The White, White House Press Corps; Does an Obama White House need more black reporters?

News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Mon Dec 1, 2008 11:06 AM EST

Article Source: The Root

excerpt:"Jesse Jackson's 1984 presidential campaign boosted—no, it actually created—the careers of a whole cadre of black political reporters.

Barack Obama's historic capture of Oval Office? Well, not so much.

The reasons behind the white-out of the Obama campaign are varied and complex, ranging from the reduction of general political coverage by mainstream media to fewer experienced black political reporters to the persistence of racism in the doling out of coveted newsroom assignments.

A generation ago, as the peripatetic preacher crisscrossed the country to the chants of "Run, Jesse, Run!" black journalists—among them Gwen Ifill of The (Baltimore) Evening Sun, Julie Johnson of The (Baltimore) Sun and later The New York Times and ABC News, George Curry of the Chicago Tribune, Ron Smothers of The New York Times, Milton Coleman of The Washington Post, Kevin Merida of The Dallas Morning News and Kenneth Walker of ABC News—traveled along, reporting and interpreting the historic political campaign.

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Groups: BlackFolks, Gut Check America, Mediavine, The Big 2008 Election
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2.7

{"commentId":4245718,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Ooh, interesting question. What do you think?

{"commentId":4245718,"threadId":"431558","contentId":"2164952","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#1 - Mon Dec 1, 2008 11:07 AM EST

{"commentId":4250325,"authorDomain":"tacitus13"}

Tacitus13

I'd say we need competent reporters, regardless of color. Personally, I'd like to get rid of just about all of the journalists currently covering the White House and start anew, offering positions on the basis of merit and objectivity.

{"commentId":4250325,"threadId":"431558","contentId":"2164952","authorDomain":"tacitus13"}

1 vote

#1.1 - Mon Dec 1, 2008 5:08 PM EST

{"commentId":4344334,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

I'd support that. Sort of like term limits for journalism or more just that they've flubbed it this for so long it's time to switch people?

i used to have to switch beats about every three years - just when i'd get good at covering city hall i'd get switched to school board, for example,but it was also good to avoid you giving favoritism to souces that were helpful, etc

{"commentId":4344334,"threadId":"431558","contentId":"2164952","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#1.2 - Mon Dec 8, 2008 12:57 PM EST

{"commentId":4246210,"authorDomain":"snotrag-dave"}

SnotRag Dave

A black President does not justify an increase in black journalists any more than a white President would legitimize an increase in white reporters... or a female POTUS result in a demand for more female reporters.

The last thing we need is any quota that results in a less-qualified person being hired simply to satisfy a racial match-up.

{"commentId":4246210,"threadId":"431558","contentId":"2164952","authorDomain":"snotrag-dave"}

2 votes

#2 - Mon Dec 1, 2008 11:57 AM EST

{"commentId":4344385,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

in black journalists any more than a white President would legitimize an increase in white reporters

i'm not sure it'd be possible to have an increase in white journalists - have you looked at skin color lately of the tv network anchors?
I've been meaning to ask if you ever clean that snotrag or if you're hoping santa will give you a new one for xmas?

but seriously i'm not a fan of quotas though i'm also happy to see more diversity not less

{"commentId":4344385,"threadId":"431558","contentId":"2164952","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#2.1 - Mon Dec 8, 2008 12:59 PM EST

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SCOTT (SCOOP) BUTKI

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The White, White House Press Corps; Does an Obama White House need more black reporters?

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