Minority sports reporters

I've know a few outstanding minority candidates who have interviewed there. Yet, they weren't offered a gig. Somehow, thank goodnees, they landed somewhere else. But yet, it's places like that, and those wretched numbers, that give the industry a black eye, pardon the pun.

 

Prep writing is a perfect place for people to break into the biz.
I am all for everyone getting consideration, especially for these lower-level jobs.
I've never been to Albany or read the paper there. Not even on line.
I can't speak for the climate there.
But yes, it's a shame if everyone isn't considered on the same level of criteria.
I don't agree with you that this is "Amerikkka"
But I will tell anyone that we have work to do with the subject of race relations.
Work for ALL ethnic groups to do. Not just whites.

 

Worked part-time in sports for a paper while I was in college. After I graduated, there were no sports jobs open, but the paper was creating a new section and hiring seven people. I applied. They hired six women full-time and gave me a temporary full-time positiong "because that last spot is being reserved for a minority," the ME told me. So, it works both ways.

 

Why do we need more minority reporters? Because of all the minority athletes.

Look at TV sideline reporters. Jokers like Jim Gray and Craig Sauer ask the same mundane questions to black or Asian (Yao) athletes and they return the same mundane clique responses. Minority personalities like Steven A., Stuart Scott, Cheryl Miller and more ask questions, and the athletes, feeling like they're one of them, return flavor in their responses. There's a camaraderie. Same kind of things happen behind the scenes in print. Many white jokers, regardless of how good, may not get the same openness as a minority reporter. The industry needs to minority reporter to tell their stories, because all these white reporters many of you same are "the most qualified for the job, period" simply can't tell the stories. Same with women.

The lack of diversity, bluntly, is a joke.

 

Agreed. But the analogy into print is the point.

 

What did he clear up? The numbers are awful and the results are even worse. This is an industry that is quick to call out another industry about its minority hiring practices, yet fails miserably in doing the job. It's so hypocritical.

 

I may join you on the unemployment line.
The Kerner Commission, I think I have it right, did a study about themedia in the 1960's and it showed that it was lacking diversity. Here we are almost 50 years later and the situation still hasn't changed. That's sad. Very sad.

 

Please let me know when Stewie EVER asks an athlete a tough question.

Scott's always too busy inhaling the wondrous scent of jock.

 

The business is doing the best it can in terms of diversity. There just aren't a lot of candidates out there. And regardless of your race or sex, if you suck, you're not getting hired.

 

That's total horseshit. I know several minority scribes who can do it all and they've been getting fucked on a regular basis. I'm sorry, that excuse is as old as dirt. This business IS NOT doing the best it can in terms of diversity. What this business is doing is surviving. And here's a flash, it's dying.

 

And how many quality minority candidates are being scared away from the field because of how few of them they see and the bitterness they face, including from people in this board, simply for not being a Caucasian male trying to break into sports journalism?

 

there is a way to get comraderie with athletes. small talk. treat them like a person and not just a quote or two. Talk about whatever, and they will begin to open up more. it's not that difficult.