Why Are Black Journalists Under Attack?

In this Trump administration Black journalists have been a target. For professor Ava Thompson Greenwell, she says this has happened before.

“Yes, there are other people who are targeted also, but I think the most prominent ones that we've seen in the last decade have been black,” said Greenwell. “So you have to ask yourself, why is that?”

Two independent journalists, Georgia Fort and Don Lemon, were indicted on charges of interfering with religious services at the Cities Church in St. Paul, where a pastor was a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. They have since been released and pleaded not guilty to charges.

“That was a very, very chilling effect, I think, on all journalists, but particularly black

journalists.” Greenwell said.

Greenwell, a current Northwestern professor, wrote a book that compares the struggles Black women in the media have endured in their professional and personal lives, compared to their white counterparts. Greenwell said the attacks on Black journalists are nothing new.

In President Donald Trump’s first administration, he made remarks about journalist April Ryan saying “she doesn’t know what the hell she is doing”, and CNN’s Abby Phillips saying she asks “a lot of stupid questions.” He often undermined Black female journalists.

“I mean, to say something like that to a journalist (April Ryan) who's been in the business for many years, to me, is just unconscionable,” Greenwell said.

Robert Brown, director of learning and organizational strategy at Medill, said Fort and Lemon were targeted because they are independent journalists. Because larger news organizations have legal teams to pay legal fees and handle cases, independents are more vulnerable.

“It’s sending a message to other journalists who might not have the career, the name recognition, or maybe seeking to carve their own path in independent media, and say, you might want to think twice before doing that,” Brown said.

Lizzy Nyoike, a junior at the University of Minnesota studying journalism, is a writer for Power 104.7 FM, a radio show division of The Center For Broadcast Journalism. The program was co-founded by Fort to produce stories that accurately represent Black and Brown communities.

Nyoike said this attack feels very targeted. During a time where division amongst people of different races and cultures is prominent, Nyoike said she thinks this is a ploy to grow it. With Black journalists being the pawn.

“It comes off as an opportunity to take advantage of people of color, and that so happens to be journalists,” Nyoike said. “Georgia Fort is a fighter. She really believes in the freedom of the black press and black media.”

The vice president of programming and editorial at The Center For Broadcast Journalism, Harry Colbert, said if the arrests of journalists continue, it is the end of the press and democracy.

“At the end of the day, we're the test case,” Colbert said. “So if it is allowed to happen with a Georgia Fort or Don Lemon, then it will be allowed to happen with any and everyone.”

Duchesne Drew, president of Minnesota Public Radio, said non-black journalists can support black journalists by amplifying their stories. During this time, making sure to support and promote the work of Black journalists is crucial, he said.

“I think there's a lot of value in amplifying the work of people doing good work that more people should see,” Drew said. “Another dimension of it is making sure that good work is just reaching more people.”

Minnesotan publications and organizations showed their support by writing letters condemning the arrests of Fort and Lemon in January. Statements from Minnesota Star Tribune, National Association of Black Journalists Minnesota and MPR demanded their release and dismissal of charges.

Drew said the work of a journalist is not easy, it’s incredibly difficult. But they are vital to communities.

“What we do, it's hard and not everyone who benefits from it necessarily appreciates it, but it's really important that we do it,” Drew said. “And that we continue even under threat at times of being shamed or targeted or arrested and charged, even if the charges are bogus.”