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Sponsored by THE BOSTON COMMUNITY MEDIA COMMITTEE

JUNE 28-29-30, 1968 DUBLIN SCHOOL DUBLIN, ..,NEW HAMPSHIRE HISTORY OF BOSTON COMMUNITY - MEDIA COMMITTEE

June 1966 - October 1968

The historic relationship between the black community in Boston and the mass media of Boston was poor.

Roxbury certainly felt it was getting short shrift from the media of Boston.

For several years concerned people bad been trying-to find ways to create better understanding. A few worried leaders from both groups began meeting to try to thrash out some solutions.

Then racial tensions grew. It became imperative to let the media know of the black community's concern with the climate in the area, and to try to open up some lines of communication in an attempt to prevent this climate of anger from developing into violence.

But the media suddenly realized it had no channels of communication. It couldn't find out what was really happening in the black community.

Out of this realization, the beginnings of what was to become the Boston Community-Media Conferences began to take shape.

IT BEGAN AT SLADE'S RESTAURANT The initial group effort in Boston to improve relations between the press and the black community began at a 9 A.M. coffee conference at Slade's Restaurant on June 6th, 1966. This meeting, and the long range effort behind it - was the brain child of Ruth Batson of Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunities, Thomas Atkins, Ex-Secretary Boston Branch N.A.A.C.P., Dexter Eure of the Boston Globe, and Bill Russell of the Celtics.

It was an impressive meeting on several counts. It marked the first time that the black community addressed the Boston media as a body. The note of urgency sounded by Bill Russell -- "Boston could blow up this summer. There is a desperate feeling of hopelessness there." --was a memorable event to all participants.

The size of the turnout in response to Bill Russell's telegram announcing the meeting was impressive, too. Publishers and editors and managing editors from all the Boston newspapers were there. So were station managers and news directors of all the local TV and radio stations. About 40, in all, attended from the media; about 20 were there from the black community.

The primary appeal to the press was: more depth reporting on civil rights and civil disorder stories and accurate, non-explosive headlines.

Tom Atkins came to the meeting armed with a notebook of newspaper clippings of recent months, which he submitted as samples of insensitive and inaccurate accounts of news from the community. -2-

Th7 Roxbury group issued a statement at Slade's Restaurant. It urged: l) Ass~gnment of a reporter to Roxbury by each newspaper, TV and radio station. 2) Employment of more Negroes by the media, and job training for them.

3) More "positive" news, not just "civil rights activity" .from Roxbury.

4) Giving the poor of East and South Boston and other neighborhoods the same attention as the poor of Roxbury.

5) Formulation of a permanent media committee to deal with community-wide problems, both in times of peace and in moments of strain.

The meeti~ br~ke up with the naming of temporary chairmen: .for the media, they were Tom W~nsh~p, editor of the Globe and Harold E. Clancy, publisher of the Herald-Traveler; .for the Community, it was Ruth Batson of METCO.

Both sides were in agreement that a permanent joint committee should be formed and that each side would meet separately to decide the next move·. The venture had been launched.

GETTING ORGANIZED:

The next significant meeting took place July 6, 1966 in the home of Mrs. B.atson in Roxbury.

The purpose was to work out operating procedures. Mrs. Batson and Mel King, of South End Settlement House, both reported on a post-Slade's meeting of the Negro leaders. They made these points:

1. More education on both sides was desperately needed.

2. There still was a great sense of urgency due to tensions in Roxbury and residents' concern over a communications gap in Boston.

They suggested periodic seminars and workshops at the various newspapers and TV and radio stations to .familiarize the Roxbury leaders with the intricacies of the newspaper and radio and TV businesses. They also suggested that they conduct workshops, tours and seminars .for the media in Roxbury, to .further the media 1 s knowledge and understanding of the Roxbury problems.

Hal Clancy and Tom Winship reported on the communications industry's post­ Slade's session. They emphasized that they were all concerned lest the media committee become a conduit for forwarding complaints against individual news­ papers or stations. They agreed to hear any complaints people wanted to make, but said these would be handled on an individual basis with the directly affected parties. They made it clear that the committee should not develop into simply a censorship board or complaint committee. All hands agreed to this. During the summer several workshops and informal sessions were held. One was a meeting between the radio talk-show people -- a source of steady complaints from Roxbury -- and black leaders. Another meeting was held at the Herald­ Traveler building, where editors spelled out to community_p7ople the details, problems and pitfalls of daily newspaper reporting and ed~t~ng. -3-

Some of the specific accomplishments of the media committee during the years 1966 and 1967 were: 1) During a 1966 summer week-end that threatened violence, the TV stations quickly agreed to keep camera cars and crews out of troubled areas unless actual atrocities took place. This policy has been continued.

2) The press worked out a sticky problem on opening day coverage of the METCO busing program to the suburbs.

3) The media prepared up-to-date lists of editors and executives, and a manual on "How to Get Publicity" for distribution to the Roxbury leaders. 4) A current list of Roxbury leaders, spokesmen and organizations was prepared. for distribution to the media.

5) A significant meeting took place on June 8, 1967. It was a most useful three-hour post mortem at the Globe after the June 1 Roxbury rioting. Representatives from all media were bombarded with criticisms from Roxbury representatives for their news coverage and vice versa. Everyone learned something.

It had never been expected that the informal meetings during this period would result in any substantive agreements among the parties involved, but it was hoped that they would initiate a dialogue through which the media and the Negro community might better understand each other's problems and aims. It is the feeling of all involved that this was accomplished. There were no new jobs for blacks to speak of, but there was an increase in favorable publicity for the Community's efforts. There were few TV programs about black problems, there was little increase in in-depth reporting. Some friendships had been made, a little ac·tion taken, but not very much yet.

