Race and the White House Press Corps

Mr. Fennell moderated a panel discussing “Blacks in the White House Press Corps: Does Race Matter?” The panel was part of a forum held by the Institute for Advanced Journalism at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The panelists talked about their careers, the importance of their mentors, and about the occasions when they were the first blacks to hold various positions or the only blacks at a job. The discussion included the public perception of their role as being a spokesperson for the president and the problem of being regarded as a “sell-out” if they do not focus on black issues or as being unprofessional if they do. They discussed whether the race of a reporter affects his access and discussed the politics of the newsroom. They also talked about working at the White House and traveling with the president. They responded to questions from members of the audience. close