With just three months to go in 2020, I look back over this year and am proud of the work of our Board and members in advocating for those who have been impacted by discrimination and unfairness in our industry.
While it is disappointing that we still have to address these topics, NABJ is committed to calling these issues out from the national level down to the local level until they are eradicated.
We have members in social groups like Black Women in TV and in chapters, committees and task forces around the country like the NABJ Sports Task Force, who support our mission by creating various conversations around these concerns to help effect change. I couldn’t be more proud.
We all realize there is much more work to be done. That is why we are launching a new initiative. I am thrilled to announce that this fall we will kick off a quarterly, national webinar series focused on the issues Black women face in media and how to combat them. I look forward to hearing from you about some of the topics you’d like to address and how you would like to participate.
As we continue to see stories of Black women from across the field being impacted by issues of sexism, harassment, misogyny and so much more, we will not let up on our efforts toward the eradication of such issues.
This year, the NABJ Board has addressed issues at print and digital publications, where women have expressed concerns about harassment and unfair treatment and within various areas of broadcast, where women have experienced discrimination based on their hair type, how they dress or look, and other abuses including derogatory name-calling. Across all platforms, we have heard of continuing issues of pay equity and the age-old glass ceiling.
Because of the women who came before me, I have always been passionate and outspoken about the issues women face in our industry and my desire is to expand that dialogue and expose the ugliness that lurks behind the scenes in the media.
I look forward to you sharing your ideas with me to make this special series meaningful and impactful. Please email nabjalerts@gmail.com with your suggestions.
Yours in Service,
Dorothy Tucker
NABJ President
@Dorothy4NABJ