A small meeting of the media committee at Freedom House in May, 1968, pro­ duced the suggestion that there ought to be a week-end "think-in" and "talk-in." Everyone agreed it was time to get serious about gaining results and obtaining them quickly.

THE DUBLIN CONFERENCE The Dublin School in Dublin, New Hampshire, was picked as the site for the first Boston Community-Media Conference. About 120 representatives from both press and the community attended on June 28-30th, 1968.

Up to this point, only a few leaders from each group had been talking together, and trying to thrash out mutual problems. Now the action would be moved from the top level to the working level of media people. A whole new group would be introduced to the nature of the problem they faced. This was an important advance.

The atmosphere of the Dublin week-end was special right from the start. Partly this was due to the lovely country setting. Partly to the informality of the occasion. Partly to the wonderful food. But mostly it was due to the determined spirit of the people present. Altogether, the feeling was so re­ markable that members of the conference have mentioned it again and again. -4-

The idea of having the conference outside the city was a good one, for it removed people from their normal daily responsibilities, and put them all on an equal footing. Dublin School was a·perfect choice. It sits on top of a hill, looking out over the New Hampshire mountains in their fresh, spring green - a reminder of what a beautiful place the world is meant to be.

Mr. Lehmann, headmaster of the school, and his wife, worked endlessly,to make everyone feel welcome. They provided every comfort, from attractive rooms to excellent working spaces.

The food was phenomenal. The regular kitchen staff had returned to the school and turned out a series of meals that left the delegates gasping.

All in all it was an ideal setup. Some who may have approached the week­ end with misgivings found everything moving smoothly. Here in Dublin, all mingled on neutral ground, and awkwardness couldn't develop. As much may have been accomplished in the dining hall as in the meetings.

The conference began on Friday afternoon, June 28th. Cocktails were served in the school Auditorium while members arrived and registered. After supper, the first formal meeting convened.

Melvin Miller, publisher of The Bay State Banner, was the chairman and launched the conference. His skill in running the meetings, in fact his organ­ ization of the whole conference showed remarkable ability and contributed enormously to its success.

Co-Chairman of the conference was Lamont Thompson, Area Vice President for westinghouse Broadcasting Company. Thompson, one of the stalwarts of the media committee from its founding, did most of the advance planning for Dublin.

The keynote speaker was Harold Keith, president of the Capital Press Club, (washington, D.C.) who gave an historical account of how the media, in his view, has distorted the news of the black community.

Then a tape recording prepared by N.E.G.R.O., (New England Grass Roots Organization) was played. This tape had been made in Roxbury and consisted of sidewalk interviews of residents about their opinion of the news media. Both the tape and the keynote address gave the media people much to mull over in preparation for the next day's work.

Early Saturday morning (7 A.M.) the convention was divided into 8 workshops of a dozen or so members, from both the media and the community. Each workshop had a trained moderator, and met three times that day, morning, afternoon and evening.

Most of the workshops started out with cool, rather detached conversation. Soon they became intimate and intense, as members waded into the problems of race prejudice. Some white media people claimed at the start that they had no racial bias, and reported all news just as it happened. Blacks cited instances of obvious racial abuses. Debates were hot, and many members finally admitted that they discovered flaws in their attitudes which they never had guessed were there.

The enthusiasm for the workshops was extraordinary. Some people got up at 7 A.M. just to get an early start. The schools' tennis court, squash courts and -5-

private beach had been made available to member~ of the conference, but hardly anyone took advantage of the offer - they were too busy talking in their work­ shops.

At 5 P.M. a black caucus was held for about an hour, as groups felt they needed a chance to evaluate what had happened so far in the workshops.

The groups broke up for supper, but soon afterward were hard at it again, and some continued until after midnight. Each group had a recording secretary, and these people then stayed up half the nigbt writing up reports of what their workshop had done.

Donald Doolittle, conference coordinator, and his staff worked the rest of the night to get these reports in shape for presentation to the whole confer­ ence on Sunday.

The reports from each workshop may be found in the appendix. The recom­ mendations show a great deal of similarity. Their importance is not in their originality, but that they are the suggestions made by a group of people, many of whom were being plunged into the media's racial problems for the first time.

The main recommendations were as follows:

EMPLOYMENT:

The newspapers and radio and TV stations should aggressively recruit black employees in all job categories.

The media should develop training programs that will assis~ black employees once they are hired. The media should make contacts with higb school and youth groups in the black community aimed at encouraging young black persons to seek careers in communica- tions.

ATTITUDE IMPROVEMENT: Radio, TV and the newspapers should report more stories that emphasize posi­ tive aspects of the black community. The media should institute various internal practices that are designed to increase the sensitivity of white personnel to the problems and goals of the black community.

COMMUNITY-MEDIA RElATIONS: The media should develop a publication describing the most effective pro­ cedures that should be taken by black organizations seeking to present information.

The black community should prepare a directory of organizations for use by the media. -6-

The media and black community should consider establishment of some kind of news center in Roxbury.

The final, plenary session was held at 9 A.M. Sunday. Each workshop had elected a spokesman (and it turned out that each one was black) who read its recommendations to the whole group.

After endorsing these reports, the conference voted unanimously to have a follow-up meeting in one month in Boston to hear what action had been taken on these Dublin recommendations. Chairman Mel Miller was delegated to call this meeting.

This was the end of the formal conference. No earthshaking new solutions had been found, but what had been developed was a real and a healthy determina­ tion to implement the suggestions that had been made. The spirit of determina­ tion could be seen in that fact that hardly anyone, less than 5i, left Dublin before the meetings were over, and these only because they had to.

Members went home exhausted. Almost everyone confessed afterwards that the nearly 48 hours of uninterrupted work, and the intensity with which they had thrown themselves into it, left them tired out. There was a satisfying feeling of accomplishment - a beginning, at least, to counteract this. Most members also went home feeling the conference had been a success.

