Diversity of opinion -- and staffJEFF JACOBY'S assertions and trivializations of minority journalists who attended the recent Unity Conference in Washington, D.C. are not only scary but an affront to diversity of opinion, a cornerstone of democracy and of journalistic thought and practice ("When diversity is only skin-deep," Aug. 12, op ed).
To their credit, both President Bush and Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry understood and respected this not-too-complicated concept enough to attend the Unity Journalists of Color convention and to hear their concerns. It certainly would have been a real stretch for either one of them to be persuaded by Jacoby's decidedly biased and illogical comparing of the focus and goals of the conference with a professional group of people of color to the outrage over George W. Bush's speech in 2000 at Bob Jones University, which is widely known for discriminatory practices, and Trent Lott's laudatory comments about Strom Thurmond's racist past. America has long had problems moving people of color and women into significant decision-making roles in the media and boardrooms. One of the great things about America is that despite this, and all its other problems, it allows citizens to speak out against injustice and disparate treatment. As a journalist who happens to be Jewish, Jacoby has written many columns supporting Israel, giving valuable perspective as only someone of Jewish heritage can impart. So then why denigrate the value of perspectives of different races? In fact, in my opinion the mettle of all truly great journalists lies in their ability to call attention to a wrong and work toward change benefiting all people. If the system hasn't changed significantly for minorities in the media, why does Jacoby see no value in the minority journalists organization asking those in power to explain how they would change an unfair system?
JOYCE FERRIABOUGH © Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.
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