NABJ Sports TASK FORCE RESPONDS to the Washington Post - Washington NFL story

The National Association of Black Journalists Sports Task Force is angered by the Washington Post report detailing the sexual harassment and verbal abuse that a number of women experienced by now-former employees of the Washington NFL team. 

Rhiannon Walker, a reporter for The Athletic, was among those to speak to the newspaper about how she was abused by a Redskins employee. 

We at the NABJ Sports Task Force support Rhiannon and all who have bravely stepped forward to shine a light on these pathetic abusers, as well as those victimized who sadly, still suffer in silence. 

While it is encouraging that the Redskins have hired a local firm to “conduct a thorough independent review,” that’s simply not enough. 

There must be true transparency in whatever those findings render, followed by swift action by the Washington NFL team and if necessary by the NFL as well, to ensure that women within this organization won’t be subject to such abuse in the future. 

I offer an open invitation to the Washington NFL team to discuss this matter and assist in bringing about the kind of systemic change within your organization that’s clearly long overdue. 

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Applications are now open for the NABJ STF Covid-19 RElief FUND

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Sports Task Force is pleased to begin taking applications to offer financial assistance to sports journalists whose jobs were impacted negatively by the NABJ COVID-19 pandemic.

A link to the application can be found here, and are due July 24. 

Additional information about contributing to the NABJ COVID-19 Relief Fund can be found here.

Mark Cuban Donates $100K to NABJ COVID-19 Relief Efforts

Mark Cuban Supports NABJ's COVID-19 Relief Efforts

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the NABJ Sports Task Force are pleased to announce that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has contributed $100,000 toward the NABJ COVID-19 Relief Fund to assist both sports and non-sports journalists whose jobs have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  The donation was made in honor of two former Dallas Mavericks beat writers, Roger B. Brown and Martin McNeal, who each passed away recently.

"NABJ is excited to partner with Mark Cuban to help strengthen the industry by investing in Black journalists who are in transition during this critical time," said NABJ President Dorothy Tucker. "We are proud of the work our members and colleagues are doing to tell the important stories impacting our communities as a result of COVID-19. We are grateful for the hard work and advocacy of the Sports Task Force in helping to extend NABJ's reach across the industry and beyond."

“On behalf of the NABJ Sports Task Force, we are honored that Mark Cuban has stepped up in such a meaningful, impactful way at a time when so many are in need. Just as the COVID-19 virus has significantly impacted the health of people of color, its impact has also been felt in terms of jobs lost or furloughed within our industry," said A. Sherrod Blakely, chair of the NABJ Sports Task Force.

Additional information about contributing to the NABJ COVID-19 Relief Fund can be found here.

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The NABJ Sports Task Force, established in 1987, is the nation’s largest group of journalists of color in sports. Its mission is to promote diversity in America’s sports departments and provide programming, scholarships and on-the-job experience through internships in developing the next wave of sports journalists. For additional information, visit https://www.nabjsportstaskforce.com/ or the Sports Task Force YouTube channel for industry-related content such as our “Innovations In Isolation” webinar series.

Founded by 44 men and women in 1975, in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization for journalists of color in the nation. It provides advocacy, career development, educational training, scholarships, fellowships and other support for its members worldwide. For additional information, please visit www.nabj.org. View NABJ's webinar series here.

Media Contact:

press@nabj.org

NABJ denounces Herald Sun cartoon of Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka

The racist cartoon of Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka by Mark Knight of the Herald Sun is repugnant on many levels. The Sept. 10 cartoon not only exudes racist, sexist caricatures of both women, but Williams’ depiction is unnecessarily sambo-like. The art of editorial cartooning is a visual dialogue on the issues of the day, yet this cartoon grossly inaccurately depicts two women of color at the US Open, one of the grandest stages of professional sports.

—The National Association of Black Journalists and The NABJ Sports Task Force