Articles Feature

Kamala Scores With Response to ‘Mansplaining’

by richard04553

Commentaries Say All Women Can Relate
BuzzFeed Pulls Reporter From White House
Mei-Ling Hopgood Wins Award for J-Educators
Conservatives Want Pulitzer for ‘1619’ Revoked
’60 Minutes’ Vet to Head News at Nickelodeon
Wordlaw in New Role at Black News Channel
Longtime Technical Director Dies in 2-Car Wreck

Support Journal-isms

Homepage illustration: Indian Express

ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” closed a skit with Kimmel interviewing a white man with the name Marquis Jackson, hired sight unseen by the Trump administration as director of African American outreach.

Commentaries Say All Women Can Relate

Kamala Harris made history Wednesday night as the first woman of color to debate as a major party nominee for vice president, but media commentators made as much or more of how she fared as a woman.  

“This #VPDebate may not matter for the election, but it’s gonna matter for history,” CNN commentator Van Jones tweeted. “A black woman went out there, and nobody is saying she couldn’t be President. @KamalaHarris started strong on #COVID, ended strong on justice, and kept her poise throughout. She did great tonight.”

Much of the message of the California senator, whose heritage is Black and South Asian, was in her body language. She kept smiling, commentators noted, even as Vice President Mike Pence attacked her and the head of the ticket, Democrat Joe Biden, Barack Obama’s vice president.

CNN’s Anderson Cooper said he was struck by the body language when he turned down the volume on his television and looked only at the visuals. “Harris’ facial expressions are going to launch a million memes,” Gustavo Arellano said in the Los Angeles Times.

Robin Givhan wrote in the Washington Post, “Harris laughed when she was appalled by Pence, studiously refraining from frowning or giving the impression that she was angry because being simultaneously angry and Black is treading into treacherous water in our culture of inequality.

And yet Harris struck a blow for all women when she continually met Pence’s interruptions with a stern nod of the head and the words, “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking now.”

That resonated with women of all colors, with “every woman who has been interrupted in a meeting,” MSNBC’s Joy Reid said, though, she added, especially with Black women whose mothers had given them “the look.”

Reid and her female colleagues called Pence’s behavior “mansplaining,” and noted that the vice president also attempted to ride roughshod over the female moderator, Susan Page of USA Today, who repeated, “Thank you, Mr. Vice President” in an often vain attempt to get Pence to stop talking when his time was up.

It all worked to Harris’ advantage, according to an instant CNN survey. “More Americans said . . . Harris did the best job in the vice presidential debate Wednesday night, according to a CNN Instant Poll of registered voters who watched,” the network reported.

“About 6-in-10 (59%) said Harris won, while 38% said Pence had the better night –” but the results aren’t likely to change the trajectory of the race.

The margin was higher among women. Sixty-nine percent said Harris won the debate, compared wtih 30 percent for Pence, CNN said. Among men, it was a dead heat, 48 percent choosing Harris and 46 percent Pence.

Harris’ purview was all of the issues that would face a national administration, racial or not. “As a politician vying to be the first female vice president and the first one of color, Harris’ mission was to hold the Trump administration to account without appearing overly negative or aggressive, and risk turning off voters who research shows are less forgiving of such traits in women,” USA Today said in its editorial. “She also needed to assure a capacity for stepping into the presidency at a moment’s notice.

“For the most part she succeeded, highlighting her immigrant parents and her service as California attorney general before election to the U.S. Senate. And whenever Pence began to talk over her, she kept him in check with a simple: ‘Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking.’ “

Matt Flegenheimer and Annie Karni added in The New York Times, “She is the first Black woman to represent a major-party ticket in a general election debate. That she chose not to linger too long on this fact is at once a signal of the minefields that women of color encounter in national politics — and of how much more there was to talk about, for better or worse.

Many of those “nonracial” topics — such as COVID, abortion and criminal justice reform — disproportionately affect people of color.

Some saw shortcomings in Harris’ performance, however.

“During the 2020 primaries, Harris attempted to set herself up as uniquely capable of debating Trump, citing her past as a prosecutor,” Aaron Blake wrote in the Washington Post.

“She didn’t always fulfill that promise against Pence.

