How to Support Black Journalists
This week, the New York Times decided to publish a highly problematic and dangerous article by Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton advocating the use of military force against protesters . As many journalists have pointed out, the decision to run this article out of context, without fact-checking many of Cotton’s inaccurate claims, and without providing any counter-argument to the dangerous, illegal basis of his position, endangers black journalists.
Despite this criticism, editorial page editor James Bennett decided to double down on his decision to publish the article by defending his actions on a long thread on Twitter . In response, some newspaper employees protested by tweeting a screenshot of the article and a simple statement, “Doing so endangers Black @nytimes employees.”
In light of this decision by the New York Times and the newspaper’s subsequent refusal to acknowledge or correct their mistake (perhaps by removing the article), you may be looking for ways to show your support for these black journalists. One way to do this is to donate to organizations that help black journalists, or to subscribe to black-owned newspapers.
Donate to organizations that support black journalists
Newsrooms tend to be disproportionately represented by whites and men, and this fact influences what news is covered and how. If we want news coverage to more accurately reflect our world, then we absolutely must support and encourage journalism from people in the community in question, including black journalists who need support at critical moments in their careers, especially when they are just begin. As with many other aspects of the American workforce, opportunities tend to be given to those with the best connections and the most financial resources.
Organizations supporting black journalists include the Ida B. Wells Society , which supports journalists of color through regional workshops and internships; The National Association of Black Journalists , which supports black journalists through fellowships and internships; and the Maynard Institute , which offers training programs for newsrooms on fair and accurate reporting of communities of color. All of these organizations could benefit from your financial support. right now and in the future
Subscribe to the local black-owned newspaper
If you would like to show your support by subscribing to a black-owned independent newspaper, this list compiled by the African American Literary Book Club is a good resource to help you find news in your own community.
Given the realities of the modern media landscape, which has seen intense consolidation and a large number of small newspapers close in recent years, not to mention a sharp decline in the number of full-time reporter posts and the added financial pressure brought in by the pandemic, your subscription to a local black-owned newspaper may have critical to its survival and hopefully prosperity for years to come.
Looking for ways to protect black lives? Check out this list of resources .