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Black Alumni Network May 2011 Page 2 Alumni award meeting notes/Continued Bruce Brugmann, ’58, founder of the San Francisco Bay Guardian, accepted his inscribed silver bowl then made a virile call to arms for watchdog journalism. ―There is a role for the little guy these days,‖ he said and then referenced 131 alternative papers with a combined 6 million circulation as the only real alternative to monopoly daily newspapers that often behave like utility companies. Robert Shaw, ’66, a longtime editor in the mainstream media, was no less ferocious. The Orlando Sentinel government and politics editor warned the 125 people in attendance that access to public records was under siege in the digital age under the cover of protecting trade secrets and personal security. In this age of tweeting, texting and indoor phone work, Shaw fondly recalled advice from his professor to hit the streets for face time with sources: ―A good reporter,‖ Penn Kimball counseled, ―can talk to anybody. All it takes is one good question‖ Rehema Ellis, ’77, accepted her award with son Khori, 8, by her side. Ellis’ national and overseas work as a NBC correspondent has taken her away from Khori, but her son assured her, ―Yes mommy, you can do your job.‖ Ellis, who covers education, referenced Diane Ravitch’s book about the ―quiet crisis‖ in public education. ―Will we get this right?‖ Ellis asked the audience. We’ll see. Persia Walker, ’83, was among the dozens of alumni authors promoting their books during the reception after the April 8 Alumni Awards ceremony. In Walker’s ―Black Orchid Blues,‖ protagonist Lanie Price is a society columnist in 1920s Harlem. Is this historical fiction intriguing enough for you?
Black Alumni Network May 2011 Page 3 Black journalists walk away from Unity coalition By Wesley Lowery PHILADELPHIA — After months of tension, the National Association of Black Journalists has severed its relationship with Unity: Journalists of Color, and will host its own convention in 2012 rather than participate in the coalition’s joint gathering in Las Vegas. The decision, approved by NABJ’s board of directors at its April 9-10 meeting, removes the organization from Unity, a four-organization alliance that NABJ members helped establish nearly 20 years ago. Unity Inc. is a fifth association that serves as coordinator to the four associations. NABJ leaders present and past have questioned its relevance and fiscal discipline. The alliance — which brings together NABJ, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Asian American Journalists Association and the Native American Journalists Association — holds a joint convention about every four years with each of the organizations splitting the revenue. The first joint convention was 1994 in Atlanta, followed by 1999 in Seattle, 2004 in Washington, D.C. and 2008 in Chicago. NABJ board members have made it no secret that they aren’t happy with the way the Unity organization divided the pot. Rather than continue with the current revenue sharing model, which gives Unity a substantial share of the convention revenue, NABJ proposed a new model that would take money away from the umbrella group and give more to each of the journalists of color organizations. NABJ board members also voiced concern over Unity’s governance model — arguing that the black journalists association should receive more representation because it accounts for the majority of Unity convention attendees, i.e. 52 percent at the 2008 Chicago convention. And when Unity’s board of directors voted down NABJ’s proposal last winter, NABJ leaders made it clear they were considering whether to pull out of the alliance. Past NABJ president Bryan Monroe [2005-2007], a former Unity board member, traveled to Philadelphia so he could make one final plea to NABJ’s board. ―I’d hate for people to look back and say today was the beginning of the end for minority journalism organizations,‖ Monroe appealed to the board. But his efforts were in vain. Continued on page 4
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