Culture

Report Calls Underachievement a “National Catastrophe” “Black males continue to perform lower than their peers throughout the country on almost every indicator,” according to a new report from the Council of the Great City Schools, which calls itself “the only national organization exclusively representing the needs of urban public schools.” Its report, released Tuesday, is…

After Perry Film Debut, Writers Compete for One-Liners The hatin’ on Tyler Perry’s film “For Colored Girls” was so intense that Ronda Racha Penrice, writing on theGrio.com, had to find solace in the opening weekend’s box office take: “Negative reviews from respected film critics like The Hollywood Reporter’s Kirk Honeycutt, who proclaimed Tyler Perry’s For…

Sheryl Tucker Returns to Run Magazine on Acting Basis Angela Burt-Murray, editor at Essence magazine for the last five years, “has announced her plan to leave her post and relocate with her family to Atlanta,” John Huey, editor-in-chief of Time Inc. told staff members on Friday. “We are beginning our search for a new editor,…

Milwaukee’s Garry D. Howard to Lead Sporting News Garry D. Howard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the last remaining African American editing the sports section of a mainstream daily newspaper, is leaving in December to become editor-in-chief of the weekly Sporting News. “We thank him for his dedication, enthusiasm and passion for exceptional journalism,” Martin…

Network, Blogger Feud After Invitation to Be Part of Coverage Andrew Breitbart, the blogger who released the edited tape that made Agriculture Department manager Shirley Sherrod seem like a bigot, is causing grief for ABC News, which invited him to be part of its election night coverage. Even as Color of Change and other media…

Former Vibe, Latina Editor Leaving After 3 Months Mimi Valdés, former editor of Vibe and Latina magazines, is leaving Black Entertainment Television after only three months, a BET spokeswoman confirmed for Journal-isms on Wednesday. Valdés is BET’s vice president for content, supervising BET.com, the most widely viewed Internet site catering to African Americans. “Mimi Valdés…

NABJ’s Ciara Sees Effort to Deny Her Group the Top Job In a contested election that is rare for the board of Unity: Journalists of Color, Joanna Hernandez, a Washington Post multiplatform editor who represents the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, was elected president of Unity on Sunday. She defeated Barbara Ciara of the National…

Juan Williams lashed back at NPR Thursday and Friday over his Wednesday night firing, as the network’s CEO acknowledged it bungled Williams’ dismissal and black NPR employees tied Williams’ departure to their diversity concerns. The story was proving to be bigger than anyone imagined. Some American Muslims, meanwhile, wondered whether the episode would make matters worse…

Did White House Decide Who Represents Trotter Group? An attempt by the White House to reach out to the nation’s organization of African American columnists has resulted in anger and resentment on the part of those in the group who were ignored or, worse, disinvited. Some lost money when they made travel arrangements to Washington…