Journalism organization calls out CNN for lack of black leadership

The National Association of Black Journalists criticized CNN for its lack of black employees in leadership positions  in a statement  th...

The National Association of Black Journalists criticized CNN for its lack of black employees in leadership positions in a statement the organization released Tuesday, according to The Hill.

As a result of the NABJ evaluation of CNN, the NABJ will place the network on a "special media monitoring list" and is calling for a "civil rights audit" of CNN's hiring, promotion, and compensation practices as they pertain to black employees.

"The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is concerned about the lack of black representation within the ranks of CNN's executive news managers and direct reports to CNN President Jeff Zucker," the NABJ statement read. "This concern, coupled with Zucker's refusal to meet with a four-person NABJ delegation, has prompted NABJ to place CNN on a special media monitoring list."

What do they say is wrong at CNN?

The NABJ pointed out four areas it believes CNN is coming up short when it comes to diversity. According to the statement, CNN president Jeff Zucker has no direct reports, and CNN has no black executive producers, vice presidents in news, or senior vice presidents in news.

According to the NABJ, CNN disputed the claim that there are no black vice presidents in the news division.

What does the NABJ want?

A four-person delegation from the NABJ wants to meet with Zucker about this issue, but Zucker has reportedly declined to do so. The delegation includes NABJ president Sarah Glover, vice president for digital Roland Martin, vice president for broadcast Dorothy Tucker, and executive director Drew Barry.

"Zucker's refusal to meet with a full delegation is based on a personal issue between CNN and NABJ's vice president-digital Roland Martin," the NABJ said in its statement. "The issue stems from Martin's participation in a 2016 town hall meeting with Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

"Previously, former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile admitted, according to a Time essay, she inadvertently disclosed a town hall topic to the Clinton campaign that was part of Martin's research inquiry for the town hall," the statement read.

Going forward, the NABJ will continue to research CNN's equity and diversity practices and publicly report on its findings.