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