NABJ Passes Resolution Condemning Trump Attacks On Journalists

As someone who writes for a living, I have been appalled at the Trump misadministration repeatedly attacks journalists. He has gone as far to call them 'The Enemy of the People' 

The problem with that dangerous rhetoric is twofold.   A free press is essential to a democracy.

The other problem is that his knuckle dragging lemmings will potentially take that rhetoric to heart and go beyond simply yelling at journalists they don't like and start physically attacking or killing them as was recently done in Maryland at the Capital Gazette.

At their national board meeting in the wake of the just concluded National Association of Black Journalists convention and Career Fair in Detroit, the NABJ Board of Directors unanimously approved the following resolution condemning Trump's attacks on the media 

At the national board meeting following the NABJ Convention & Career Fair in Detroit, the board approved the following resolution:

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"Whereas President Trump or his aides have excluded a reporter from a White House briefing for asking unwanted questions; 

Whereas President Trump has suggested taking away journalists' press credentials because of perceived negative coverage; 

Whereas President Trump has repeatedly and unjustly labeled much of the news media as "fake news"; 

Whereas President Trump has called the news media "very unpatriotic"; 

Whereas President Trump has described journalists as the "enemy of the people"; 

Whereas supporting and protecting journalists is consistent with the National Association of Black Journalists, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that takes no position on governmental policies and programs; 

Therefore, the National Association of Black Journalists rejects and condemns any statement and action by President Trump and his administration that are detrimental to freedom of the press."

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The NABJ's 43rd annual convention drew over 3000 journalists, media professionals, students and thought leaders attendees to the Motor City from August 1-5.

I hope I can make it to next year's convention in Miami, and if I can't, I definitely want to be in DC for the joint NABJ-NAHJ one in 2020.   The NABJ Convention is coming to me in Houston in 2021.

Back to the post. 

In addition, the NABJ Board discussed conducting a study on Trump and the media, and reporting the findings by the 2019 NABJ convention in Miami. NABJ is interested in hearing from organizations, educational institutions, individuals and entities that may be interested in partnering with them on this study.

If you are, you can contact: study@nabj.org.



 

NABJ and Philly Trans Wellness Conference Also Meeting This Week

There are two other conventions important to my life as an unapologetically Black  trans feminine writer and journalist that are happening as I sit here in New Orleans awaiting the start of Netroots Nation

And noting when I looked at the calendar that three events I wanted to attend were happening in different parts of the country at literally the same time meant I had to make a hard call on which one I would attend 

Being asked to do the panels at Netroots Nation and it occurring in NOLA made that hard call easier,  but it still isn't going to be easy to miss my trans fam or my NABJ family, much less the convos taking place at both conferences.

In the Motor City, the National Association of Black Journalists are gathering starting today and running through August 5  at the Detroit Marriott at Renaissance Center.

I've always wanted to attend an NABJ event, and the first time I got to do so came when it was held in Boston in 2014.    I was there to participate in a panel with Kellee Terrell and Kenyon Farrow on the topic of properly reporting about transgender people moderated by Tiq Milan.

Two years late I received the amazing experience of attending the joint NABJ-NAHJ Unity event in Washington DC at the historic Wardman park Hotel.

During a presidential election year, both the NABJ and the National Assn of Hispanic Journalists organizations hold their conventions there.  It is an amazing opportunity to network with members of both organizations    In addition to meeting my journalistic heroes and sheroes in the African American and Latinx journalism worlds , I also got to witness the panels and the press conference with Hillary Clinton

Starting at the same time as #NN18 is one of the largest trans conference s in the United States in the now Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference at the Philadelphia Convention Center.

Probably because of its location in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, it draws up to 3000 people for its panel discussions and professional medical tracks.

It's the event where I also met Jazz Jennings and her amazing family, and met Nicole Maines and her family in addition to having the opportunity to participate in some panels. 

I have been attending the now PTWC since 2012, and the last time I was there for it was in 2016 for not only the conference, but a Trans United Fund board meeting.

That 2016 one I got there after a fun ride up I-95 with Fiona Dawson after we'd been to the White house for the LGBT Pride Reception.  I got to spend some quality time with not only the TUF board and my friends in the community, but my homegirl Dionne Stallworth

That 2016 event is also memorable for me because the morning I was preparing to leave the city to go back to Washington DC, I began hearing the news about the horrific Pulse mass shooting in Orlando.

To my friends attending the NABJ and PTWC, sorry I can't be there because I'm in NOLA, but definitely will be thinking about y'all as I'm scarfing down my beignets.

Jemele Hill Spoke Truth To Power, and I Stand With Her

One of the things I'm really sick of with this Trump misadministration is their War on Journalism.

I've especially not been happy about WH Minister of Disinformation Sarah Huckabee Sanders attacking Black female journalists

First it was Sanders attacking veteran White House correspondent April D. Ryan, and now this attack on ESPN's Jemele Hill.

Hill on Monday said the obvious to everyone who was paying attention while expressing her First Amendment rights on Twitter.

