Question of the Day: Will the Jayson Blair incident have an impact on diversity in newsrooms?

“ Yes. There’s that worry now … can I trust them?”
-Derricke Dennis
Anchor/Reporter, WDIV-TV

“ Blair doesn’t speak for the rest of us. Many journalists maintain honesty.”
Stephanie Miller
Staff Writer, Shades Magazine

“ Yes, it will have a negative impact because of the [newsroom] management.”
Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig,
President, Arizona Association of Black Journalists and CEO/Editor-in-Chief of Shades Magazine

“ No, it was an isolated incident.”
Stephen Wright
Assignment Manager, NBC-5 Dallas

“ It already has and it will continue to. People assume that you got your job because of diversity and not on merit.”
Kathy Johnson
Treasurer, Arizona Association of Black Journalists

“ It will [have an impact] during this period of history when diversity is being attacked. Naysayers now have more ammunition to end affirmative action in this country.”
Vokaye Parker
General Assignment News Reporter, WB-17 Philadelphia, PA