Newsrooms across the country have grappled with reporting on racist rhetoric from politicians and public figures for decades. The goal of journalists is to strive for accuracy and hold those with power accountable and this might mean that publications will need to repeat those problematic comments verbatim.
The advent of social media, the Donald Trump presidency and rise in reported hate crimes add to the conversation newsrooms need to have when discussing racism.
Editors and reporters need to have those discussions that sometimes have fallen short, with Iowa Congressman Steve King expressing support for white-nationalist, but only recently being reprimanded by congress.
In a Jan. 15, 2019 New York Times article detailing King's affinity for white supremacist and neo-Nazis on Twitter the publication asked, “Why Not Trump?”
Whether it’s a picture of a group of high school students who arrange red plastic cups at a party into a swastika or anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim inspired violence newsrooms need to ask the difficult questions on how to report on racism.
The Associated Press recent update to race-related coverage provides some careful guidelines, but the section also stresses an important note that this panel will embody in some respect.
“Reporting and writing about issues involving race calls for thoughtful consideration, precise language, and an openness to discussions with others of diverse backgrounds about how to frame coverage or what language is most appropriate, accurate and fair. Avoid broad generalizations and labels; race and ethnicity are one part of a person’s identity. Identifying people by race and reporting on actions that have to do with race often go beyond simple style questions, challenging journalists to think broadly about racial issues before having to make decisions on specific situations and stories.”
The Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists invite you to attend a panel discussion focused on these issues and more on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
WHAT:
SPJ/LA and NABJLA cosponsor a panel discussion - The New Old Beat: Reporting on Racism
WHO:
The panel will include:
Deepa Bharath, writes about religion, race and social justice issues for The Orange County Register and the Southern California Newspaper Group
Toni Guinyard, an Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist for NBC4
Jaweed Kaleem, the national race and justice correspondent at the Los Angeles Times
Leslie Berestein Rojas, KPCC's immigration and emerging communities reporter SPJ/LA associate board member Nathan Solis and NABJLA’s vice president Jarrett Hill will moderate.
WHEN:
11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 18, 2019
WHERE:
SAG-AFTRA
5757 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles 90036
COST:
Free and open to the public.
RSVP:
Please RSVP at spjlosangeles@gmail.com
PARKING:
Parking is free with validation. The best entrance to the event space is on Masselin Avenue.
CONTACT:
Nathan Solis, SPJ/LA
njsolis@gmail.com
Navid Nonahal, SPJ/LA
(818) 317-2234