Media

First the newspaper article, then the movie. The Internet was abuzz Monday with a New York Post story that went viral: “. . . Today, Sly Stone — one of the greatest figures in soul-music history — is homeless, his fortune stolen by a lethal combination of excess, substance abuse and financial mismanagement. He lays…

The National Association of Black Journalists, frustrated by job losses in its membership, setbacks in diversity efforts and a perceived decline in news that benefits African American communities, will reach out to elected officials as it seeks allies to reverse these trends, NABJ President Gregory H. Lee Jr. said on Friday. “NABJ’s mission is to…

National Lesbian, Gay Journalists Association to Join for 2012 “UNITY: Journalists of Color will now include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA), after the boards of directors of both organizations agreed to the partnership last week,” Unity announced on Monday. The decision appeared not to be unanimous. “The majority voted and moved on,…

Attendant on Doomed Flight Falsely Labeled “Hysterical” The world learned that the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, had begun when flight attendant Betty Ong, flying on the hijacked plane that left from Boston, picked up the in-flight phone and punched the buttons for the American Airlines reservations desk. ” ‘The cockpit is not answering…

No Difference in Taste or Sensibility, Jill Abramson Says Jill Abramson, who last week became the first female editor of the New York Times in its 160-year history, said Sunday, “The idea that women journalists bring a different taste in stories or sensibility isn’t true.” The statement was challenged by women who have studied the…

Time magazine this week published “Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience,” a photo-rich commemorative edition dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. No identifiable African Americans are pictured in its 64 pages. Asked about the omission, Time spokesman Kerri Chyka said by email: “TIME is declining to comment at this time.”…

The Dallas Morning News laid off a reported 38 newsroom employees on Tuesday, including two black journalists, in still another cutback attributed to declining advertising revenues. Newsroom sources identified the two as Arnessa M. Garrett, a suburban editor, and Jason Roberson, a reporter who covered the business of health care.  In a blog on the…

Labor Day brought unexpected news for friends and colleagues who found their names added to a new Facebook page, “Friends of Elmer Smith“: The longtime editorial writer and columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News is retiring. “Yo, Elmer!! Sorry to hear that the coolest cat, and one of the smartest voices at the DN, is…

Washington Monthly’s Ratings Reward Social Mobility “Washington Monthly released its annual college rankings this week, and black and women’s colleges are ranked next to Ivy Leagues,” NPR’s “Tell Me More” reported on Wednesday. “That’s because on this list, colleges score more points for promoting volunteer work and admitting more students with Pell Grants.” Jackson State…

An essay on the Forbes magazine website about the role of law enforcement and order during a natural disaster was imported to the Yahoo News site Monday. But the headline, “Crime in the Wake of Hurricane Irene,” was used as a caption under a photo of a black man navigating a flooded street, heading toward…