By Texas Metro News Team
San Juan, PR – It was a moment in history that ironically happened on the second day of Black History Month.
Two leaders of organizations gathered to discuss how their missions were similar and they needed to work together to better serve Black communities, journalists and the industry.
The discussion laid the groundwork for future moments as Black Journalists and Black Publishers under the leadership of Presidents Dorothy Tucker of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and Dr. Ben Chavis of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) made a commitment to work together.
During a fireside chat at the NNPA’s mid-winter conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the two leaders, joined by NNPA Chair Karen Carter Richards, discussed a decades old issue where publishers felt that Black journalists working for the so-called mainstream media, or white press, acted as though they were better than those in the “Negro Press.”
Tucker read from a letter from NNPA addressed to founding NABJ president Chuck Stone in 1977, outlining perceived slights by the newly-established NABJ.
Members of NNPA said they felt snubbed by Black journalists who received their jobs in the “mainstream” through the efforts of Black publishers and activists who advocated on their behalf only for them to get jobs and look down on them.
Now 46 years later, the two organizations’ leadership says the time is now to heal, to focus on their missions and discuss the importance of and value that each brings to the industry and their communities.
“Our voices have to be unified” said Chavis, who was a political prisoner when the letter was written. “We’re bringing justice, equality and equity.”
Noting that it has been years since the two officially attended one another’s convention, Chavis committed to being in Birmingham for NABJ’s Convention in August and NABJ will be represented at NNPA’s convention in June.
The two presidents also discussed collaborating on programming at respective conventions and regional conferences.
Tucker suggested holding joint webinars to discuss issues and share information.
NABJ has a Black Press Task Force and Tucker said members would be getting involved to identify not only digital journalists but also opportunities within the Black Press for students and early career journalists.
She also pointed out that NABJ focuses on preparing journalists to become entrepreneurs and publishers and since NNPA publishers are employers, they could provide much-needed instruction and guidance.
“That’s what you offer that we truly need,” she said. “It’s important for us because we know in today’s age we have members who want to be entrepreneurs, members who want to have their own businesses. They need to know how to increase their advertising and manage a business.”
She continued, “You know, we have a Leadership Academy that I would love to have publishers come and speak to our membership because you have the kind of skills they need.”
Noting that the collaboration called for more than just one meeting, both Tucker and Chavis answered questions from NNPA members and discussed everything from advocacy versus activism and putting an end to a toxic environment that was keeping both organizations from growing together and taking advantage of one another’s resources so that both could be stronger.
“NNPA and the NABJ, we’re going to work together,” said Chavis, to applause. “There is no dissension between the NABJ and NNPA!”
