From Claudia Meléndez
Salinas: Sally (Lehrman) makes a very good point when she implies that we,
as journalists, end up “covering up” instead of covering race. What I have to
say in my defense is that when I’ve wanted to talk about racism or segregation
or bias my editors have always asked me to attribute my comments – and that’s
when I run into trouble. Frequently, I know people feel there’s prejudice or
bias against them but they don’t want to be quoted saying that. Some editors
prefer reporters not to write with authority, which eliminates my ability to
say what I’ve experienced about race even if I find nobody to attribute it to.
I was struck by the similarities between Roxbury and the
Alisal, one of the communities I cover in Salinas, Calif. The Alisal is poor,
populated mostly by immigrants, with high crime rate and low property values.
There have been several attempts to organize the residents, but these efforts
have not succeeded because the immigrants are too mobile. I know there are many
communities like this in California, but I would like to hear from other journalists
about similar examples in other parts of the country and whether the residents
have organized successfully to improve housing and other conditions.
Another comment I want to make, although it is a bit
unrelated, is in response to something Steve Montiel mentioned yesterday after
all the presentations on health care disparities. “We’re journalists, not
advocates. We’re journalists, not advocates,” I remember him saying.
But why not?
I know, I know, I know. We’re supposed to be “objective” and
report “just the facts.” But after listening to everyone’s background (during
the fellows’ introductions) and their reasons for becoming a journalist does anybody
believe we can truly be objective?
Many images from the Katrina aftermath made an indelible
impression on me as a human being; but as a journalist, I’ll never forget the
footage of a television reporter running after a police officer outside of the
New Orleans Convention Center demanding: “Can you help this people? Who’s
coming to help them? They have no water, no food. There’s children in there.
Who’s going to come help them?”
Who’s going to demand answers if it isn’t us? Who’s going to
keep government officials accountable if it isn’t us? Aren’t we betraying the
public trust if we don’t demand answers? And if we want straight answers, does
that mean we become advocates? And what’s wrong with that?
Claudia Meléndez
Salinas is a staff writer with the Monterey County Herald in central California
and 2005 Institute for Justice and Journalism racial justice fellow.
