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Demand Racial Justice in Coverage of Katrina

Posted on September 08, 2005

In the aftermath of Katrina, the Gulf Coast and the nation have witnessed devastation of staggering proportions. The patterns of racism and poverty are undeniable, yet the mainstream media have only reluctantly asked whether race or class played a role.

In the entire week following Katrina, only 22 out of 1,300 stories on CNN, MSNBC and Fox focused on race or class (source: ThinkProgress). We must immediately begin shifting the public’s view that this is purely a natural disaster.

BEGIN CONTACTING THE MEDIA IMMEDIATELY. Let them know you are interested in stories that unmask the structural racism that’s killing the people of New Orleans, Louisiana and Mississippi. Demand coverage that elevates the voices and leadership of grassroots groups in the region. Demand coverage that holds public officials accountable for the total recovery of the area and reparations to its displaced residents. DEMAND THAT THE MEDIA BEGIN TELLING THE UNTOLD STORIES.

TAKE ACTION: Contact CNN National Office, your nearest CNN bureau and MSNBC.

Sample email or phone script:

September 8th, 2005

Dear ______________:

I am writing to encourage CNN/MSNBC to cover the racial disparities, racist violence, and racist policy decisions being made in the aftermath of Katrina. Although a few outlets have begun to cover these critical race and class issues, the rescue and relief efforts continue to be hindered by the lack of coverage of racism in affected areas. According to a study conducted by ThinkProgress, of 1,300 Fox, MSNBC, and CNN segments on the disaster in its first 4 days, none had a primary focus on race or class, and only 1.6% (22 stories out of 1,300) had any focus on race or class at all in the entire week after Katrina’s devastation. Thousands of lives are still at stake. If the coverage of this natural disaster continues to inaccurately reflect the conditions and treatment of the victims, and ignore the patterns of racism that caused and compounded this tragedy, more lives will be lost.

Now is the time to stop taking the low road of blaming the victims in coverage and start covering the patterns of racism and neglect that caused and compounded this tragedy. As a long-time viewer, I respectfully demand that CNN cover these life and death issues.

Katrina was a natural disaster, by exposing the racism and those responsible for it, we can put an end to the man-made one.

Thank you,

_____________Your name here

Contact List

CNN National (Atlanta, GA)
Jim Walton - President of CNN News Group
E-mail: jim.walton@turner.com
Phone: (404) 827-1500

Rolando Santos - Executive Vice President; General Manager - CNN Headline News
E-mail: dave.willis@turner.com
Phone: (404) 827-4872

Rick Davis - Executive VP - CNN News – Standards and Practices
E-mail: rick.davis@turner.com
Phone: (404) 827-1500

cc: info@youthmediacouncil.org

CNN Local Bureaus
Chicago, IL
Jeff Flock - Chicago Bureau Chief & Correspondent
E-mail: jeff.flock@turner.com
Phone: (312) 645-8555

Dallas, TX
Beth Nappe - Dallas Bureau Chief
E-mail: cnnfutures@cnn.com
Phone: (404) 827-1500

Miami, FL
John Zarrella - Miami Bureau Chief
E-mail: john.zarrella@turner.com
Phone: (404) 827-1500

New York, NY
Karen Curry
E-mail: karen.curry@turner.com
Phone: (212) 714-7800

Washington, DC
David Bohrman — Washington Bureau Chief; VP News & Production
Phone: (202) 898-7900

MSNBC (let them you noticed their efforts to cover the racism and you want to see more in-depth stories)
David Verdi – Executive News Director
E-mail: david.verdi@nbc.com
Keith Olbermann - Host
E-mail: countdown@msnbc.com
cc: viewerservices@msnbc.com
Phone: (201) 583-5000

cc: info@youthmediacouncil.org

Related Films: The News Is What We Make It