Ladies, this would be a great way to
integrate these topics (memorials) into our programming---that is to get a
luncheon speaker who can cover each person. I just hope we include the great
John H. Johnson in the tributes. Remember he passed right in the middle of our
convention in
Lillie
From: FOR THE
MINORITIES AND COMMUNICATION DIV. OF AEJMC [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Camilla Gant
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006
3:49 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Losses of Boyd,
Bradley, Setbacks for Diversity?
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.
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Both of these men were trailblazers. In writing
about this on 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 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" />
Anita Fleming-Rife
I lift up mine eyes from
whence cometh my help. . . .
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