TEE CONFERENCE AT JOHN HANCOCK BUILDING, AUGUST 1, 1968

The follow-up meeting was held in the Dorothy ~ncy Room of the John Hancock Building exactly 30 days after the Dublin conference. Members were greeted in the lobby by a number of bulletin boards displaying newspaper clippings which concerned black problems or events - tangible evidence of the media's efforts to act on the Dublin suggestions. Each branch of the media listed other evidence of progress as the meeting went on.

TV reported a general increase in the hiring of black personnel. For in­ stance, Channel 4 now has 15 black people (10 full time, 5 temporary) as opposed to 4 in 1967. Channel 5 employs three blacks. Channel 56 has 6 full time, which is 8i of their staff. Channel 7 has 10 full time, 1 coming next week, and 2 summer trainees.

These people work in news, photography, camera techniques, engineering, mail rooms and so forth.

TV has included black people in several training programs, such as Channel 7's summer internships and their simulated work programs. Channel 5 participates in the National Alliance of Businessmen's Jobs and Training Program.

More black people have been assigned to cover the black community.

TV wants to recruit more black personnel. It was suggested that anyone with job openings call WILD, as most black applicants call there first.

TV emphasized the increase in black programs. Among these are Channel 4' s Model Cities series which is devoted to Roxbury, and a new (NBC) Negro Chronicle series starring Diahann Carroll; Channel 7's Journey Out Of Africa; and Play- -7- house Workshop, which has been broadened to include black playwrights and actors; Channel 2's Say Brother; Channel 5's three half-hour documentaries on the black community.

TV listed many instances of a more positive approach in their coverage of news involving blacks.

Efforts to sensitize their staff are underway.

Representatives of the community criticized the TV·media in two areas. They questioned the union's participation in attempts to hire black people in "line" jobs, and also accused of TV's overemphasis on Negro history at the ex­ pense of more documentary coverage.

Radio reported that 8 stations now have 21 black employees compared to a total of five a year ago. These people consist of 2 "personalities," a disc jockey and a talk show moderator; two full-time black newsmen; two engineers; two in production; one student news editor; three secretaries; a record libra­ rian; one in the business department; two janitors; one telephone operator; one working in film and tape editing. One of the newsmen is assigned full-time to the black community.

All stations seek to hire additional black personnel.

A considerable increase in programs directed to the black community, or about civil rights was reported.

One station, for example, has a monthly two-hour series on problems Boston faces about civil rights. Another station invites blacks as guests on their nightly talk show, and airs black community problems. A popular morning news report has beefed up its coverag~ of black community. WBUR-FM is receiving national attention for its 90-minute all-black program called DRUM.

News coverage and public service announcements from the black community have noticeably increased.

Several stations have had follow-up meetings with their Dublin groups, or with other black groups such as NEGRO, to implement the Dublin recommendations.

Two stations have pledged aid and equipment to Roxbury studios and other stations are considering this.

Black members had 2 suggestions for the radio media:

Re-examine the old excuse that certain formats cannot be made to deal with black programming - a format can be sensitive to black people even if it is not designed specifically for a black audience.

Develop a long range perspective with the aim to creating a positive attitude towards the black community by whites, and vice versa.

The press reported that there are now 110 black employees in 4 papers, working as columnists, reporters, type setters, photographers, artists, copy editors and trainees. -8-

The increase in black reporters is noticeable, and more of them are being assigned to cover the black community.

Newspapers have developed contacts in the black community.

They are beginning to accept only equal opportunity ads.

They will carry out the recommendation that communications be included in the Boston Public School curriculum.

Sensitivity training programs are underway.

The press has put out a pamphlet giving specific information about how to get news into the media. Copies of this were handed out after the meeting.

After the media made their reports, the black representatives had several criticisms for the media as a whole; including the following:

More structure is needed in the effort to sensitize the media.

A priority list of improvements would help organize the effort.

News should cover all black people - not just superblacks.

There are still instances of insensitivity in headlines and in editorial policies.

The role of the black Church in Negro history has been slighted.

Black talent should be able to compete equally with white, not just be assigned black roles.

In general, the feeling was that a positive start has been made. The media has learned a lot. It still has much to learn. It has productive plans for future action.

The meeting then passed two resolutions:

(1) Three permanent committees will be established; one for press, one for TV and one for radio. Each will have five members picked by the black community and five by the media. They will meet every two months, and they will report to the conference quarterly.

(2) A subcommittee will be formed to investigate how advertising can be improved, and to work out a program for doing this. This subcommittee will report to the conference for its approval of any procedure it plans to take.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEEriNG

A Lunch~on-Meeting of the Advisory Committee was held at Estelle's Restau­ rant, August 22, 1968. -9-

Present from the community were: Mrs. Ruth Batson, Chairman (Metco); Rev. James Breedin (Mass. Council of Churches); Hon. Thomas Atkins (Boston City Council), Miss Elma Lewis (Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts); Mrs. Francine Mills (Operation Exodus); Mr. Otto Snowden (Freedom House), and from the media: Mr. Thomas Winship (Boston Globe); Mr. Perry Ury (WNAC); Mr. Winthrop P. Baker (WBZ-TV); Mr. Dexter D. Eure (Boston Globe). Mrs. Batson opened the meeting by expressing the desires of the Advisory Committee to consider and evaluate the major suggestions and recommendations which were presented on the August first meeting. Initially, each person was asked to offer their ideas about the functioning of the three permanent commit­ tees (Radio-TV-Newspaper).

The major discussion quickly turned to bow a permanent organization should operate. The essence of the various suggestions pointed to the belief that the selection of an executive secretary, along with the guidance of a steering com­ mittee, would best serve the community's effort to bring about a more meaningful media relationship.

