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March 13, 2008
NAHJ Suspends Parity Project Partnership
with San Jose Mercury News
Media contact: Kevin Olivas, NAHJ Parity Project Director, (202) 662-7168, 202-662-7145
e-mail: kolivas@nahj.org
WASHINGTON – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ (NAHJ) is suspending its partnership with the San Jose Mercury News in the Parity Project.
Like other news organizations across the country, the Mercury News is facing difficult decisions about coverage and staffing. These areas are essential to the success of a partnership in the Parity Project.
More positive signs in the hiring and retention of journalists of color at the Mercury News that increase the diversity of its staffing and an improvement in its relationship with the local Latino community need to be undertaken.
Until that time this news organization will not be acknowledged as a partner in the Parity Project.
When the Mercury News shows its commitment to newsroom staffing that reflects the diversity of its community and its active interaction with that community, NAHJ stands ready to resume our active partnership.
We look forward to that happening.
NAHJ is committed to helping newsrooms nationwide to achieve parity.
The Parity Project serves as a model for the entire journalism industry when it comes to improving newsroom diversity and coverage of, as well as interaction with, Latino community leaders.
Started in April 2003, there are currently 25 media companies throughout the United States that are partners in this program.
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