NEWS | All Digitocracy

Facebook’s censorship policies under fire again, and this time artistic nudity is at the forefront

October 18, 2016 by Philippa Levine

In 2015 Facebook grouped all nudity alongside hate speech, self-harm, bullying and violence. Should an exception be made for artful nudity?

Facebook is struggling to develop a coherent policy on allowing artistic nudity online, including breastfeeding.

Facebook is struggling to develop a coherent policy on allowing artistic nudity, including breastfeeding.

When it comes to nudity atruend what gets posted, Facebook has a problem. It’s a problem that will only get worse, especially now that the company is being sued by an Irish teenager who claims the social media giant failed to act when naked pictures of her were repeatedly posted in an act of what’s now… [Read more…]

Shocker: Diversity sells, Sony and Viacom executives say at Cannes’ first-ever Diversity Summit.

October 18, 2016 by Staff Report

One panelist maintains diversity should not be thought of as a color issue, but “diversity of thought” and presenting varied viewpoints.

“The idea that shows with a diverse cast cannot sell commercially is nonsense,” says Sony’s Keith Le Goy about international hits at the Cannes event’s first-ever Diversity Summit.

Is Hollywood really ready to embrace diversity? The answer is yes — if you are willing to believe panelists at MIPCOM’s first-ever Diversity Summit underway in Cannes.

Citing the success of hit show Empire in the United States and successful syndication of other shows to international markets, some entertainment executives are maintaining a tipping point has been reached in developing additional shows with diverse casts and themes.

The Hollywood Reporter reported from Cannes:

The international market has changed from the time when The Wire, widely considered one of the best shows ever made, couldn’t sell abroad when it aired 2002-2008, noted A+E Networks president, international Sean Cohan.

Viacom executive vp international brand development Michael Armstrong: “I’d like to take the notion that we need to make the business case for diversity and bury that in the sand,” he said. “I’d say that making diverse content is the business case for being successful.”

In fact, “diversity is money” said All3Media senior vp international format production Nick Smith. Using U.K. numbers, Smith presented the data case for diversity in casting. The high-end dramas that define this “golden age of television” tend to underperform in minority communities, he noted, including prestige programming like The Night Manager, Mr Selfridge andCall the Midwife, which have predominantly white casts.
The drama that demographically over-performs in the U.K. is The Walking Dead, which boasts an almost incidentally diverse cast that is focused on fighting zombies.

The prevailing thought from Cannes is that people want to see images that represent their view of life.

Individuals are willing to “pay up for people who look like them,” said Tonje Bakang, CEO of Afrostream, which collates black content from around the globe. “Programming is a business opportunity, not just marketing,” he said.

“At what point do you have black stories, or trans stories or gay stories? I think that’s the next level of diversity. Those are harder,” said Sony’s Keith Le Goy.

We can only hope that these Hollywood execs are being honest and not just selling us another dose of the same old, same old.

Diversity of thought is a test in Phoenix as Arizona Republic faces death threats for endorsing Hillary Clinton

October 18, 2016 by Guest Post

Even part-time employees knocking on doors selling subscriptions have been spit on and cursed out.

Some Arizona Republic staffers — from writers and editors to ad salespeople — are fearing for their lives.

Recently, for the first time in its 126-year history, the Arizona Republic endorsed a democratic candidate for president. The backlash has been intense. Mi-Ai Parrish, the head of the paper, published an editorial today about the threats she and her staff have been receiving. Threats like: ”You’re dead. Watch your back.” ”We will burn you down.”… [Read more…]

NABJ says it’s back on sound financial footing again — projects to end year with $1 million surplus

October 17, 2016 by Staff Report

National Association of Black Journalists says a profitable summer convention and solid business practices have turned things around.

A strong summer convention that featured Hillary Clinton as a speaker has NABJ in the black.

After years of financial problems, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) says it is on firm financial footing — and will end the year with a projected $1 million surplus.

The surplus would be the highest in the organization’s 41-year history, and comes after a profitable summer convention.

NABJ President Sarah Glover announced the surplus at the organization’s fall board meeting on Sunday. A surge in convention registrations clearly helped. The joint convention for NABJ and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists attracted 3,209 NABJ registrations. Total registered attendance was 3,890.

Glover said the organization’s finances are on an upswing because of the convention revenue as well as prudent planning.