Mr. Thomas Atkins and Mrs. Ruth Batson asked Mr. Thomas Winship to inquire if Mr. Dexter Eure could assist the committee, on a 30-day part-time basis, to help draw up a workable budget and to submit names for an executive secretary. Mr. Winship, speaking for the Boston Globe, agreed to lend Mr. Eure's service (on a part-time basis) starting September 16, 1968 and ending October 15, 1968. The body voted unanimously for the selection of Mr. Eure to serve as its temporary executive director. He was instructed to return at the end of 30 days with a comprehensive proposal for the formation of a permanent Boston Community Media Committee, along with an operating budget for the first year. At the next meeting, an executive secretary is to be named by the permanent steering committee.

Names of candidates to serve on the three permanent committees (Radio, TV, and Newspaper) and Steering Committee were submitted for consideration: From the community ••.

Rev. James Breedin (Mass. Council of Churches) Mrs. Muriel Snowden (Freedom House) Mrs. Ruth Batson (METCO) Miss Elma Lewis (Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts) Mr. Guido St. Laurent (NEGRO) ,Mr. Melvin Miller (Bay State Banner) Mrs. Francine Mills (Operation Exodus) Hon. Thomas Atkins (Boston City Council) Mr. Melvin King (New Urban League of Boston) Mrs. Ellen Jackson (Operation Exodus) Mr. Lemuel Wells (Boston City Hospital) Mr. Bryant Rollins (New Urban League of Boston) Mr. Dexter D. Eure (Boston Globe) Mrs. Martha Hall (Citizens for Better Communications) Mr. Kenneth Guscott (NAACP) ·Mrs. Amanda Houston (ABCD) Mr. William Russell (Bill) (NAACP) Mr. Samuel Bell (Youth Alliance) -10-

From the media •••

Mr. Thomas Winship (Boston Globe) Mr. William Broderick (Boston· Herald-Traveler) Mr. Courtney Sheldon (Christian Science Monitor) Mr. Edward Holland (Record-American) Mr. Lamont Thompson (WBZ) Mr. Robert Caulfield (WIIDH) Mr. Hartford N. Gunn (WGBH-TV) Mr. James Bird (WILD) Mr. Perry Ury (WRKO) Mr. Arthur Smith (WEEI) Mr. W. P. Baker (WBZ-TV) Mr. George Cyr (WNAC) Mr. James T. Lynagh (WKBG-TV) Mr. Robert Allan (WRKO) Mr. Guy Manella (WBZ) Mr. Dan Griffin (WEEI ) Mr. Willet Duff (WBDH) Mr. Peter Taylor (WJIB-FM) Mr. John Crehan (WCOP) -11-

CONCLUSION Media conferences have been held in other cities, but they were sponsored by outside groups such as the Justice Department and schools of journalism. In Boston the media is sponsoring its own effort and picking up the tabs as well. This is no small item as the cost so far for securing staff, housing and feeding delegates and mailing announcements, etc. is over $10,000. People from the black community have made large sacrifices of time and energy to get to meetings and conferences, to find out what is being done, and to help the media with advice and suggestions.

This is the story of the Boston Community - Media Conference. It is the story of a two-year voluntary effort by a black community determined to get a better break and a Boston media determined to give them that better break. These are the results to date:

1. A growing friendship between the black community and the Boston media.

2. New awareness by the media and City Hall of the black community as an important news source. A vast increase - three hundred percent - of news about Negroes. 3. More accurate and intelligent handling of all black news, especially in times of tension. 4. A great increase in the employment of Negroes in the Greater Boston communications area. The number of Negro employees in TV, Press and Radio is currently around 200.

5. Boston's lively and imaginative black leadership has been encouraged by the publicity it is now able to get.

6. Finally, the improved dialogue in Boston has been a major factor in giving this city such a good record, comparatively, of civil peace in the nation. Boston did not blow up. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM WORKSHOP I - Milton Heller, Moderator

1. As a major emphasis to training we want and urge that the media institute training programs that will sensitize media to the personnel history, cul­ ture and needs of the black community. 2. We urge the media to develop much greater job opportunities for black people on all levels of employment, including the elimination of all exclusionary practices of craft and trade unions.

3. We urge the media to institute continuous in-service training programs in race relations using staff familiar with the issues and problems. 4. There is a need for more positive stories that will reflect the accomplish­ ments within the black community. we want and urge the representative of the media to immediately take action to effect a more positive and true image of black Americans.

5. We want and urge the media to take whatever steps are necessary to inform and motivate minority group· adolescents to seek employment in the media in­ dustry and wherever necessary we urge the media to provide financial assist­ ance including full scholarships. 6. We urge the media industry to explore with the management of the Bay State Banner ways in which the media can help the Banner function more effectively including subsidizing needed staff and services.

1· Media should review promotion possibilities for current minority personnel staff for upgrading.

8. Within a period of 30 days, each of the groups should come together at some place in Boston for a progress report. 9· Courses in intergroup relations for students of journalism, TV & radio.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM WORKSHOP II - John Harmon, Moderator 1. Recommendations regarding employment of black people in the media field: a. more blacks in policy-making, administrative and personnel positions, with the goal a percentage approximating the percentage of black people in the city.

b. scholarships for black people to get to schools of journalism, and special training for faculty to sensitize them to issues of the black community and urban areas.

c. fn order to get black people into technical positions, scholar­ ship money to be made available to high schoolers and adults to enable them to train for these positions.

d. that management and labor confront one another in the matter of apprenticeship training, in order to identify the impasse, re­ solve it, and recruit.

a e. in order to make blacks more visible in commercials and adver­ tisements, me~ia should insist that the advertising agencies use black talent.

