Anita,

This is a great idea, but unfortunately, I have already committed all of
MAC's programming chips.  Alternative venues might be pursuing a refereed
research presentation or nominating a Scholastic Journalism/MAC luncheon
speaker to address the issue, including a tribute to Boyd, Bradley, and
other trailblazers as well as a critical discussion of the import of
advancing diversity excellence in the newsroom.

Camilla

At 08:48 AM 11/27/2006 -0800, Anita Fleming-Rife wrote:
>Camilla,
>      At the August convention, MAC sponsored a session titled, "Elders in
> the Field,"  which celebrated the lives of Thomas C. Fleming, Samuel
> Yette and Clint Wilson. It may be a worthwhile idea to have a session
> this year that focuses on these trailblazers (Boyd and
> Bradley).  Perhaps, we could think about it as a mini-plenary--is that
> possible?
>
>"George L. Daniels" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Some of us are just learning this morning about yesterday's passing of
>former New York Times Managing Editor Gerald Boyd.     This comes as a
>double-punch after just losing 60 Minutes' Ed Bradley a few weeks ago.
><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
>Both of these men were trailblazers.  In writing about this on
><http://bamaproducer.blogspot.com/>my blog today, I linked to so many of
>the tributes to Boyd, who not only was a major champion for diversity in
>the newsroom, but also of journalism education, working recently with
>Columbia University School of Journalism.
>
>I know we're days away from the AEJMC Winter Meeting  (New Orleans) and
>that division heads are already reviewing the various proposals, I think
>Washington, DC is the ideal place for the MAC Division and/or the
>Commission on the Status of Minorities to sponsor a type of symposium or
>session that both commemorates the accomplishments of these men who've
>passed on but also addresses the recent demise of at least two other top
>editors at major newspapers.
>
>What does this mean for efforts to diversify the ranks of American news
>organizations?
>
>Earlier this month, the National Association of Black Journalists posted a
><http://www.nabj.org/newsroom/news_releases/story/52832p-81441c.html>statement
>about the resignations of Dean Baquet and Debra Adams Simmons expressing
>its concern about what these actions means for diversity.
>
>There certainly should be a way for us as journalism faculty to help
>students learn more about the legacies of Boyd and Bradley, while
>preparing them for the leadership challenges that can short-circuit
>signature leadership roles for any journalist, minority or otherwise.
>
>In a manuscript some of my UGA colleagues and I recent submitted about
>internal labor markets and newsroom diversity, I made reference to the
>growing number of minority journalists who are leading daily newspapers
>(Greg Moore at Denver Post, Ronnie Agnew at Jackson Clarion Ledger, Otis
>Sanford at the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Bennie Ivory at the Lousville
>Courier Journal).    Pardon the cliche, but in many ways it seems like
>we're in the best of times and (with these recent developments) the worst
>of times too.    Maybe our diversity discussion has to really shift
>because of what's happening at newspapers nationwide?  Or should it?
>
>I post this on the MAC list in hopes of generating some discussion and
>perhaps interest.
>
>Our MAC Vice Head and Program Chair Camilla Gant would be the one to take
>any action should that be in order.
>
>George Daniels
>U. <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
>"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Alabama
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Anita Fleming-Rife
>
>I lift up mine eyes from whence cometh my help. . . .
>
>
>
>Want to start your own business? Learn how on
><http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=41244/*http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-index>Yahoo!
>Small Business.

Camilla Gant, Ph.D.
Faculty Assistant to the President
Associate Professor
Department of Mass Communications & Theatre Arts
University of West Georgia