Dear Guild Member, Today several of our members, with the support of National Association of Black Journalists, met with top executives of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. Attached is a summary of their talking points, passed on with their permission: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER DIVERSITY OBSERVATIONS January 16, 2007 African American (11.3 percent), Asian American (4.7 percent) and Hispanic American (2.1 percent) journalists are the minorities represented on The Inquirer?s newsroom staff, according to the latest survey of the American Society of Newspaper editors. African American (16) and Asian American (5) journalists represent a disproportionate share (28 percent) of the […]
‘Thank You From The Bottom Of Another Man’s Sack’
Sacha Baron Cohen accepts Best Actor In A Comedy Award at the Golden Globes.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: 9/11 Mysteries
The day after 9/11 we went to the Khyber where an acquaintance assured us over beers that it was an ‘inside job.’ We told him that we were no stranger to conspiracy theories — that the official explanations of assassinations of JFK, MLK and RFK are riddled with black holes of impossibility and trapdoors of doubt that lead to the sub-basements of the Dark Side of the American psyche — but to say that our own government had a hand in the wholesale slaughter of thousands of its own citizens is cheap insult to the dead. Now, we’re not so […]
The Rev. Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr. 1929-1968
“I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the Promised Land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I do not fear any man. Mine eyes have […]
BOONDOCKS: MLK Goes Cosby On Congregation
WARNING: Offensive language used liberally in the pursuit of social satire.
SMELLS LIKE JOURNALISM: Inky Editorial Board Descends From Ivory Tower To Hear Vox Populi
Talking to Philadelphians about their city is like talking to a woman about the guy she’s been married to for 30 years. She has his quirks and habits down cold. If you ask nicely, she’ll recite them all for you, in rueful, sarcastic detail. But don’t you go criticizing him, or she’ll knock your block off as soon as she looks at you. She’ll never pretend he looks like Pierce Brosnan or George Clooney, but then again, she never cared that much about that kind of thing. Anyway, for a guy his age, who’s been through what he’s been through, […]
HOT DOCUMENT: Stephen A. Smith Speaks Out ‘Quite Frankly’ On ESPN2 Cancellation, Buzz Dissinger, And Will He Or Won’t He Take One For The Team
From: stephenaREDACTED Subject: Re: Request For Comment Date: January 12, 2007 4:55:17 PM EST To: PHAWKER Yes, it’s true, and I support ESPN’s decision. Doing a brand new show on ESPN2 was a tremendous challenge to begin with. I did my best, helped along by a tremendous staff, and I’m proud of what we accomplished. I’ve learned a great deal. I’ve also learned there’s limits to what I can withstand in regards to my schedule. Now I move on to future challenges — while enthusiastically embracing old ones like writing for the Inquirer on a more frequent basis I’m still […]
SALTY DAWG: Captain Noah At Full Mast! Aye Aye!
Did anyone else hear Captain Noah — yes, that Captain Noah — on with Preston and Steve* this morning? Dearoldcaptainnoah Well, you missed a classic. Consider this an all-points bulletin for a recording of the interview — if you’re a Philly-area kid who grew up sending your pictures to Dear Old Captain Noah (send them right away, do not delay!) — you need to get with this, though it may scar you for life. Remember how, on the Magical Ark, the Captain would finish making a craft and then the garbage-eating hand puppet would come up and take away all […]
RADIO SILENCE: Megaphone Of The ‘Hood Muzzled
DAN GROSS REPORTS: THE “VOICE of the African-American Community” was silenced yesterday when all employees of WHAT (1340-AM) were fired from the talk-radio station. Inner City Broadcasting did the firing. The company had sold the longtime staple of black issues in Philadelphia to Havertown’s Marconi Broadcasting Co. for $5 million in November, as the People Paper’s Jonathan Takiff reported at the time of the sale. Marconi has not disclosed its programming plans for the station, which has been the home for decades to popular morning personality Mary Mason, who could not be reached for comment. Mason was on air yesterday […]
NPR FOR THE DEAF: We Hear It Even When You Can’t
ON FRESH AIR Actor Alec Baldwin has been nominated for a Golden Globe award for his role in the TV sitcom 30 Rock. He recently appeared in the films The Good Shepard, Running with Scissors, The Departed and The Aviator. Actress Helen Mirren has been nominated for three Golden Globes this year. For her roles in the TV mini-series Prime Suspect and Elizabeth I, and for her work in the film The Queen. ON THE WORLD CAFE This Friday listen to Kiefer Sutherland’s Top 5 on World Cafe! The season premiere of 24 airs Sunday, 1/14. Listen to Kiefer discuss […]
Cover Wars: Whose Artfag Kung-Fu Is Stronger?
Whenever we would see sisters around town rockin’ a black burqa in the August swelter, we would wonder aloud: Why would a modern Western black woman become a Muslim? It just seemed to us like trading one form of slavery for another, especially for women. And then we heard an NPR interview with a Muslim sister that asked this very question and her answer, transcribed from memory, had a sad but compelling logic: In a world where I walk around unveiled and get called ‘bitch’ & ‘ho’ routinely, Islam offers less freedom but more respect. Word, that. However, it depresses […]
HOLLA: THE WIRE, It’s Better Than Television
BY JAMES DOOLITTLE For all you bitchasses who still refuse to believe that the greatest thing since the marriage of McNugget and Honey Mustard Sauce is actually found on television, excuse time is OVER! No longer can you complain about not having HBO, or having to shell out mad money for a slew of Blockbuster rentals. Starting tonight, the first season of “The Wire” begins airing on BET, and as I said — NO EXCUSES! Even if you don’t have basic cable, you at least know someone who’s stealing it. Mind you, this isn’t a bandwagon you can jump on […]
NPR FOR THE DEAF: We Hear It Even When You Can’t
FRESH AIR Clint Eastwood has examined the Battle of Iwo Jima in two recent films. His latest movie, Letters from Iwo Jima, explores the perspective of the Japanese soldiers who fought it. RADIO TIMES HOUR 1 Last month, JONATHAN NEWMAN resigned as chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Marty talks with him about his work and experiences in Harrisburg overseeing the $1.7 billion state store system. HOUR 2 Should NJ abolish its death penalty? A recent report by the New Jersey Death Penalty Commission recommends that lawmakers vote to end capitol punishment. NJ re-instated the death penalty in 1982, […]