White reporters with ‘Black Voices’

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White reporters with ‘Black Voices’

By Michaela L. Duckett – August 3, 2011

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Good morning! Today is going to be a scorcher. The weatherman is calling for sunny to partly cloudy skies with a high around 100°.

Did you know that according to one study, a first-time drunk-driving offender has already driven drunk more than 80 times before being arrested? What is the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) level in North Carolina? Click here for the answer and more facts about drunk driving.

Here’s what’s brewing in the news:

AOL relaunching Black Voices, with a twist

AOL, which recently acquired the Huffington Post, is relaunching the website Black Voices this week. In an effort to “cross-pollinate” their websites, white writers from the Huffington Post will be providing content for Black Voices, which of course is geared towards African Americans.

"We're trying to cross-pollinate the sites, and that is reflected by our newsroom's structure, where we have torn down the cubicles as we've torn down silos between coverage areas,” Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of Huffington Post Media Group, told reporter David Kaplan of paidContent.org.

QUESTION: Do you think white reporters can accurately report on news about African Americans and for African Americans? Speak out. Share your opinions in the comment section below.

There will be black voices too…

Christina Norman, who was ousted as CEO of Oprah Winfrey’s struggling OWN cable channel, is taking over as lead editor of Black Voices. One of her first assignments will be writing an essay about the circumstances surrounding her departure from OWN. Huffington told Kaplan the move is intended to send a message about the new Huffington Post’s women’s values. “It’s a great lesson for women, that when one door closes, another one opens,” Huffington said. 'There is enormous pressure on high-profile women to succeed, to constantly prove themselves.”
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Who you calling ‘Tar Baby?’

In a talk-show-radio interview, GOP Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado used the controversial phrase “tar baby” while discussing President Obama’s economic polices. He said, “I don't want to be associated with him. It's like touching a tar baby and you get it, you're stuck."

Listen to what he said:

Lamborn, who has been called the most conservative member of Congress, has since apologized. He said he was using the term to describe a situation that is “sticky” and difficult to solve. Apparently, Lamborn has already decided that the president will accept his apology. Lamborn told the Denver Post, "I am sure that he will not take offense and that he'll be happy to accept my apology because he is a man of character."

QUESTION: Do you accept his apology or was his use of the term “tar baby” unacceptable? Speak out in the comment section below
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Gospel singer dies

Delois Campbell, 85, the oldest of the three singing Barrett Sisters, died yesterday at a Chicago hospital. The Barrett Sisters grew up on Chicago’s South side and were coached to sing by an aunt. They went on to electrify audiences world wide with their powerful harmonies. According to Campbell’s family, her health had been deteriorating. She had been hospitalized at least twice in recent months. Funeral arrangements are pending. (Read more)
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Casey Anthony may be forced out of hiding

After being acquitted of murder in the death her 2-year-old daughter Caylee, Casey Anthony went into hiding, but a Florida judge has ordered her to appear in court within three days to serve out probation in another case. Anthony’s lawyer Cheney Mason has filed papers to reverse that judge’s order, arguing that it is unsafe for his client to come out of hiding. Anthony, 25, admitted to fraudulently using a “friend’s” checks to purchase over $400 worth of clothes and groceries shortly after her daughter was reported missing. According to Mason requiring Anthony to appear will “put her in great peril, as well as impose a significant cost to taxpayers in securing her safety."(Read more)

*** This is your chance to speak out. Use the comment section and share whatever's brewing on your mind.

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