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The First Black Twitter Conference Was Long Overdue

February 29, 2016 by Seve Chambers

Two attendees of the inaugural Black Twitter 2016 Conference in New York City.

Two attendees of the inaugural Black Twitter 2016 Conference in New York City.

 

Between the Oscars this weekend, artists who held a concert in Flint about the water crisis and important conversations about race in the spotlight, a conference about Black Twitter is timely. Black Twitter has either initiated or promoted such conversations and has many times spurned activism around them.

The National Association of Black Journalists held its first Black Twitter conference at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism on Saturday (#BlackTwitter16). Several hundred attendees came for the all-day event, from those who were immersed in this space to those who had heard a lot about it but were getting their first crash course in it.

The event included frequent Black Twitter users and Black Journalists who had covered the impact of this phenomenon. Some of the day was focused on understanding social media as a tool, while the other part was focused on social media as a force that has impacted activism and discussions about inequality. April Reign, creator of the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, was the keynote speaker. She explained the origins of the hashtag and how it amplified a decades-long discussion about diversity in Hollywood. Reign announced that she would not be watching the Oscars the next day, and instead would be doing a live tweet of the film ‘The Wood.’

While the discussions focused on the impact of Black Twitter, there were also observations about the nuances of the space. Sherri Williams, a professor at Wake Forest University, said that while she admires how Twitter has been used, she found it sometimes to be unfriendly and a difficult place to navigate. Rembert Browne of New York Magazine had a similar thought when describing how one’s ‘Blackness’ is sometimes questioned in this part of cyberspace. These observations are a reflection of life, on and off Twitter, but also highlight the complexities of a safe space such as Black Twitter.

Yet, in general, the day, which had some differing opinions and viewpoints, had more mutual understandings and people on the same page than not. In fact, throughout the day there was a common call for more communication between Black journalists and activists. Williams said that journalists covering Black Twitter need to “pick up the phone” and call the activists behind the handles. Black Lives Matter activist Nakisha Lewis and Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery said that journalists should make themselves accessible to Black Twitter and people in BLM, and to get to know the people being covered.

Good Twitter Post_640jpg

“The reason [activists] trusted me was that I was there when everybody was getting teargassed,” said Lowery, who covered the unrest in Ferguson, Mo., in August 2014.

Another topic discussed was how engaged journalists should be in this discussion if it is not their beat. Journalist Jozen Cummings who acutally works at Twitter asked if every Black journalist should be prepared to write about a topic, even if they may not have anything worthwhile to contribute. Charreah Jackson of Essence magazine thought that journalists do not have to necessarily report on Black Lives Matter or Black Twitter, pointing out how stories on ‘new’ fashion trends that have origins in the Black community can also factor into the discussion. Browne said that for him, his writing is his contribution, which prompted a piece of advice given out by nearly everyone: Be careful of what you tweet. “Don’t waste all of your fire thoughts on Twitter,” said Browne. “Save some of it for a story.”

Perhaps just as interesting as the conference was the discussion taking place on Twitter around the hashtag, #BlackTwitter16. With journalists and activists live tweeting from the conference, people followed along through the hashtag but also provided thoughtful resources, input and jokes. The hashtag for the conference also invited curiosity, people jumping in to promote themselves, and, of course, trolls throwing insults and race-baiting remarks.

Based on the activity of the hashtag, the turnout and how anticipated it was, it is fair to say that the Black Twitter conference was a success. There are as many think pieces about Black Twitter at this point as there are days in a year, so it is hard to say anything revelatory about it. But with everyone that it brought together, there is an argument for the significance of this gathering.

It was an event that was long overdue.

TwitterTools_640

 

Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: #OscarsSoWhite, Black Twitter, Black Twitter Conference, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, NABJ, twitter

Race debate stealing the show at this year’s Oscars

February 24, 2016 by Guest Post

Oscars

Comedian Chris Rock will host this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. He’s changed his entire routine to address the Oscars’ lack of diversity.

The US film industry’s top awards have Tinseltown dusted in Oscars gold. But this year’s ceremony is all about black and white. Los Angeles (dpa) – Hollywood is once again rolling out its red carpet for the Oscars. The flashbulbs will pop and the champagne will flow Sunday as the 88th Academy Awards celebrate the year’s… [Read more…]

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, Featured Tagged With: #OscarsSoWhite

Only 29 percent of Hollywood’s speaking roles are filled by women, study says

February 23, 2016 by Guest post

 Hollywood_Sign

An extensive new study of diversity in Hollywood paints a damning portrait of the film and television industry behind and in front of the camera, describing the media landscape as “whitewashed” and calling the lack of inclusion an “epidemic.” The report released Monday by USC’s Media, Diversity, & Social Change Initiative shows a lack of representation… [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, NEWS Tagged With: #OscarsSoWhite, diversity, Hollywood

DISNEY ACTRESS ZENDAYA COLEMAN DID NOT “BLAST” GIULIANA RANCIC

February 24, 2015 by Tracie Powell

If anything it was the other way around

Singer/actress Zendaya Coleman on the red carpet at the 2015 Oscar Awards.

Singer/actress Zendaya Coleman on the red carpet at the 2015 Oscar Awards Ceremony.