2. Recommended that in reporting events in the black community and highlighting individuals within this news, the press refrain from using the judgmental, divisive and anxiety producing labels that distort the news.

3. In the question of manners - by which we mean the continuation of the master-slave mentality in the white media, it is recommended that there be:

a. a pamphlet for media people dealing with this matter in specifics.

b. a TV program(s) that do this for the general public.

c. sensitivity training, in-service, for media people.

4. Recommended that there be a handbook prepared for community people on how to prepare news releases, etc.; how to arrange news conferences, etc.

5. Recommended that the media do a better job of covering the various neighbor­ hoods of Boston. 6. Recommended that media people work harder on informal and personal ways to get to know more about what's happening in Roxbury.

7. Recommended that the printed media do more in the area of Negro history. 8. Recommended that media and community people get together after this confer­ ence to consider the recommendations made; and further, that there be progress-report feedback to all the participants, including the arrangement of a mechanism for regular and frequent meetings of media and community people (with the former group including highest level people).

9· Recommended that a workshop of community people and working reporters be arranged.

Issues to which no recommendations were attached:

1. The mythology of racial difference, status, and worth was an elusive and unresolved aspect of our group discussion. This set of attitudes about black people, called racism when operative, does by chance or design dis­ tort the news and act as subterfuge by delaying change or by blocking recognition for the necessity for change.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM WORKSHOP III - Frank Jones, Moderator

1. Black Community feels "Press" talks over the head of the ordinary black man.

Blows everything that happens in core city up out of proportion.

2. Press wonders how to get news firsthand in B. C.

PROPOSAL: Continuous coverage by a reporter who is familiar with the neighborhood; hence, a black employee.

b· 3. Issue: Who decides what is news?

PROPOSAL: Division of function between mass media and neighborhood or regional media: Let latter take care of news that gets lost because it is not "important enough" for mass media, but of consequence to neighborhoods.

4. Issue: There are so many individual groups in B.C. that media have no recognizable "leadership" to consult; ·question of who's who, and which calls for news coverage are legitimate.

PROPOSAL: 1. Groups send in fact sheets with the names of leaders and other data.

2. Get the media into the B.C. for firsthand knowledge of who these groups are and what they are doing.

3. Plan more news time for B.C. on all media, so that media will expect to supply regular coverage rather than merely at crisis points.

5. Issue·: B.C. is different from any other community in fact. PROPOSAL: B.C. groups should show initiative in finding out from this conference bow to go about getting coverage.

PROPOSAL: Educational process for sensitizing media personnel to these differences. 6. Issue: Police-community relations. PROPOSAL: Media publish what "is really happening" and get the ''bad guys" off the force.

PROPOSAL: Meaningful B.C. representation in Police Department, wi tb opportunities for promotion. (Minority: Whatever color, a cop· is a cop.

FRANK JONES: MODERATOR Group III ANDREA PERRY: RECORDER June 29, 1968 RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Put on staff a black liaison person from B.C., who can evaluate information in ligbt of his sympathies, attitudes, and responsibility to both B.C. and media.

2. Correct false advertising for employment in the media, which discourages B.C. job applicants: Report to Better Business Bureau.

3. News media support and subscribe to The Banner for local news orientation, and as an advertising medium for their own announcement of upcoming projects.

4. Work constantly on public attitudes: Help understand that people are human, whether black or white.

c 5- Inform B.C. groups of bow to get news coverage: Notify of deadlines to be met, etc., perbap.s through leaflets to be sent to each new organization in B.C., as well as old ones, and perhaps conduct seminars on press relations. 6. Restructure news pages and broadcast schedules to include more B.C. news. 7. Drum up financial support for information centers in B.C. to advise people on public relations (Whom to call on media, etc.) 8. To avoid goofs and reduce criticism from B.C., include black advisers on media boards which are supervising material directed to B.C., interpreting B. C., etc.

9- Provide scholarships for indigenous people, along with guidance, to interest high school boys in broadcast engineering as a career; and to finance their training, i.e., begin to recruit black engineers for broadcast media all the way from source in school to offering job opening. ($10 to $15M per annum in a very few years).

10. Organize continuing program of regularly scheduled press conferences in B.C. to become more aware of what is happening: Invitation meeting on regu­ lar monthly basis, sponsored by B.C. or by media in their own interest.

11. More human interest stories in the B.C.

12. Take steps to sensitize key people from the media in their relationship to B.C., in the hope that their attitudes will carry over to other personnel. 13. Media management should publicize issues important to B.C., and institute follow-up to report what results, if any, are obtained from influences who promise action; i.e., keep vigilance to ensure that commitment and promise are followed by results--or to publicize fact, if promises are not made good.

14. SUPERIMPORTANT: CIRCULATE STATEMENT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS CONFER­ ENCE TO DECISION-MAKERS OF ALL MEDIA REPRESENTED.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM WORKSHOP IV - Malcolm Peabody, Moderator

1. All media should provide sensitivity training for personnel who have contact with the black community.

2. The black community should organize to place an aggressive black man on the federal communications commission.

3. Newspapers should print human interest stories about black people.

4. Newspapers should hire qualified reporters and give special consideration to their stories so that they will not be chopped up by editors.

5. White employees of the newspapers should receive orientation so that they will not discriminate against black employees.

6. All the media should join together to encourage black hiSh school students to seek careers in communications. 7. Members of group four should receive news stories involving blacks from the media for the next thirty days and should meet for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness· of the conference.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM WORKSHOP V - Dan Richardson, Moderator

1. That a communication center be established by the community and the media to perform the following:

a. train community people in all phases of the media

b. provide a location for press conferences

c. provide a clearing bouse for community news and media contacts.