“When Harris sought to combat the charge that Biden would raise taxes on the middle class[,] Pence pointed to Biden’s promise to repeal the Trump tax cuts. Harris said that, in fact, Biden wouldn’t raise taxes on anyone making less than $400,000. Then Pence cut in.

“ ‘Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking,’ Harris said. ‘I’m speaking.’

“But Pence wouldn’t let it lie. ‘It’d be important if you said the truth,’ he said. . . .”

Harris opened with a full-throated attack on the Trump administration’s record on the coronavirus epidemic and did not let up.

And while race and gender issues were not the whole of the debate, they were never far away. Analyzing the first round, Arellano wrote in the Los Angeles Times, “This was a round of dog whistles.

“Pence: China and Dr. Anthony Fauci and mandates and swine flu and ‘hearts and people’ and prayers and Walter Reed and a consistent incantation of ‘American people’ so much that people should turn it into a drinking game, with bleach the shot du jour.

“Harris: Public service and Oakland and immigrants and ‘first woman’ and Kaiser and San Francisco and criminal justice and ‘Black woman.’ ”

Harris turned an accusation that Biden planned to pack the Supreme Court into a talking point, noting that not one of President Trump’s confirmed nominees to the federal bench is Black.

Pence’s denial of systemic racism, and Harris’ affirmation of it, gave CBS’ Gayle King one of the best lines of the night.

“They were talking about systemic racism – I think it’s very interesting timing that a fly would land on Mike Pence’s head at that particular time when he said that there really wasn’t systemic racism,” King said. “You saw the fly basically going like ‘Say what?’ “

Harris is on the cover of Essence magazine’s 2020 Election digital package, featuring stories of the Black women leading the campaign.

C-SPAN has posted the full debate on its website.

Despite the gravity of most of the subject matter, late-night comedians found the humor in it. A skit on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” showed Kimmel interviewing a white man with the name Marquis Jackson who had been hired sight unseen by the Trump administration as director of African American outreach.

“Jackson” said he had not met in person with other Trump officials, but noted that “they kept saying, ‘Wazzup'” when talking with him and would bring up the NBA games and a guy named Kanye whom he had never heard of.

BuzzFeed Pulls Reporter From White House

“BuzzFeed News has pulled a political correspondent from the White House press pool, citing concerns that the area has become a coronavirus hot zone after President Trump, many of his top aides — including the press secretary Kayleigh McEnany — and several journalists have tested positive for the virus,” Katie Robertson reported Wednesday for The New York Times.

“A BuzzFeed News spokesman, Matt Mittenthal, confirmed that the company on Tuesday had withdrawn the correspondent, Kadia Goba (pictured), from her Wednesday shift out of concern for her safety. The spokesman added that BuzzFeed News was awaiting further guidance from the White House Correspondents’ Association.

“Reporters rotate into the White House press pool, a group of journalists that represents the wider corps to share coverage of the president and the day’s events. The pool includes representatives of wire news services, newspapers and news sites, as well as television and radio outlets.

“ ‘Anyone that knows me understands I’d rather be at the White House working today,’ Ms. Goba said, ‘but at the same time, there are obvious concerns about working indoors during an outbreak.’ ”

As Ted Johnson reported for Deadline Wednesday, “The White House Correspondents’ Association is telling its members that they ‘must be clear-eyed’ about the potential risks of COVID-19 exposure, amid ongoing concerns over the outbreak of the virus at the White House complex.

“So far, at least three journalists have been reported to have tested positive, including The New York Times‘ Michael Shear, who has publicly disclosed his result.

“In a letter to members on Wednesday, WHCA president Zeke Miller wrote that they were ‘alarmed’ that multiple staffers in the press office also tested positive in recent days. They have not been at the White House since Friday, and no journalists were deemed to be ‘close contacts’ under CDC guidelines, which look back 48 hours from a positive test sample collection or the onset of symptoms.”

April Ryan (pictured), the American Urban Radio Networks correspondent who said in March she would be working from home because of the pandemic, told Journal-isms on Tuesday that this is the second wave of COVID incidents at the White House.

Katie Miller, Vice President Mike Pence’s communications director and wife of senior White House adviser Stephen Miller, “was one of the first White House aides to test positive in May, prompting the West Wing to implement coronavirus restrictions including a mask mandate and daily testing for employees,” as Savannah Behrmann and Courtney Subramanian reported for USA Today.