Journalists are supposed to minimize harm when reporting on stories. It’s in our code of ethics. Yet, over the past two days, journalists seem to be falling over themselves using language, knowing and perhaps unknowingly, that inflicts pain.

It started Monday morning, post-Oscar Awards broadcast, when an anchor for an Ohio Fox News affiliate used the racially offensive term, jigaboos, to give a back-handed compliment to singer, Lady Gaga. Then we learned E!’s Fashion Police co-host Giuliana Rancic made a racially derogatory remark about Disney actress Zendaya Coleman’s hairstyle. Rancic has since apologized a second time to the 18-year-old star, but this piece isn’t about that ignorance (even though Rancic has a master’s degree in journalism from American University). It’s about the way news organizations covered the whole affair.

These are just some of the headlines blaring from cable news journalists/personalities and news articles about the latter dust-up: “Zendaya Coleman ‘rips’ Giuliana Rancic for making ‘insensitive comments.’” “Fans support Zendaya post-’rant.’” “Zendaya outraged…”Zendaya Coleman Rips Guiliana Rancic For Making Insensitive Comments About Her Dreadlocks.” Zendaya Coleman blasts Giuliana Rancic over dreadlock jokes.” “Zendaya Coleman slams Fashion Police for ‘outrageously offensive’ remarks.” “Singer hits back after E! host says dreadlocks ‘smell of weed.'” “Zendaya Coleman Blasts TV Presenter Over Hair Comments.” CNN also blared that Coleman had “blasted” Rancic.

Rancic initially offered a terse excuse apology and—since the media loves to paint abstruse portraits of Angry Black Women—Zendaya Coleman and her supporters were accused of  being “too overly sensitive,” of “lashing out” and of “blasting” the Fashion Police host, when Zendaya’s response was nothing but patient and eloquent.

What Coleman did was give a very professional, dare I say elegant and diplomatic, response to disparaging insults hurled her way by a TV show host as her cohorts cackled in the background. Coleman did not rip into or blast anyone. If anything it was Rancic who did the ripping.

Giuliana Rancic insulted Zendaya Coleman, but many news organizations misled viewers and readers about who blasted who.

Giuliana Rancic insulted Zendaya Coleman, but many news organizations misled viewers and readers about who blasted who.

Why is Coleman’s response a “rip” but the actual insult is an “insensitive comment?”

Though they aren’t supposed to, journalists increasingly use loaded terms because they believe controversy sells, and gets clicks. Unfortunately, this bias for the dramatic overtakes accuracy. In this case it also misleads readers as to what actually transpired and feeds into racial stereotype, i.e. “the angry black woman” versus the “helpless white person who doesn’t know any better.” Both are insulting, by the way. And in this case using such language paints the wrong person as the aggressor.

“Ethical journalism treats sources, subjects, colleagues and members of the public as human beings deserving of respect,” SPJ’s Code of Ethics states. “Balance the public’s need for information against potential harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance or undue intrusiveness.” It further states: “Show compassion for those who may be affected by news coverage. Use heightened sensitivity when dealing with juveniles….” And the code calls for journalists to handle with care “subjects who are inexperienced…”  and to “consider cultural differences in approach and treatment.”

Ethical journalists don’t mislead viewers or readers, and they certainly don’t seek to relay inaccurate information. Really, all journalists have to do is follow our own standards in order to avoid pitfalls like this. We should also strive to use more inclusive language; preferably terms for which we know the meanings.

Inclusive language is language that is free from words, phrases or tones that reflect prejudiced, stereotyped or discriminatory views of particular people or groups. It is also language that does not cast people in a negative light, especially when they don’t deserve to be there.

Here’s a set of guidelines compiled by Michigan State University that any journalist, or anybody period, can follow to help them use more bias-free language.

Women of color, including black women, have the right to defend themselves when assailed with anti-Black violence, especially coming from white people with large media platforms, who operate from places of pedestaled privilege, and are complicit in trying to push women of color to the fringe.

Kristi Capel, an anchor for a Fox News affiliate in Ohio, apologized Tuesday for using the term "jigaboo" on air Monday morning.

Kristi Capel, an anchor for a Fox News affiliate in Ohio, apologized Tuesday for using the term “jigaboo” on air Monday morning. She said she didn’t know what the word meant.

Women of color have the right to reaffirm who they are without being dubbed as angry, irrational or thin-skinned. Rancic was wrong. Period. And the accountability should remain with her. If anything, Rancic’s public gaffe, and many journalists’ reaction to it,  just emphasizes the need for more media diversity and representation, including in entertainment and fashion journalism.

Inadvertent or not, writing or saying that Coleman ripped into Rancic, presumes that she’s an angry or aggressive person- both are mischaracterizations and stereotypes of black people. And dismissing Rancic’s comments about Coleman “smelling like patchouli oil” or “weed” as just insensitive remarks is adding insult to injury, especially when in fact the statement is much more. Rancic’s comments are evidence of prejudice against others, in quite the same way “jigaboo” is evidence of prejudice against others, intentional or not.

Journalists can, and should, do better.

 

Tiff Jones contributed to this report.

 

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, Ethics, Featured, How To, JOURNALISM, PEOPLE, Television Tagged With: #OscarsSoWhite, bias-free language, Giuliana Rancic, inclusive language, mediabias, news coverage, race, Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, Zendaya Coleman

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