Atlanta paper to apologize for no blacks in 'Artists to Watch'

By Robert "Rob" Redding Jr.

Editor & Publisher

ATLANTA, Sept. 8, 2010, 10:30 a.m. - Atlanta Creative Loafing Editor Mara Shalhoup today says the paper made a mistake in not placing any blacks in its "8 Artists to Watch" story.

"There has been a lot of people" who have complained about this, Shalhoup said. "We are ready to admit when we messed up and we messed up."

She said that she and her Arts & Entertainment Editor Debbie Michaud realized the day before the issue went to press that no blacks were in the story.

Atlanta has the largest black population in the country - outside of New York City.

"The problem is that eight to watch did not reflect the community," Shalhoup said. "The paper as a whole reflects the community."