DIVERSITY COMES WITH OWNERSHIP

Editor & Publisher

    I almost fell out of the airplane while flying home for Thanksgiving.
    What was the problem?
    Hemispheres, United Airline’s in-flight magazine, flat-out asked incoming NBC Nightly News managing editor and host Brian Williams: "There are few women and people of color in top jobs at news organizations. How do we address this lack of diversity?”
    Williams was careless enough to reply: "We have bigger problems. There are no black members of the U.S. Senate. We should keep some perspective on this. Nevertheless, I am constantly interested to hear of examples in our coverage where viewers think we got it wrong in one way or another because of a skewed viewpoint."
    The answer got my entrepreneurial journalist juices flowing, because his horrific answer was just the evidence I needed to prove to my fellow journalists at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) that fostering and encouraging black media ownership must be a part of the association's core mission to have true diversity.
    The fact is I did not break this story on ReddingNewsReview.com on Dec. 1 because I was shocked at Williams' comments, as many of my journalistic colleagues at NABJ were. (They were able to gain two apologies and a vow from the network to redouble its diversity efforts because of my journalistic nose for news - and that is great for those members of the organization who wish to work at NBC).
    Further, I was never in denial that there are people like Williams, who I have nothing against, are rising into power in this country's media - the exclusive broke the same week the 45-year-old Williams ascended to retiring 64-year-old Tom Brokaw's anchor chair.
    Case in point, when Williams was asked did you misspeak or were you quoted incorrectly in the reported comments to the magazine he said: "I was merely expressing my belief that there are equally important leadership positions in our society than those we in the media may occupy. Since we report policy and do not decide it, our elected representatives are our first stop in the search for equality. Everything I've ever done in my professional life has been aimed at equality in the workplace, as those who've shared newsrooms with me will tell you."
    More than a day later, just before a requested meeting by NABJ with NBC higher-ups, he decided the first answer may not look very attractive in the nation's newspapers, so he made a second statement proclaiming the comments were "misconstrued."
    "I believe that the lack of diversity is a serious challenge not only in newsrooms across America, but across the upper echelons of our society as well," he said. "In no way have I ever diminished the problem that exists in our newsrooms. Racial and gender-based 'glass ceilings' exist in virtually every corner of our society. We have an obligation to face this issue head-on in our own newsroom every day..."
    Again, I posted four separate articles over to weeks about Williams comments on ReddingNewsReview.com and had a lengthy conversation with the president of NABJ about entrepreneurship to motivate blacks - or black journalists specifically - to stop being gullible victims.
    For 30 years NABJ has been asking, begging, and pleading with these news organizations to treat blacks right, take blacks seriously and place blacks in top, mid or low level positions in their newsrooms only to come up short in 2004? It is clear a fresh approach is needed, which is why I started ReddingNewsReview.com nearly three years ago.
    Though I still work for the mainstream press - I am the Maryland State House reporter at The Washington (D.C.) Times - I realize that control of media is critical and can no longer go ignored, which is why I started the Web site.
    I came to the conclusion that Williams, and his ilk, are not dying out any time soon and that more drastic measures are needed to avoid our complete shutout by mainstream or legacy media. Williams said what he truly believed the first and second time, but some at the world's largest association for journalist of color choose not to truly hear him - for some it is easier to be dependent on others for jobs than to roll up their sleeves and start their own businesses.
    NABJ must realize that it is not enough to place members in NBC's editor or anchor positions, ownership must also be a top priority. The time has passed for asking for a seat at the table, it is now time to own the table.
    In short, life comes down to privilege and opportunity, either you are born with the privilege or someone must give you the opportunity. Brokaw gave Williams the opportunity, now we must do the same for our generation.

Robert "Rob" Redding Jr. is the Editor & Publisher of ReddingNewsReview.com, a nationally syndicated music/news/talk host, author, artist and a reporter for The Washington Times.