“I am very proud of the strong business practices NABJ put in place at the beginning of the year,” Glover said in a statement. “Those efforts contributed to a projected million dollar-plus surplus for 2016. NABJ will meet my goal of no deficit in 2016,” Glover said. “I’m thankful for our partners and members who stepped up in a major way and helped us reach this historic milestone by supporting the 2016 NABJ/NAHJ Convention and other NABJ programs. We could not have achieved these results without the NABJ family.

“We are working to ensure NABJ’s long-term financial health by focused efforts on zero-based budgeting and careful fiscal management — watching expenses closely, securing new revenue, and making sound investments,” Glover said.

In a lengthy, upbeat news release, NABJ noted the organization is in its best financial shape in more than 20 years. NABJ also took issue with some of the negative media attention it attracted while getting its finances in order. NABJ explained in the news release:

The organization’s current leadership inherited a significant deficit, prompting far-reaching media headlines that questioned the organization’s viability. The reports of the association’s demise were highly exaggerated. Not only is NABJ now in the black, it’s in a strong position to improve its savings and investments, operations, programs and partner relationships.

The 2013-15 NABJ board oversaw operations that resulted in a two-year deficit of $642,000. The 2015-17 NABJ board adopted zero-based budgeting this year to facilitate the turnaround.

While the organization has had a multi-million dollar revenue stream before, this is the first time in the organization’s history it will end the fiscal year with a surplus of more than a million dollars, according to NABJ Treasurer Greg Morrison and NABJ Finance Manager Nathaniel Chambers.

“The NABJ Finance Committee, under the leadership of chairman Greg Lee, took a hard look at our fiscal governance model and made some thoughtful recommendations to the president, executive director, and board. Those recommendations were approved and put into practice,” Morrison said. “We are very pleased with this outcome.”

Fusion, Univision to debut journalist Jorge Ramos’ documentary, ‘Hate Rising’

October 14, 2016 by Guest Post

The film arrives amid rising hate in America, from the Ku Klux Klan to the so-called Alt-Right movement.

Jorge Ramos, who famously challenged Donald Trump at a press conference, is widely regarded as the best Spanish-language broadcaster in the United States.

Award-winning journalist Jorge Ramos has big news to share with his fans. Fusion and Univision have partnered up to announce the feature documentary ‘Hate Rising’ to the media. Hate Rising is set to make its television premiere on October 23 at 10p.m. during an unprecedented dual-broadcasts on FUSION in English and Univision Network in Spanish. Reported… [Read more…]

VH1 promotes producer Dara Cook to VP, strategic development

October 13, 2016 by Staff Report

Dara Cook takes on an exciting new role at VH1.

VH1 has promoted executive producer Dara Cook to vice president, strategic development, Variety reports.

According to the report Cook will continue to produce topical programming for the network, and will take on responsibility for branding opportunities and cross-channel priorities. She’ll report to Nina Diaz, head of reality programming and development, and work closely with network president Chris McCarthy.

From Variety:

“Dara is an exceptional development executive with a unique business acumen,” McCarthy and Diaz said. “She has been instrumental to VH1’s record growth and we know she will continue to do great things in this expanded role.”

Cook is a Viacom veteran. She began her television career with MTV Networks, having served as head writer for the VMAs from 2007 to 2013 and as a writer and producer for “Total Request Live.” Following a stint on the business side at Viacom, she returned to producing at MTV2 with shows such as “Uncommon Sense with Charlamagne” and “Ain’t That America.” She previously served as a music writer, with her work published by the Associated Press, VIBE Magazine and The Source. Prior to that she worked in ad sales and marketing.

“VH1 is an iconic brand with a terrific team and I am excited to play a part in its sustained growth,” Cook said.

Study: Only four of top 50 Associated Press employees are people of color — no African-Americans are among highest paid

October 13, 2016 by Staff Report

News Media Guild wants the AP to hire more women and people of color for it’s highest-profile jobs.

AP race and ethnicity editor Sonya Ross has filed a discrimination lawsuit charging the organization has blocked her from opportunities for promotion

AP race and ethnicity editor Sonya Ross filed a discrimination lawsuit charging the organization blocked her from opportunities for promotion.

After a study of salaries, the News Media Guild is reporting that only four of The Associated Press’ 50 highest-paid employees in the editorial unit are people of color.

In a news release, the Guild reported:

There are no black senior journalists, and only three who are people of color.

The Guild studied the pay of nearly 900 workers in the editorial unit with all employee names redacted. It included everyone eligible for Guild membership. The analysis did not include hourly workers and did not include overtime, economic differentials or any other additional pay beyond the weekly base rate.