She called 45 during a tweet storm what he has demonstrated himself to be,  a white supremacist that surrounds himself with white supremacists and said he was the worst POTUS of her lifetime.

Hey, she;s not wrong..

For those of you who have a problem with HIll's comment, does Steve Bannon ring a bell?  Sebastian Gorka? Jefferson Beauregard Sessions? Nazis carrying tiki torches in Charlottesville that Trump called 'good people'?  David Duke calling Trump 'one of them'?

Of course, all the white supremacist hit dogs are hollering and mad because a Black woman (as usual) spoke truth to power.  ESPN caved and tweeted out an apology for her speaking the truth about Twittolini, and of course Sanders used her White House propaganda rally today to call for Jemele Hill to be fired from her ESPN gig,

Really?  The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) quickly posted this comment defending Hill

Jemele Hill is an award-winning, veteran journalist who has distinguished herself for having insightful opinions and perspectives on a variety of topics. Having been successful along those lines for 20 years, she has been able to connect with viewers on ESPN as well as on various social media platforms. That withstanding, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) supports Hill's First Amendment rights on all matters of discussion, within and outside the world of sports, as they do not impinge on her duties as a host and commentator.

Black activists and media celebrities also have taken to Twitter and other outlets to stand with Hill

And so do I. I'm waiting to see if these white fauxminists will stand with her, or prove once again that solidarity is for white women only.

You do know ESPN by issuing that apology and leaving this sister hanging, you are cosigning the very white supremacy that Jemele called out?

I'm also tired of the racists and sexist abuse Hill regularly gets online that ESPN cowardly hasn't done jack about, but feels compelled in this case to issue an apology for her on point comments.

Jemele Hill is a shero who spoke truth to power.   She should be applauded for doing so, not reviled.

 

Moni's Headed To The NABJ-NAHJ Joint Convention

About to head to Washington DC for my second media conference o 2016, and it's a big one.

The National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists re joining forces to host a joint media convention in our nation's capital  starting today and running until August 7 at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park.

How apropos they are holding it at a hotel where poet Langston Hughes once worked.  Too bad the new African American history museum won't be open until next month.  

Maybe I can finally do that stop at the Newseum as a substitute for it  

I'm looking forward to being in the house for it, and spending time discussing the issues we trans peeps face with NABJ-NAHJ journalists and members.while i'm there.

Heading Back Home From Boston To H-town

I've had a wonderful time here on my first trip to Boston for the NABJ convention, and the best part it is has been 15 degrees cooler than my home sweet humidity I love so well.

I'm in bed as you read this, and I get to write the words my fellow Houstonians love to see when the Air Marshal takes flight from the Lone Star State and I leave Harris County:  

I'm headed back home.

I have to get up early to catch my train and my 9:05 AM flight out of Logan back to H-town.  I was fortunate enough on the leg up here to get a non-stop that got here early, but no such luck on the return.  I will have to connect through MDW to get back home to HOU.   

That's airline codespeak for Chicago-Midway and Houston-Hobby airports.

I'll have a 1.5 hour layover in MDW, and if my laptop decides to recognize a WiFi connection along the way, will try to Tweet or comment about stuff on the return trip back.   Otherwise I'll just do it the old fashioned way and take notes for the recap post later.   

NABJ Trans Panel Discussion Today

The convention kicked off while I was enroute to Boston with an opening address from Gov. Deval Patrick,  but my participating in it starts today. 

What I flew from the Lone Star State for is an #NABJ14 panel
discussion entitled Transforming Media: Fairly and Accurately Reporting On Black Trans Americans. 

I get to share the Hynes Convention Center stage with Kellee Terrell and Kenyon Farrow of this Tiq Milan moderated panel that kicks off at 2:15 PM EDT in Hynes 310.   You can follow the discussion at #NABJTRANSFORM.

 I'm beyond excited to make a personal dream come true thanks to GLAAD in attending the NABJ.  Then again, that's been happening a lot for me this year.   I'm also honored that I was invited to be part of this panel.  I appreciate getting another chance to represent our community and be able to authoritatively talk about media coverage of Black transpeople with this group of distinguished journalists who share my ethnic background.


There will probably be some fangirl moments for me as I walk the halls of the Hynes Convention Center and run into some of my fave African descended journalists.

You can also follow the  rest of today's scheduled conference action at #NABJ14

I'm In Beantown!

Well after my nonstop flight up here and navigating Boston's T, I have finally made it to my home for the next two days. 

I'm checked in have a spectacular view from the 31st floor, have gotten the lay of the hotel and the route I'll need to take to the Hynes Convention Center that's close to the Back Bay hotel. 

Fenway Park is near here as well, but won't be watching the Red Sox play  even though they are on a homestand and play the Toronto Blue Jays tonight.

I did get up here just in time for another hatefest between them and the New York Skankees Yankees, but that series starts Friday.   

And I'm probably not going to have enough time on this in an out trip to check out the JFK Presidential Library.   Oh well, maybe next time.

At any rate, time for me to enjoy the view from this room, relax and get ready for this panel  that's happening tomorrow.