We cannot afford to see more Black journalist
cut out of the mainstream media.
We need to thank Roland Martin for tirelessly
fighting for us and call on multi-media
companies to pick up his important show.
Dear friend.
This morning, Roland Martin, host of “News One Now” confirmed that his show has been canceled due to budget cuts.1 Roland Martin and NewsOne Now have been an incredible voice for our communities - losing his show hurts.
Roland Martin has been one of the most important Black voices in media and the cancellation of his show raises red flags about our country’s increasingly less diverse media landscape. The serious consequences of losing voices like his from our airwaves cannot be overstated. Roland Martin used his show to challenge stereotypical frames about Black and poor people and discuss issues that are too often overlooked or ignored by mainstream media outlets.
Roland has gone to bat for Black and poor people more times than we can count. It’s time for us to go to bat for him.
As media consolidation continues to drive out Black journalists, we are facing a media landscape that increasingly does not represent Black voices. On a daily basis we have to fight mainstream media stereotypes and perceptions that feed the implicit and explicit biases that impact how people treat us in school, in courtrooms, and even in doctors’ offices.2 In the last year alone, we’ve seen major media conglomerates take aim at Black journalists - mistreating and forcing journalists like Tamron Hall and and Melissa Harris-Perry off the air.3 4
Media consolidations has put the news in the hands of a few rich - mostly white and male - stakeholders, making their interests and perspectives the ones most represented in the media. This leads to increased stereotypical portrayals of our communities. A 2015 report conducted by Color Of Change of New York City news affiliates showed they were covering murder, theft, and assault cases in which Black people were suspects at a significantly disproportionate rate.5 Similarly, a 2014 study found that “stories about Latinos constitute less than 1 percent of news media coverage, and the majority of these stories feature Latinos as lawbreakers.”6
If we want to reverse this trend, and make sure our voices are heard and accurately reported in the media, we need to show multi-media investors just how badly we want people like Roland Martin to stay on the air and maintain control over the content they share.
We are here standing with you, Roland.
Until justice is real,
Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Corina, Chad, Saréya, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References :
1. "‘‘It’s True’: Roland Martin Confirms ‘NewsOne Now’ Is Canceled," Atlanta Black Star, 07 December 2017.
atlantablackstar.com/2017/12/07/true-roland-martin-confirms-newsone-now-canceled/
2. "Tamron Hall's exit from NBC 'Today' seen as 'whitewashing,' black journalists group says," LA Times, 02 February 2016.
3. "MSNBC severs ties with Melissa Harris-Perry after host’s critical email," Washington Post, 28 February 2016.
4. "Journalism That Prevents Black Bodies from Falling," Free Press and Color Of Change, 03 August 2016.
5. "The ColorOfChange News Accuracy Report Card - Not To Be Trusted; Dangerous Levels of Inaccuracy in TV Crime Reporting in NYC," Color Of Change, March 2015.
6. "Columbia University’s Latino Media Gap Study on U.S. Latinos in Media ," Latin Heat, 02 July 2014.
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.
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