PMJA Supports PM4A
Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) has become the fifth sponsoring partner to join in supporting Public Media For All’s effort to address the issues caused by the lack of DEI in public media.
Terry Gildea, Executive Director, said “PMJA stands with Public Media For All and its efforts to build greater diversity, equity and inclusion across all facets of our industry, including hiring, retention and content that seeks to truly represent the community.”
PMJA joins NFCB, PMWL, PRADO and PRPD in publically supporting Public Media For All as sponsoring partners that have committed to helping promote our November 10th day of action and education, and raise awareness of DEI issues and solutions.
Coalition organizes day of action for movement to fix public media’s workplace culture
Private and public reckonings over public media’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplaces and audience service signal profound shifts in what employees and supporters expect from our local and national organizations.
Since sexual harassment allegations of the #MeToo movement toppled men who led public media newsrooms and signature programs such as The Takeaway, Charlie Rose and A Prairie Home Companion, staff at stations and national organizations are speaking publicly and anonymously about continuing problems in their workplaces. Leaders who failed to address misconduct, racism and power disparities have been called out publicly on social media and in news coverage. Some have left their jobs, or are preparing to.
Considering the breadth and depth of controversies, it’s a small wonder that public radio and television have kept a lid for so long on the deep problems that have been exposed in public media’s workplace culture. Use of Twitter and Medium as platforms for testimonials of unresolved grievances — as well as the wider movement of unionization of journalists — has changed unwritten rules that compelled acquiescence from previous generations. The #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements pushed our mainstream American culture to take people’s experiences with abuse seriously. Public media’s moment of redress has arrived.
It is for this reason that people of color came together to found and lead Public Media for All, an initiative to raise awareness about the negative effects of public media’s white-dominated culture and power structure. Our vision is to share solutions for individuals and organizations to address problems with diversity, equity and inclusion. As with any effort of this nature, some of us are privileged enough to speak openly. Others, due to life or work factors, have less visible roles. Nevertheless, all of us are united in pursuit of a better public media industry.
Official Note from PRADO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kevin Donohue, President PRADO Board of Directors
Kevin@kfdmedia.com
(443) 562-7171
Public Radio Association of Development Officers joins Public Media for All as industry works to create diversity, equity, and inclusion.
October 20, 2020 - The Public Radio Association of Development Officers (PRADO) is proud to announce it has joined Public Media for All as a sponsoring partner. PRADO will work with the organization in its mission to create diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level in public media. PRADO Board Chair Kevin Donohue said, "Public media has had to face to face some stark facts this year. The industry is predominantly white. While its mission is to serve all, it cannot do so until it truly brings everyone to the table. It is important that this not just be an aspirational goal, but a conscientious shift throughout public media. PRADO will work to help create that change. We are ready to listen, learn, and be part of the solution."
PRADO's mission is to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for public media development professionals, to retain and advance the careers of those dedicated to public broadcasting. The PRADO board voted unanimously to partner with Public Media for All. As public media struggles with implicit bias, PRADO will expand its work to create real change within the industry and a safe space for all who serve it.
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The Public Radio Association of Development Officers (PRADO) is a membership organization that provides a supportive environment for public radio development professionals. Through PRADO activities, newcomers are welcomed and oriented to public radio, members are recognized for their achievements, provided with mentoring and idea sharing opportunities, and have ongoing peer-to-peer communication with colleagues. The PRADO goal is to retain and advance the careers of those dedicated to public broadcasting development. The volunteer PRADO Board is elected by the membership.
With a little help from our friends…
We’re thrilled to announce that the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB), Public Media Women in Leadership (PMWL), Public Radio Development Officers Association (PRADO), and Public Radio Program Directors Association (PRPD) have all joined us as sponsoring partners. The support of such diverse industry groups is an inspiring reminder of the breadth and depth of diversity, equity and inclusion issues in public media, and the imperative need to fearlessly and comprehensively address these issues.
That is why the work of Public Media for All is designed to be accessible to everyone in public media regardless of department, type of employment or management level. Additionally, our action items for organizations are applicable to all types of stations regardless of format, market or size.
We thank NFCB, PMWL, PRADO and PRPD for their partnership, and commitment to promoting our work and encouraging more people and organizations to join us Tuesday, November 10th for a national day of DEI action and education.
Welcome
Thanks for your interest in Public Media for all! Our organizing committee of 8 people of color workers from many different areas and stations in public media has been meeting since July to work on this critical initiative for the future of public media. An official announcement and more information will be made available soon!