UNITY Journalists Join The Call For Diverse Moderators Of The Presidential Debates

 PRESS RELEASE

MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- UNITY Journalists joins the National Association of Hispanic Journalists in calling for the Commission on Presidential Debates to add a journalist of color to its moderators for the presidential debates.

The lack of racial and ethnic diversity among the debate moderators is a problem, and the CPD should take steps to ensure that debate moderators reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the United States.

Although UNITY is pleased that female journalists will moderate one of the presidential debates, as well as the vice presidential debate, it is time for the CPD to take similar steps in ensuring that journalists of color are represented among the debate moderators.

It has been 20 years since a journalist of color moderated a presidential debate.

In an effort to open dialogue about decision-making processes, NAHJ President Hugo Balta reached out to the commission and has asked for a meeting this week with CPD Executive Director Janet Brown, a request that UNITY strongly urges the commission to grant.

"The moderators for our presidential debates should reflect the diversity of our nation," said Joanna Hernandez, president of UNITY Journalists. "The time for this to occur has come and gone."

About UNITY: Journalists of Color
UNITY Journalists, an alliance of four journalism organizations representing more than 4,000 journalists, is the nation's most diverse journalism organization. It is a strategic alliance advocating fair and accurate news coverage about people of color and LGBT issues and aggressively challenges news organizations to increase diversity in whom they employ at all levels of their companies.

Media Contact:
Onica N. Makwakwa, Executive Director
UNITY Journalists
Tel: (703) 854-3594
executive@unityjournalists.org
SOURCE  UNITY: Journalists