2. That an advisory committee be set up to meet once a month with other media people to discuss common problems and concerns:

a. attitudes

b. general errors and oversights

c. new approaches toward the improvement of relationships between media and the community.

3. Individual media carry public services, such ads to promote a climate of sincerity and real efforts on the part of the media to improve communication and provide realistic job opportunities.

4. That on the job training programs be established with guaranteed jobs and upgrading.

5. That a joint effort be made to set up an employment and training process through the public schools.

6. And that in-service training programs in public schools be established to tie in with the community communication center.

1· That a communication curricula in public schools be an on-going issue for all the media to propose and strongly advocate.

8. That the use of Boston University and other college facilities in the area of communication be explored for use in training and educating the community.

9. That advertising involving service organization and small businesses be inves­ tigated in regards to underwriting ad costs.

10. That a meeting of advertising people and sales people in the media be held to discuss the feasibility of the abov~ proposal.

11. That an action committee made up of both community and media people in policy making roles be established with time limits to act on recommendations made at this conference.

e a. we would suggest a thirty day time limit for the first action of this group. b. A suggested name for the group would be "The Action Committee for Inner City News Development" (A. C. I. N. D. )

12. A manual be produced to inform people how to make:

a. deadlines

b. hold press conferences c. news contacts both people and media outlets.

13. That WGBH facilities be used for training purposes. 14. Establishing new and more lasting relationships with the Banner in terms of news gathering, training, and revenue producing advertising.

Some of the following agencies are places that the industry might look for prospective employees:

a. The New Urban League

b. Jobs Clearing House c. Neighborhood Employment Centers (ABCD) d. N.E.G.R.O. New England Grass Roots Organization The final point that should be made in relationship to this conference ·and our efforts here is that more BLACK FACES BE IN THE MEDIA AT ALL LEVELS OF WORK - NOW! . RECOMMENDATIONS FROM WORKSHOP VI - Richard Arima, Moderator

1. In order to overcome the distrust that exists to some extent in the commu­ nity and the media, the news media should be committed to assigni~ at least on a temporary basis, black reporters and photographers, to be joined later by whites. 2. While some strides have been made, absolute commitment by all media to:

--actively and aggressively recruit

--train (since all people do not have degrees or experience)

--acquaint the com~ty of these opportunities to a larger degree

--prepare manuals which describe opportunities in news media.

3. Two..: pronged program must be irpmediately implemented both. by the media and the community to bring about workable communication system.

f a. News media must immediately prepare pamphlet describing most effective procedures of presenting information to the media (names, addresses, telephones, names of all proper persons).

b. Community should prepare directory of all organizations repre­ senting any segment of the black community (same as above).

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM WORKSHOP VII - Jack Marvin, Moderator

1. Contact New England Grass Roots Organization for information coordination on stories.

2. Where possible have local Black or other reporters with sensitivity whose beat is Roxbury, cover stories of the community. 3. Media should develop sensitivity training program for all personnel. (Jack Marvin-Assoc. for Human Resources) 4. In service job training coordinated by the Media and N.E.G.R.O. at all levels. 5. Media personnel to volunteer to train and instruct community residents in media careers.

6. We will expect to receive from N.E.G.R.O. and Operation Black, a list of offensive and unnecessary phrases, words, and actions to Blacks.

1· Media will investigate feasibility of two way radio hookup with N.E.G.R.O. (N.E.G.R.O. to draw up proposal)

8. Media will distribute to Blacks organization, a list of whom to contact for a specific media. (vice-versa) 9. Group 7 will meet again within 60 days for continual action. 10. TV should broadcast educational program services that are related to the practical needs of the Black community.

11. Community should make more aggressive use of Public Service Announcements.

12. All media should develop more human interest stories.

RECO~IONS FROM WORKSHOP VIII - Jim Dolph, Moderator

HOW THE MEDIA FAILS THE BlACK COMMUNITY ACCORDING TO THE BlACK MEMBERS OF GROUP 8: 1. The media does not tell the true story of the black community. Roxbury's reputation is burt by exaggerated stories about crime. What is called a "riot" in roxbury is called a "disturbance" somewhere else. Adults are being made to fear, even hate children. 2. The cause of civil rights is damaged by inaccurate coverage, slanted news stories, headlines that don't match stories, and editorials that are too balanced. 3. The media is too white - newscasters are white, comics are white, ads are white. Whites CB:Il't see problems through black eyes. 4. The media is not totally committed to unique black problems; it doesn't deal with these problems in sufficient depth.

5. Suburban papers don't tell the story at all. 6. The media feels that their attitude has improved in the last two years. The black community does not see any significant change. They want cover­ age sufficient to produce victories. 7. The media's concept of trying to balance all stories that refer to black issues is not acceptable.

(The rest of this summary was approved by the whole group)

How can the media improve coverage?

1. Develop more contact with the black community. Reporters who care, black or white, can build up good communications.

2. Recruit more black people at all levels. Black people can talk more easily to black reporters.

3. Preferential treatment in black employment is justified because of past discrimination.

4. Check background of prospective reporters for attitude toward black prob­ lems when hiring.

5.· Develop a program to train existing staff to have more understanding of black programs.

6. Broadcasters and publishers, from general managers and editors on down, should make frequent, broad visits to the black community.

7. A special effort should be made to report more positive news from the black community.

8. Members of press, radio and TV should have meetings among themselves to discuss these problems.

9. Wire service reporting should be improved. How to train.media staff:

1. Everyone from top to bottom should be briefed on how to be sensitive to black problems. Avoid things like these:

Sportswriters and drama critics making tactless comparisons. Reporters asking improper questions. Reports acting superior or patronizing. Discourtesy at any time. 2. All. people who have a:ny contact with the public should be specially trained to be aware of t~e problems and special sensitivities in this area. This includes receptionists, secretaries and telephone operators. 3. To sensitize staff, have them read reports on these problems and follow this up with discussion groups under trained leaders. The media could set up inter-media efforts to produce such reports, leaders, and training programs. 4. Staff members should be trained to be specialists in various aspects of urban problems. 5. Additional programs should be set up to train black people in the media, such as the WBUR Program and the one at the Globe.

