President’s Corner: The News Needs Us
Special Feature: NABJ’s New Voyage – the 2020 Convention
05/22/2020
Read the May NABJ RoundUp Newsletter
05/23/2020
The news never stops.
Papers are printed. Stories uploaded. Newscasts go live.
In the midst of a pandemic, you keep reporting the facts, sharing data, asking questions and telling stories that inform, educate and contribute to the safety of your community.
You are my heroes.
Thank you for your dedication during these challenging times. To our members personally touched by the COVID-19 virus or who have lost loved ones, our thoughts and prayers are with you. To those laid-off, taking pay cuts or furloughed we are here to support you. The #NABJCOVID19Relief Fund is available for any member in need. It’s not much but hopefully it helps. We would love to assist as many as possible so we’re also asking for donations. Thank you to those who have already responded. Visit NABJ.org to apply or donate or click the buttons below. Please also take our Job Loss Survey below.
To everyone, please be mindful of your mental health. Take a break when you need it. We’ve offered coping mechanisms in past webinars. It’s worth revisiting them on our YouTube Channel. It’s human nature to be scared. I know I am. We all worry about what our newsrooms will look like on the other side of the pandemic. How many jobs will be permanently eliminated? Will we like the new norm?
I know it’s difficult but stay strong. The pandemic has exposed the systemic racism in our country, from the disparities in health care and educational resources to access to healthy foods. Policymakers promise to address the problems. We must hold them accountable. We’re the ones who will do the follow-up stories three months, six months, a year from today. We can’t afford to lose your voice, perspective, or the unique understanding of the African American culture. We must weather this pandemic because the news needs us.
Thank you for all you do!
Dorothy
