Most of the minority journalists at the Philadelphia Inquirer stayed home "sick" Thursday to protest a headline, "Buildings Matter, Too," an obvious riff on Black Lives Matter.
The headline for an article about the possible harm to historical buildings caused by some of the people taking part in the demonstrations sparked by the killing of George Floyd.
“It’s not just three words. Those three words on top of years and years of complaints within the Philadelphia Inquirer that we were not devoted to diversity,” said NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia President Diane Mastrull.
Organizers said on Wednesday 44 of 57 journalists of color signed an open letter to their editors that indicated their displeasure ranged wider than a poor headline.
"We’re tired of shouldering the burden of dragging this 200-year-old institution kicking and screaming into a more equitable age," said the letter. "We’re tired of being told of the progress the company has made and being served platitudes about “diversity and inclusion” when we raise our concerns. We’re tired of seeing our words and photos twisted to fit a narrative that does not reflect our reality. We’re tired of being told to show both sides of issues there are no two sides of..
"... On June 4, we’re calling in sick and tired. Sick and tired of pretending things are OK. Sick and tired of not being heard," reads the letter.
"If we are to walk into a better world, we need to do it with our chests forward—acknowledge and accept where we make mistakes, and show how we learn from them. Your embarrassment is not worth more than our humanity."
"This is what it means to 'give a damn,'” the letter concluded.
The letter cam about after a stafff Zoom meeting focused on the headline, race and diversity in the newsroom.
The editors wrote an apology to the staff and to the newspaper's readers which it published Friday (June 5).
The apology was signed by executive editor Stan Wischnowski, editor Gabriel Escobar and managing editor Patrick Kerkstra."The Philadelphia Inquirer published a headline in Tuesday's edition that was deeply offensive," it read. "We should not have printed it. We're sorry, and regret that we did. We also know that an apology on its own is not sufficient."
Lisa Hughes, the Inquirer’s publisher said in a statement, “As the first female publisher in the 190-year history of The Inquirer, I can tell you firsthand that we have been too slow to change to reflect the community we serve.”
"Black lives matter, and we know that we have a critical role to play in making sure that the work we do every day reflects the community we serve. We know that we -- as a news organization and as a community -- have (a) lot of work to do," said Hughs.
The newspaper employs 213 journalists, 57 of whom, or 26.8%, are people of color. He also noted that seven of the newsroom's first eight new hires in 2020 were journalists of color, according to Evan Benn, the paper's director of special projects and editorial events.
The newspaper employs 213 journalists, 57 of whom, or 26.8%, are people of color. He also noted that seven of the newsroom's first eight new hires in 2020 were journalists of color, according to Evan Benn, the paper's director of special projects and editorial events.
The Philadelphia chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) joined with the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists - Philadelphia, and Free Press in their own letter supporting the Inquirer's journalists of color.
"The important work of the Philadelphia Inquirer, though, will continue to be undermined if the public it serves cannot trust it to stand with them and its reporters of color in the struggle to create a more just and equitable world," their letter said.
"It should go without saying, that Black lives matter more than buildings," said the joint letter.
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