6. Staff should be instructed how to cover a press conference, and to let people know if they are not going to be able to cover it.

TEACliiNG THE PUBLIC HOW TO CONTACT THE MEDIA:

1. Issue an informational pamphlet on proper mechanisms for getting news into press, radio and TV. Explain media rules and deadlines and the do's and don'ts of getting publicity.

2. Advertise the fact that newspapers and TV plants have public tours, and encourage people to visit them.

i DUBLIN CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS

Mrs. Erna Ballantine," Mass. Comm. Against Discr., 115 Humbolt Ave. Mrs. Amanda Houston, A.B.C.D., 136 Homestead St., Roxbury Mr. Joseph Gupton, Model Neighborhood Board, 150 Am. Legion Hywy., Dorchester Mr. A. Robert Phillips (Urban League), 8 Pleasanton St., Roxbury 02121 Mr. Ted Howe, 19 Akron St., Roxbury 02119 (Tel. 445-7762) Mrs. Francine Mills, 21 Hemenway St., Boston 02115 Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, 178 Callender St., Dorchester (M.E.T.C.O.) Mr. Vincent Haynes, 24 Haskins St • , Roxbury, Mass. (North Dor. APACK) Mrs. Vincent Haynes Mrs. P. Hunter Roberts, 139 Davis Ave., Brookline, Mass. 02146 Mrs. Jo Holly, Box 22, Grove Hall, Roxbury 02121 Mrs. Martha Hall, Citizens for Better Communication, 121 Howland St., Roxbury Mr. Guido St. Laurent, N E.G.R.O., 370a Bluebill Ave., Roxbury, Mass. Mrs. Blanch Buchanan, N.E.G.R.o., 370a Bluebill Ave., Roxbury Mrs. Ruth Batson, METCO, 178 Humbolt Ave., Roxbury Mrs. Juanita Jacobs, ME:rCO, 178 Humbolt Ave., Roxbury Miss Victoria Washington, 2 Bean Court, Roxbury 02119 Mrs. Muriel Snowden, Freedom House, 14 Crawford St., Roxbury Mr. Otto Snowden, Freedom House, 14 Crawford St. Mr. Melvin B. Miller, Bay State Banner, 25 Ruggles St., Roxbury Miss LYda Peters, 203 Brunswick St., Dorchester Mr. Russell Tillman, Boston Gas (Tel. 522-5600 Ext. 216) Mrs. Russell Tillman Miss Evelyn Thompson, N.E.G.R.o., 370a Bluebill Ave., Roxbury Mrs. Charlene Strother, 2249 Washington St., Roxbury

WBZ Radio, ll70 Soldiers Field Rd., Boston 02134 (Tel. 254-5670) J. R. Lightfoot, General Manager Guy Mainella, News Director Jay Wishnow, Public Affairs Director, Radio

WBZ-TV James Thistle, Acting News Director Paul Steinle, Writer-editor (news) w. Hillier, Public Affairs Director Harry Durning, Editorial Writer W. P. Baker, General Manager

WBZ, Inc. William Swartley, V.P. Lamont Thompson, V .P. Mrs. Lamont Thompson

WHDH Radio-TV, 21 Brookline Ave., Boston, Mass. 02215 (Tel. 266-0800) Robert F. Caulfield, News Director James S. Geggis, Jr., News Staff Writer George E. Akerson, President

WRKO, 21 Brookline Ave., Boston, Mass. 02215 (Tel. 266-0800) Mr. Perry Ury, V.P. and General Manager Roger ~n, News Director

j WNAC-TV, 21 Brookline Ave., Boston, Mass. 02215 Mr. William McCormack, V. P. and General Manager Robert Ruttenberg, TV News Editor George Cyr, Program Director William Hahn, Community Rel. Director Al Benjamin, State House Reporter

WCOP, 234 Clarendon St., Boston, Mass. 02ll6 (Tel. 267-0123) --Richard Smith, Program Director

WCRB, Sheraton Plaza, Boston, Mass. 02116 --Miss Hazel Roper, 750 South St., Waltham, Mass. 02154 (Promotion Man.)

WGBH, 125 Western Ave., Boston, Mass. 02134 (Tel. 864-6400) Mr. Hartford Gunn, General Manager Mr. James Boyd

WEEI, 4450 Prudential Tower, Boston, Mass. 02199 --Al Alcorn, Director of Ed. and Pub. Daniel Griffin, Program Director Arthur Smith, News Director

WSBK-TV, 25 Granby St. , Boston, Mass. 02215 Richard Beach, Program Manager

WKBG-TV, 1050 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, Mass. 02215 James T. Lynagb., General Manager John Callarman

WEZE, 10 Arcade, Statler Office Bldg., Boston 02ll6 (Tel. 542-1717) --Robert Way, Program Director · Wally 0 'Ha.ra, News Director

WBUR, 640 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, Mass. (Tel. 266-1000) --Russell Raycroft (Consultant, Rox. Project) William Lewis, Manager M.B.A., representative c/o WSPR, 63 Chestnut St., Springfield, Mass. Allan Tindal --

