Black media issues addressed

If a recent forum is any indication, the image of African Americans in the media is evolving with the times. At the 14th annual Howard E. Mitchell Forum, entitled "Blacks in the Media: Perspectives from Within," African-American television producers, news broadcasters, columnists and others shared their stories of success and struggle as African-American professionals in the media. During the two-day forum, participants asserted that African-Americans are increasingly among the faces, voices and views of America's media, while they also stressed the need for a continued increase in both the quantity and quality of African-American representation. Hosted by the Black Wharton Undergraduate Association, forum participants represented over 15 colleges, as well as many high-profile companies such as Merrill Lynch and Arthur Anderson LLP. The forum itself consisted of panel discussions, speeches and a career fair, as well as time for mingling, meals and dancing among the crowd of approximately 200 people. "The networking and positive role models at this forum provide a great opportunity to make contacts for when I finish my degree and start working in the corporate world," said Juma Waugh, a participant from George Washington University. Scott Mercer, an Emmy award-winning host producer for the Black Entertainment Television cable network and a 12-year television industry veteran, served as the forum's keynote speaker. He addressed questions that pertain to all minorities seeking to establish a presence in traditionally white fields. For African-Americans in particular, Mercer emphasized the need to counteract stereotypical portrayals of black culture in the media. An increasingly well-educated and fiscally responsible black population, Mercer explained, would improve the image of African-Americans in the media from within. "What I am saying is not meant to be a criticism directed to Method Man, Wu Tang Clan, Ol' Dirty Bastard and those who rest in peace," Mercer continued, "but as a criticism of the industries that perpetuate these images." As an example, Mercer cited an ABC News broadcast in which Max Robinson, an African-American news anchor, was shown cursing at his floor manager on air. He explained that although those in the control room saw Robinson shouting obscenities prior to the incident, they still decided to put him on the air. "There is a conscious effort to continue to present to society images of violence, anger, materialism and sexism," Mercer noted, speculating that it has become routine to portray African-Americans in a negative light. "Yes, I believe we are telling our story to more people than we ever have before," Mercer stated. "But we must start listening with an active mind instead of a passive mind, supporting products and personalities we believe reflect who we are." Other panelists emphasized the fact that reality often reflects the media's lens. "We need to portray a positive image of ourselves, because our influence in society is so popular that if we portray ourselves negatively, [society] will try to imitate our negative behavior," said Rel Dowdell, a filmmaker and forum panelist. "The image of the media is not only changing, it is improving," said Kendra Husband, a participant from Mt. Holyoke College. As several panelists pointed out, the media spotlight is focused less on rappers and increasingly on articulate African-Americans with MBAs, for example.

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