“They had a chance to get it right after that,” Ryan told Journal-isms by telephone, “and they failed to take precautions. It is deeper than the victory lap of the president” on Sunday. ” It is a national security issue. . . . People are hurting. He is now the super-spreader in chief.”

Lauren Easton, spokesperson for the Associated Press, messaged Journal-isms Monday, “AP’s coverage of the White House continues to be as robust as ever.

“We continue to take precautions to protect our journalists on assignment and in the field.”

Mei-Ling Hopgood Wins Award for J-Educators

“Professor Mei-Ling Hopgood (pictured), a professor at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, is the 2020 recipient of the Barry Bingham Sr. Fellowship, awarded by the News Leaders Association,” the association announced Monday.

“The $1,000 award, given in recognition of an educator’s outstanding efforts to encourage students of color in the field of journalism, will be presented at a virtual News Leaders Association awards event.

“A merger of the American Society of News Editors and the Association of Opinion Journalists, which originated the fellowship, was completed in 2016. The American Society of News Editors and the Associated Press Media Editors then joined forces to become NLA, the News Leaders Association.

“The selection committee was particularly impressed by Hopgood’s initiative as faculty adviser for the Northwestern chapters of both the Asian American Journalists Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

“As Dean Charles Whitaker noted, ‘In the latter role, she helped create Medill’s Cecilia Vaisman Award, named for a late colleague, which honors professional NAHJ members who are doing exceptional work reporting on LatinX issues in audio or broadcast formats.”

Nominations for the Bingham award are accepted year-round and may be emailed to Richard Prince, Opinion Journalism Committee, richardprince (at) hotmail.com. Please use that address only for NLA matters.

Nikole Hannah Jones won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary for her essay in ‘The 1619 Project’. (Credit: New York Times)

Conservatives Want Pulitzer for ‘1619’ Revoked

At least two Black conservatives are among 21 scholars and public writers who signed an open letter calling on the Pulitzer Prize Board to rescind the prize for commentary awarded to Nikole Hannah-Jones for her lead essay in “The 1619 Project,” Stanley Kurtz reported Tuesday for the National Review. “The letter is posted at the website of the National Association of Scholars here. (I am one of the signatories.)”

The two are William B. Allen and Glenn Loury. Other Black conservatives, including Robert Woodson, have formed a like-minded group, Randy DeSoto reported in February for Western Journal.

“The letter revisits the sorry tale of the 1619 Project’s errors and distortions and invokes these in calling for the revocation of the prize. The recent revelations that The New York Times stealthily edited out the signature claim of the project —- that the advent of slavery in the year 1619 constitutes our country’s ‘true founding’ — were, however, the immediate occasion for this letter. As Phillip Magness (another signatory) has shown, Nikole Hannah-Jones has several times denied ever claiming that 1619 was our true founding, although in fact she has made this latter claim repeatedly. . . .”

[Hannah-Jones messaged Journal-isms Friday, “It’s not worthy of my response.”]

In July, Hannah-Jones and The Times announced they had chosen Lionsgate to be the home for a wide-ranging partnership to develop “The 1619 Project” and its companion podcast into a portfolio of feature films, television series and other content for a global audience.

As part of the venture, Lionsgate has partnered with media titan Oprah Winfrey as a producer expected to provide stewardship and guidance to the development and production.

Meanwhile, Tom Kludt wrote Tuesday in Vanity Fair that he asked Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet whether the news organization would have pursued the project if Hillary Clinton had won in 2016. “ ‘I think so,’ Baquet told me, saying that Nikole Hannah-Jones, the reporter who shepherded the project, had been ‘practicing for that story her whole career.’ The racial reckoning that America is going through may have been accelerated by the Trump era, but I believe it would have happened anyway,’ he said.

“‘ ‘The conversations might have looked different with a different president. I think Barack Obama as a president addressed those, defused them, and made the conversation larger. Donald Trump has chosen not to do that.’ ”

’60 Minutes’ Vet to Head News at Nickelodeon

“Magalie LaGuerre-Wilkinson (pictured), a veteran producer at CBS’ 60 Minutes, has been named VP of news programming at ViacomCBS’s kids network Nickelodeon,” Jon Lafayette reported for Broadcasting & Cable.

