Friend,

We’re in the midst of heavy, painful harm. The pain is layered on with every murder at the hands of police and white supremacists. Violence against Black people is systemic: It’s ingrained in every aspect of society — and therefore, anti-Blackness must be consciously undone everywhere.

The cops killed Ma’Khia Bryant, Andrew Brown, Daunte Wright and George Floyd, but anti-Black media helped create the conditions for these murders. And this is nothing new. Newsrooms must pledge to dismantle anti-Black racism in the media and care for Black communities and journalists.

TAKE ACTION

Anti-Black racism has been part of our media system’s DNA since colonial times. Media organizations were complicit in the slave trade and profited off of chattel slavery; racist journalism has led to countless lynchings; Southern broadcast stations aired vociferous opposition to integration; and, in the 21st century, many media organizations continue to prop up police and spread harmful narratives about Black people who have been murdered by cops.

We need newsrooms to care for Black communities, to avoid parroting police narratives about Black people and to actively trust and support Black journalists. Sign our petition calling on local, regional and national newspapers to pledge to dismantle anti-Black racism in the media and care for Black communities and journalists.

Some newsrooms are already committed to dismantling anti-Blackness and caring for Black journalists, but many are not. We need media to do this for the future of our communities and the future of journalism alike. Signing the pledge is a step toward co-creating that future. Share the pledge with local, regional and national newsrooms today.

In solidarity,

Alicia and the rest of the Media 2070 team
media2070.org

P.S. As we mourn Ma’Khia Bryant, George Floyd and so many others, we recognize that anti-Black media help create the conditions for these murders. Join us in taking action: Tell local, regional and national newspapers to sign our pledge to dismantle anti-Black racism in the media and care for Black communities and journalists.