The Guild’s study reflected a dearth of diversity at the highest-paying jobs within the bargaining unit. Forty-six of the 50 highest-paid bargaining unit jobs belong to white employees, and there are no black senior journalists, a high-profile position that pays at least twice as much as typical newsperson jobs.

Jill Bleed, a Little Rock-based breaking news staffer and Guild vice president who conducted the analysis said:

“More than 90 percent of the top 50 earners in the bargaining unit are white. AP needs to make it a priority to hire more women and people of color for these high-paying, high-profile jobs.”

Among the Guild’s other findings:

Of the top 10 highest salaries in the bargaining unit, all belonged to white employees. Three are women and seven are men.
White men were the highest-compensated subgroup based on average weekly salary. Black women were the lowest. On average, a white male earned about $15,000 more annually than a black woman, though that does not factor in differing job titles or years of service at the AP.
Women make up just over one-third of the nearly 700 newsperson jobs studied by the Guild. On average, a male newsperson earns about $2,700 more annually than a female newsperson, but that again does not factor in years of service at the AP.
Diversity among photographers is still a problem. Nearly 90 percent of photographers are male, and most are white.

“We know that the AP has few black employees, but it’s hard to imagine that none is deserving of being senior journalists, especially since the contract doesn’t limit the number of staffers who get that title,” Guild President Martha Waggoner said in the news release.

Sprint to provide free internet access, smartphones and tablets for 1 million students to close ‘homework gap’

October 11, 2016 by Guest Post

Program will start in Kansas City and include as many as 10 markets in 2017-2018.

Sprint to provide Internet access and devices for one million students without wifi at home.

Sprint says it will provide Internet access and devices for disadvantaged children.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sprint Corp. plans to give away 1 million smartphones and other connected devices and free wireless service to help high school students who don’t have internet access at home. The program, called the 1 Million Project, will connect 200,000 students per year over five years. Sprint, headquartered in suburban Kansas City, said students… [Read more…]

Here’s why Asian Americans did not factor in Buzzfeed’s survey: ‘Which White People Support Trump?’

October 11, 2016 by Barry Cooper

Buzzfeed surveys support for Trump among Blacks, Latinos, Whites, Women and Men. What about Asian Americans?

Because of Donald Trump, race and ethnicity have been a constant backdrop to the 2016 presidential election.

You could almost see all the eyebrows being raised across the internet when Buzzfeed released a survey studying support for Donald Trump across various racial lines. But one group wasn’t represented — Asian Americans.

In case you missed it, here are the opening paragraphs of the the Buzzfeed story:

Race and ethnicity have been a constant backdrop to the 2016 presidential election, thanks to Donald Trump’s provocative comments on immigrants, black communities, and an American-born judge he called “Mexican.”
Yet in all the slicing and dicing of voting intentions by key demographic groups, the “white vote” has largely been considered as a single ethnic block — until now.
A new poll run for BuzzFeed News, which delves into white voters’ self-reported ancestry, reveals surprising diversity in their political outlook. White voters who identify most strongly with their German or Italian heritage strongly support Trump, whereas those who self-identify as Irish, English, or Scottish are more evenly split between Trump and Hillary Clinton.

The story goes on to examine support for Trump among Blacks, Latinos, Whites, women and men — but there’s no discussion about Asian Americans.

Here’s why, says Peter Aldhous, the Buzzfeed News Reporter who wrote the article:

“The focus of our story was the influence of European ancestry on voting intentions within the “white vote,” but to provide context we included an initial table showing the split by gender, and between respondents who identified as black, Latino, and white – to allow readers who were aware of previous polling to compare the broad sweep of our results with prior findings,” Aldhous said in a statement emailed to AllDigitocracy.

“Asian Americans were represented in the poll, and their self-identified race was recorded. However, there were just 200 Asian Americans in the sample of more than 5,000 registered voters, which meant that the margin of error was large.

“Unfortunately these numbers have been missing from many other polls, also, for similar reasons – Mona Chalabi wrote about this issue recently for the Guardian.
“We also excluded less common European ancestries (Scottish was one we cut) from the subsequent tables in the piece. For these tables, which were the main focus of the piece, we gave some information about sample sizes for the various groups, and their consequences.

“Your query is certainly something we will bear in mind when considering how to present polling data in future.”

You can see the complete story here at Buzzfeed.