“LaGuerre-Wilkinson will also serve as executive producer of Nick News, which recently made a comeback. In June, she co-executive produced Nickelodeon’s Kids Race and Unity special, hosted by Alicia Keys.

“In her newly created post she will oversee research, development and execution of news segments designed to speak to kids about key issues on all of Nickelodeon’s platforms.”

Lafayette also wrote, “In 15 years as an associate producer and producer at 60 Minutes, [LaGuerre-Wilkinson] worked on stories with Ed Bradley, Lesley Stahl, Bob Simon, Steve Kroft and Anderson Cooper. Most recently she produced stories on the political divide in the U.S. with contributing correspondent Oprah Winfrey.”

He continued, “In her newly created post she will oversee research, development and execution of news segments designed to speak to kids about key issues on all of Nickelodeon’s platforms.”

Wordlaw in New Role at Black News Channel

Gary Wordlaw (pictured), a 50-year veteran of the television business who helped launch the Black News Channel in February as vice president of programming and news, is leaving that role, Princell Hair, who became president and CEO in July, announced on Thursday.

Wordlaw is to become vice president of syndicated programs, documentaries and investigations, effective Oct. 20.

“Gary and I have been in discussions since I came on board as to how we can leverage his extensive
journalism experience to move BNC into new content areas. He has expressed an interest in doing more long form programming which fits our shared vision of how BNC should evolve to increase audience engagement,” Hair said in a statement. “As a result, Gary will now shift his focus to syndicated programming acquisitions along with launching the BNC Documentaries and Investigations Units.”

Wordlaw started his career in Chattanooga, Tenn., when he was 16 and has been news director or general manager in Baltimore (WMAR); Washington (WJLA), Baton Rouge, La.; Seattle; New Orleans; Syracuse, N.Y.; and Tallahassee, Fla.

Wordlaw said in Wednesday’s announcement, “To be part of a ground‐breaking team that launched the nation’s first 24/7 culturally specific news and Information channel has been a dream come true! To be chosen as the first Vice President of Programming and News of the Black News Channel is truly humbling. . . .”

[Oct. 10 update: Tommy Ross, communications director for the channel, messaged Saturday, “There will be a national search to fill the position. In the meantime our President/CEO will manage the day to day operations of News and Programming.”]

Longtime Technical Director Dies in 2-Car Wreck

An 18-year-old Mississippi man has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence after a two-vehicle wreck that killed a longtime technical director at Jackson’s WAPT-TV whom the station said mentored dozens of journalists. 

“Jackson police said they arrested Elijah Atkisson, 18, of Brandon, after an early Saturday morning wreck on Interstate 20 near Gallatin Street left 43-year-old Marcel Walker (pictured) dead,” Justin Vicory reported Tuesday for the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. 

Walker was a technical director at WAPT-TV and had worked there for 16 years. Atkisson was released from jail Monday after posting a $250,000 bond. 

Vicory also wrote, “Uber driver and wreck witness Mike Novak said his two Uber passengers, Jason Register and Caleb Lewis, helped pull Atkisson out of the black SUV he was driving before it erupted into flames.

” ‘We saw vehicle parts explode and burst into flames,’ said Novak. 

“Novak took a cellphone video of the aftermath that also showed the white sedan driven by Walker propped up against the wall of the interstate as the SUV is engulfed in flames. 

“Two other men who witnessed the crash, Eric Levison and Isaac Evans, also attempted to save Walker, according to WAPT-TV.  

“The men tried to pull Walker out of the sedan, at one point breaking out all the windows, but were unable to open the car door, Novak said. . . .”

On Sunday, Walker’s family met with Levison and Evans, Cecil Hannibal reported for the station.

” ‘We tried,’ Evans said. ‘We did everything we could to get him out of the vehicle. At that moment, I felt helpless. I still feel helpless now just thinking about that night.’

“After meeting these two heroes, Walker’s family said they are grateful to these men for trying to save him. . . .”

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Richard Prince’s Journal-isms originates from Washington. It began in print before most of us knew what the internet was, and it would like to be referred to as a “column.” Any views expressed in the column are those of the person or organization quoted and not those of any other entity. Send tips, comments and concerns to Richard Prince at journal-isms-owner@yahoogroups.com

 

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View previous columns (after Feb. 13, 2016).

 

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