U.P.I., 20 Ashburton Place, Boston --Mr. Paul Robbins, Bureau .Manager

A.W.R.T.S. (Amer. Women in Radio & Television), Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., 175 Berkeley St., Boston 02117 Miss Jane Smith A.F.T.R.A. (American Federation of Radio & Television Artists), 11 Beacon St., Boston 021o8 Robert M. Segal, New· England Executive Secretary Mrs. Robert Segal Justice Dept., Community Relations Service, Washington, D.C. Mr. William Briggs

k.. Speaker, Press Officer, A.I.D., President Capital Press Club, Room 4893, State Dept. Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20523 Harold Keith ·

Record-American, 5 Winthrop Sq., Boston (Tel. 542-4000) Mrs. Jean Cole, Staff Reporter Mr. Edward Hopkins, News Editor Mrs. Edward Hopkins Christian Science Monitor, 1 Norway St., Boston 02115 Courtney Sheldon, Managing Editor Dewitt John Geoffrey Godsell George Merry Merelice Kundratis

Boston Herald Traveler, 300 Harrison Ave., Boston 02106 WilliamS. Broderick, Ass't. to Publ. Robert Nelson, Chief Editorial Writer William Cooper, Education Editor Robert Bassett, City Editor Thomas Henshaw, Reporter Boston Globe, 135 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester, Mass. John I. Taylor, President William Taylor, Business Manager Ian Menzies, Managing Editor, Morning Globe Joseph Dineen, Managing Editor, Evening Globe Mrs. Justine Dineen Michael Kenney William Waldron, Day Editor John Thomas, City Editor, Morning Globe Robert Levey Bud Rogers, City Editor, P.M. Globe Dexter Eure, Columnist Thomas Winship, Editor-in-Chief Mrs. Winship Julian Brown, Photographer Moderators Mr. Milton Heller (Moderator and Conference Consultant) Director of Community Relations American Jewish Committee 72 Franklin St., Boston, Mass. (Tel. 426-7415) Rev. John Harmon Packard Manse 41 Winthrop St. Roxbury, Mass. (Tel. 427-2993) Frank Jones Bureau of Study Council Harvard Univ., 5 Linden St., Cambridge 02138 (Tel. 868-7600, Ext. 2581) Moderators (Cont'd.)

Malcolm Peabody 285 Centre St., Newton Corner 02158 (Tel. 244-7062) Dan Richardson Model Neighborhoods Program 14 John Eliot Sq., Roxbury, Mass. (Tel. 282-4540) Richard T. Arina 15 Westborne Terr. Brookline, Mass. (Tel. 734-4651) Jack Marvin 80 Blueledge Drive Roslindale, Mass. 02131 (Tel. 323-5549) James Dolph c/o Jack Marvin 80 Blueledge Drive Roslindale, Mass. 02131 (Tel. 323-5549)

m THE BOSTON COMMUNITY MEDIA COMMITTEE

October ll, 1968

To Participants in the Dublin Media Conference:

A Report and an Invitation

More than three months have passed since the media conference in Dublin, N.H. During this time work has gone forward. The time has come to report on recent activities, and this letter is addressed to those who took part in the conference, those who were invited but were unable to come, and others who have since expressed an interest in the purpose and work of the conference.

The conference, meeting from June 28 to 30 and with more than 120 people participating, was inspired, in part, by the Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, (the Kerner Report). That report concluded that the "news media have failed to analyze and report adequately on racial problems in the United States ••• " They have "failed to communicate to both their black and white audiences a sense of the problems America faces and the sources of potential solutions. The media report and write from the standpoint of a white man's world. The ills of the ghetto, the difficulties of life there, the Negro's burning sense of grievance, are seldom conveyed. Slights and ·in­ dignities are part of the Negro's daily life, and many of them come from what he now calls 'the white press' -- a press that repeatedly, if unconsciously, reflects the biases, the paternalism, the indifference of white America. This may be understandable, but it is not excusable in an institution that has the mission to inform and educate the whole of our society." The Commission said that it was the media's responsibility to correct its failings. "A society tbat values and relies on a free press as intensely as ours is entitled to demand in return responsibility from the press and conscientious attention by the press to its own deficiencies." The Commission has some recommendations, among them: expanded coverage of the Negro community and race problems; inte­ gration of Negro activities into all aspects of coverage and content; recruitment of more Negroes for positions of higher responsibility; improvement of reporting on riot news. The eight workshops of the conference came up with their own recommendations on these and other topics. (A report on these will be sent to you soon.)

At a follow-up meeting on August 1, to which all conference participants were invited, an advisory committee was set up. The advisory committee met on August 22, and concluded that, in order to get some substantive and concrete proposals for ways to take action on the Dublin recommendations, it should have a temporary executive director who would have the specific job of working out a proposal. Mr. Dexter Eure of the Boston Globe was given this task and asked to report in 30 days. The Globe has loaned Mr~· Eure' s services on a part-time basis since Sept. 16. Assisting Mr. Eure from time to time in working up a proposal have been two law students, one from Boston University, the other from Boston College, who work for the Boston Legal Assistance Project; five seniors from Tufts University, and a member of the Planning Department of Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.

n The proposal, suggesting ways to carry out the Dublin recommendations, will be presented, as a ba~is for discussion and action, at a meeting on Thursday, October 24, to which all recipients of this letter are invited. A copy of the proposal will be mailed to you before the meeting, about October 21.

Mr. Thomas Atkins of the Boston City Council will be Chairman of the meet­ ing. He will be assisted by, from the media, Mr. lamont Thompson, of WBZ-TV, Mr. William Broderick of The Boston Herald-Traveler, and Arthur Smith, WEEI radio; and, from the community, Mrs. Ruth Batson of METCO, who has served for the last two years as Chairman of the Boston Community Media Committee.

The meeting to begin at 9:15 a.m., will be held at the Roxbury Boys' Club, 115 Warren Street, Roxbury.

If it is not possible for you to come to the meeting, please call Mr. Eure at 288-8000, ext. 298.