black people are going to support a single Black candidate in a race,” Nutter said in the report. “All Black folks don’t eat fried chicken or eat watermelon. When do we make some progress here?”
Callers to Anderson’s show, which addresses mostly African-American issues, were not pleased — to say the least.
The talk show host said in his opinion, the implication was that by supporting Clinton, African Americans are making progress.
“I read it in the papers,” he said. “The mayor had made a statement defending his support for Clinton, saying that all Black people don’t eat fried chicken or eat watermelon and I think the implication was that by supporting Clinton, we’re making progress. I don’t take issue with his right to support anyone he wants but that it’s progress to vote outside our race. We’ve been voting for white candidates consistently. Why is it that when a qualified Black candidate comes along, we have to vote for him simply because he’s Black? I think that’s what the mayor meant.”
The 2008 Democratic primaries have drawn considerable attention across the country — and it may appear to some readers, listeners or viewers, every day there’s coverage over what Barack Obama said, what Hillary Clinton said or what one of their supporters said or did.
Clinton already had the endorsement of former Philadelphia Mayor John Street when she picked up support from Nutter during a fundraiser in New York.
He said Clinton’s priorities “are the right priorities for Philadelphia” and hasn’t backed away from his endorsement.
At the same time, Clinton also received the endorsement of Gov. Ed Rendell.
“I think she is the best candidate to lead this country to a direction that is different than they way George Bush has been leading us,” Nutter said in a recent interview with Tribune reporters. “At the time I endorsed her back in December, I thought she matched up best with any potential Republican nominee and now that it’s John McCain, it’s pretty clear.”
Nutter could not be reached for comment by Tribune press time.
However, Doug Oliver, Nutter’s press secretary, said the mayor’s statements were meant to show that there’s a diversity of political opinion within the Black community that can’t be defined in broad strokes.
“I didn’t hear the discussion on the radio this morning and I wasn’t in the room during that portion of the interview,” he said. “But I think that essentially some people took issue with his support of Sen. Clinton and the crux of the story was about his endorsement of Clinton and is he getting negative feedback. His statement meant that when a white politician doesn’t endorse a white candidate, it doesn’t raise an eyebrow. Basically you can’t paint any community with a broad brush. The point is that within the Black community, like any community, there’s a diversity of opinions and I think people would agree with that.”
Next Monday, Nutter is scheduled to appear on the Colbert Report.
“I didn’t see people running up to Ted Kennedy, saying, ‘Are you getting any pressure from supporting Sen. Obama, any backlash?’ No one is asking the white elected officials if they are getting pressure for supporting the Black guy,” he said in an interview last week.
Nutter said if Clinton does not win the nomination, “then the next day I am going to be out there, trying to help Sen. Obama.”

CNN Announces "Black in America" Series

CNN Announces "Black in America" Series

CNN will launch a sweeping on-air and digital initiative, 'CNN Presents: Black in America, the network announced.
The programming, which airs over four months in 2008, focuses on fresh analysis from new voices about the real lives behind the stereotypes, statistics and identity politics that frequently frame the national dialogue about Black America.
"Reported by anchor and special correspondent Soledad O'Brien, 'Black in America' begins with the two-hour premiere of 'Eyewitness to Murder: The King Assassination,' a first-person account of what happened on April 4, 1968."
- Journal-isms

Black Magic Is ESPN's Most-Watched Doc

ESPN aired the documentary about the injustices faced by African Americans during the Civil Rights movement as told through the lives of basketball players and coaches on March 16. The first part of Black Magic was watched by an average of 1.2 million households and drew a 1.3 household rating, making it the network’s most-watched documentary ever.
- John Consoli of Media Week

Watch on St. Louis-Post Dispatch/More LA Times layoffs

We’re watching the St. Louis-Post Dispatch after another Black journalist, Andre Jackson, assistant managing editor for business, has left the paper six months after seven Black journalists left, taking the paper’s offer of voluntary early retirement. Former St. Louis-Post Dispatch home editor, Jamila Robinson told Journal-isms in September that, "It's a very difficult time for people of color at this newspaper." She contended that the newspaper articulates the right sentiments about diversity but they weren't reflected in the people populating the executive suites or in promotions.” Editor Arnie Robbins disagreed, saying, "We've made a real commitment to diversity in our hiring and our content . . . I'm proud of the work we've done in terms of diversity," though he said, "we want to do better."
In the most recent census of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the Post-Dispatch reported 16.0 percent people of color: 3.5 percent Asian American, 11.3 percent African American, 1.2 percent Hispanic and no Native Americans.

2 More Black Journalists Leave L.A. Times
Black journalists Mike Terry, longtime sportswriter, and Gregory W. Griggs, a reporter in the suburban Ventura County Bureau, left the Los Angeles Times on Friday after accepting buyouts. Their departures further diminish the diversity at the newspaper, which has now lost eight black journalists since June 1, 2007.
- Journal-isms

What is PABJ Media Watch?

The Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists’ Media Watch monitors journalism companies for instances of fairness or equality toward African Americans in their coverage and employment practices. On PABJ Watch you will find these instances from employees in the industry from local outlets as well as nationally. This is our way to provide a venue for journalists to sound off on both positive and negative happenings as well as shed light on overlooked stories. Media Watch also highlights publications across the country for their outstanding diversity and progress that’s being made in their respective workplaces. Join in on the conversation and let you voice be heard! Send any articles, employment news, or questions to: pabjwatch@gmail.com