NABJ is pleased to present this newly reformatted list of black
editors compiled by Don Hudson, managing editor at The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
What Don has done is a prime example of just how much influence
a single NABJ member, and by extension NABJ itself, can have on
the industry and our fight for greater diversity in newsroom management.
Other NABJ members are already working to have similar lists for
black journalists who are leading or helping to lead newsrooms
at television stations and magazines. We should be able to make
them available for your review very soon.
My hope is that NABJ members representing every media discipline
or newsroom department, from copy editors and features editors
to radio news directors and online supervisors, will help us compile
lists of black journalists with authority.
Every list will be offered in the same spirit that moved Don to
do his: To provide a comprehensive, national networking list of
black journalists in key editing roles, and to help promote them
into high-profile, decision-making positions.
With help from Bobbi Bowman, diversity director at the American
Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE), and Glenn Proctor, an associate
editor at The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J., Don started compiling
this list for NABJ in 2002.
"I got tired of hearing folks out there say that they couldn't
find people of color for the top jobs," said Don, who at
the time was working as managing editor of the Lansing State Journal.
"As you can see with this list, there are folks already at
the DME and AME level on down who are ready to run their own newspapers.
And the list continues to grow."
It took several months to pull the list together, and it was ready
in time for NABJ’s convention in Milwaukee.
The initial premise was to compile a list of managing and executive
editors and those at the AME and DME levels, but opinion-page
folks, public editors, sports editors and others were added later.
The list has been circulated to recruiters, publishers and corporate
executives throughout the country.
For updates, deletions or additions to any of the newspaper lists,
e-mail Don at dhudson@clarionledger.com,
or call him at (601) 961-7230. He wants to expand them to include
department heads: copy chiefs, news editors, city editors, features
editors, business editors, national/foreign editors, bureau chiefs,
online editors, chief photographers, art directors, etc.
And please note ... we are bound to be missing a name or two or
three. If you belong on one of these lists, or you know of someone
else who does, please let Don know … today!
Please note that for those newsroom leaders moving into new roles,
the current lists will be updated when he or she starts the job.
