For the “Rising” show on The Hill, Robby Soave and Lindsey Granger report on Skydance’s promise to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion policies and to install an ombudsman to review “complaints of bias or other concerns” involving CBS, as part of ensuring “viewpoint diversity.” (Credit: The Hill/YouTube)
That Promise, Buyouts Now NABJ Campaign Topics
The $8 billion merger of Skydance with Paramount Global, owner of CBS and Black Entertainment Television, was approved by the Federal Communications Commission just one day after Skydance promised the FCC that “Skydance, for its part, does not have DEI programs in place today and will not establish such initiatives.”
The National Association of Black Journalists, whose leadership has been criticized for not speaking out enough about changes roiling the news media industry, issued a statement about Skydance Wednesday that said the association “condemns any move that eliminates equitable hiring standards.
“NABJ will be talking with company leadership, journalism organizations, and others who share our concerns,” it said.
Separately, the organization Saturday took note of the exodus of staffers at The Washington Post, including several Black journalists, and of buyout offers planned at Gannett.
“NABJ, along with our Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ) affiliate chapter, is particularly concerned about the representation and retention of Black journalists at The Washington Post,” the association said.
“In light of the recent voluntary departures of several Black staffers, we have requested a meeting with senior leadership to address these concerns and advocate for a continued commitment to diversity and equity within their newsroom.”
Inside NABJ, some have rallied around a plea that the NABJ leaders suspend their search for a new executive director because, they said, the process lacks transparency.
Eight NABJ candidates for office, including President Ken Lemon’s two challengers for the seat, Errin Haines and Dion Rabouin, asked Saturday for “an immediate pause to the Executive Director search and ask that no hiring decision be made until the new Executive Board is seated.”
Long-serving Executive Director Drew Berry announced in May that he is retiring later this year.
Amir Vera, NABJ’s vice president-digital, told Journal-isms, “Since at least 2018,” when Berry became executive director, “NABJ has been remarkably stable, and that’s largely because we’ve had a strong, steady executive director. If we want to continue on this path, the Personnel Committee — which I serve on — must select the next executive director through an objective, fair process with ample time to vet candidates and not rush through the process.”
Lemon did not respond to a request for comment.
On the Skydance issue, Stephanie Kyoko, Skydance general counsel and co-president of business operations, said in a letter Tuesday to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr that “Paramount will not engage in any DEI-related disparate treatment in hiring decisions” and “no longer will set numerical goals related to the race, ethnicity sex” or “set minimum spend requirements for diverse suppliers,” among other promises.
Paramount received widespread criticism this month when it agreed to pay $16 million to resolve an extraordinary lawsuit filed by President Trump over the editing of an interview with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on CBS-TV’s “60 Minutes” last fall. First Amendment advocates said the company compromised its journalistic independence by surrendering to Trump in order to get the Skydance-Paramount merger approved.
NABJ leaders and their counterparts in other journalists-of-color associations have indicated that training their members, particularly for middle management jobs, is more of a priority than joining forces with those resisting the anti-diversity movement. They said as much in a March forum called “The State of Diversity in Journalism” (scroll down), held at Loyola University New Orleans.
At a board of directors meeting the same month, NABJ leaders outlined a strategy that involved finding ways around the backlash against DEI, rather than protesting it (scroll down).
Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League, asked NABJ and the National Newspaper Publishers Association in May to join his Demand Diversity coalition to counter Trump’s anti-diversity crusade. However, there have been no public responses to Morial from NABJ or NNPA, though Lemon messaged without elaboration July 8 that he and Morial “have talked recently about possible engagements.”
At the May NABJ board meeting, Berry said the anti-DEI backlash means the organization must think about “how we have to market ourselves differently and how we write contracts and things like that,” as well as seeking non-media sponsors and multiple revenue streams, and burnishing relationships.
The executive director said the organization had yet to see how the anti-DEI movement would affect sales of career fair booths, but almost half had been sold. However, some potential sponsors pleaded, “please don’t share information about what we’re doing,” Berry said.
Lemon now lists “fighting Anti-DEI policies” at the top of his campaign profile.
