Wednesday in the Age of Reason-Munchausen (1988)

CNN doesn’t trust Black leadership.

Color Of Change logo

Join us in demanding that CNN meet with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and undergo a civil rights audit.

Take Action
Stephen,

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) recently placed CNN on a special media monitoring list due to the complete lack of Black leadership within CNN. CNN president Jeff Zucker has no Black direct reports, no Black executive producers, and no Black senior vice presidents in the news department.

NABJ has called on CNN to meet and discuss this urgent matter, and CNN has outright refused to do so.1 One of the most trusted platforms on television cares so little about disappointing Black people that they refuse to talk to some of the most respected Black journalists of our time.

Demand that CNN meet with NABJ and discuss the disturbing lack of Black decision makers in their news department.

CNN’s lack of Black leadership and refusal to meet with NABJ demonstrates they do not prioritize equity at the company. Black leadership behind-the-scenes is invaluable and essential to ensure fair and balanced news reporting. While CNN has improved their on-air representation, they clearly do not trust Black people to make key decisions in the company. To address this gap, NABJ is calling for CNN to perform a civil rights audit to identify deficiencies in the company’s hiring practices.2

Join us in supporting the National Association of Black Journalists’ call for CNN to undergo a civil rights audit.

This kind of behavior is not new. Time and time again, we see the exclusion of Black people from the highest levels of leadership, and a lack of investment in hiring and retaining Black journalists. NABJ cites problems with CNN’s “hiring and retention practices of Black journalists” as early as 2014, and just this past year, Buzzfeed chose to lay off many of its people of color and LGBTQ+ employees.3 4 Equally egregious is CBS’s choice not to hire Black reporters for the upcoming 2020 presidential election in a time when our country needs fair and balanced reporting more than ever.5

Journalism that excludes Black reporters and decision-makers has widespread, real-world impacts on Black people.6 7 Lack of diversity in news companies leads to the silencing of Black voices and the perpetuation of racist stereotypes.

Join us and the National Association of Black Journalists in holding CNN accountable.

Until justice is real,
— Future, Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Saréya, Samantha, Eesha, and the rest of the Color Of Change team

References:

“CNN ignores ‘moral’ issue in refusing to meet with NABJ,” Atlanta Daily World, March 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/122845?t=11&akid=23649%2E4531967%2EoDe2Le.
“NABJ elevates CNN to special monitoring list,” National Association of Black Journalists, 05 March 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/122836?t=13&akid=23649%2E4531967%2EoDe2Le.
“National Association of Black journalists loses support of CNN,” Black Enterprise, 20 October 2014, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/122839?t=15&akid=23649%2E4531967%2EoDe2Le.
“Buzzfeed is being accused of laying off mostly POC and LGBT employees,” NextShark, 29 January 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/122837?t=17&akid=23649%2E4531967%2EoDe2Le.
“Black Journalists Group ‘Disturbed’ by CBS News’ Lack of Black Reporters for 2020 Campaign,” The Wrap, 15 January 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/122838?t=19&akid=23649%2E4531967%2EoDe2Le.
“A Dangerous distortion of our families,” Color Of Change, January 2017, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/24930?t=21&akid=23649%2E4531967%2EoDe2Le.
“Not to be trusted,” Color Of Change, March 2015, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/122840?t=23&akid=23649%2E4531967%2EoDe2Le.

Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.