Roland Martin, candidate for vice president-digital, posted a video titled, “The NABJ Executive Director Search is an example of weak leadership.” (Credit: YouTube)
At a campaign event Tuesday at the National Press Club, Haines criticized: “The rushed, opaque executive director search. The missing treasurer reports. The silence in the face of institutional harm. The absence of vision when Black journalists need bold leadership the most.”
While Lemon did not respond to an inquiry Saturday, on Wednesday he messaged about the “silence” about the Washington Post departures. “The vice president of print and I met with Founder Joe Davidson to discuss NABJ speaking out about his reasons for retirement from the Washington Post and how we acknowledge his legacy in journalism. As with every case of advocacy we consult with the member before taking action,” Lemon said.
“We are looking into Krissah Thompson’s departure and how it affects our concerns with the Post.”
Signing the letter requesting a pause in the search for an executive director, forwarded to Lemon by Rabouin, were candidates Khorri Atkinson (running for secretary); Tre’vell Anderson, (vice president-digital); A’Lauren Gilchrist, (student representative); Haines; Raelyn Johnson, (vice president-broadcast;) Vance Lang (vice president-digital); Roland Martin (vice president-digital) and Rabouin.
On Tuesday, past NABJ president Vanessa Williams (pictured) posted on Facebook, “I, too, was surprised to see the announcement of an executive director search committee, just two weeks before members get a chance to weigh in on the future of our organization via board elections.
“This feels like a Mitch McConnell move. What’s the rush? And where is the transparency?
“The announcement said nothing about how applicants are being assembled. Are these people who responded to the ad posted several weeks back on social media or, as several longtime members have urged, professionals recruited by an executive search firm?
“I share the concerns about the make-up of the committee. Fine people and we certainly applaud their service to NABJ. But it is broadcast-heavy and doesn’t reflect the professional diversity of our membership. A chapter president would have been a good addition. And, as Roland [Martin] noted, someone from a nonprofit newsroom would bring a valuable perspective, because they have experience and/or nsight with fundraising.
“Again, the process seems rushed and it’s not clear what we are doing or have done to make sure we get the best outcome for this important personnel decision. The future of our organization’s ability to better serve our members and our communities depends on it.”
However, Bob Butler (pictured), another former NABJ president, wrote Saturday on Facebook, “I’m not sure where the concern lies. The moment Drew announced his plans to retire, the current board was obligated to start a search. As someone who has been involved with the hiring of three NABJ EDs I can tell you it is a long process. . . .
“Given those facts I don’t see how a new ED can be hired before the new administration is seated.
“In the past NABJ has had to move quickly to find an ED b/c the old one was fired or quit.
“This is a case where a new ED could be hired before Drew leaves, allowing time for a smooth transition.”
Journal-isms asked Vera why NABJ members should care about this issue.
Vera (pictured) messaged, “I know members are, at times, unhappy with the convention site or question why we do or don’t partner with certain companies and entities. What they don’t realize is that the executive director plays a major role in those and other significant decisions that directly affect every member of NABJ.
“Since at least 2018, NABJ has been remarkably stable, and that’s largely because we’ve had a strong, steady executive director. If we want to continue on this path, the Personnel Committee — which I serve on — must select the next executive director through an objective, fair process with ample time to vet candidates and not rush through the process.
“At the same time, I know there are members reading this who are having second thoughts about stepping into NABJ leadership. Some have been discouraged by members who say it’s not worth the drama. I’ll admit I haven’t always helped that perception, especially when I’ve called things out publicly. But at the heart of it, my message has been consistent: NABJ members need to care deeply about who leads this organization. This executive director search is not just about a position — it’s about our future, our stability and whether we continue to be an organization people can believe in and be proud to serve.”
The three NABJ presidential candidates and Lang, a candidate for vice president-digital, have agreed to join the Journal-isms Roundtable Sunday on “What do Black people around the world have in common, and what are their differences?” The presidential candidates will be asked their positions on NABJ’s relationship with the greater Black world. The Roundtable is to be simulcast on Facebook at 1 p.m. Eastern at < https://www.facebook.com/RPjournalisms/ >.
- Jeremy Barr, Washington Post: She couldn’t stop the Paramount merger. But she warned against it.
- David Bauder, Associated Press: Paramount gets green light for $8 billion merger. But what is the psychic cost for company?
- Emmanuel Felton, Washington Post: 60-year-old Black history archive faces uncertain future after federal cuts
