WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The Associated Press and theGrio have come together for a candid conversation about issues facing Black Americans ahead of the 2024 election and amid high levels of polarization, discussing topics ranging from to barriers to
The panel discussion, titled 鈥淩ace and Democracy: The Facts and The Fury,鈥� is the first of its kind between the nation鈥檚 oldest wire service and Allen Media Group鈥檚 multimedia platform. It will be carried on and , Wednesday at 12 p.m. Eastern. It also will air on theGrio Television Network Series 鈥淭heGrio with Marc Lamont Hill鈥� at 7:30 p.m. ET.
鈥淎t a time when many Black people say they aren鈥檛 seeing themselves represented fairly and humanely across the media, it鈥檚 critical that they see legacy news outlets like the AP speaking truth and supporting it with facts,鈥� said Aaron Morrison, editor of AP鈥檚 race and ethnicity team. 鈥淭he future of our democracy depends on responsible journalism that doesn鈥檛 shrivel at the mention of race, racism and white supremacy.鈥�
The Allen Media Group approached the AP with the idea of a joint editorial venture during the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Las Vegas in 2022. AP鈥檚 Planning Editor for U.S. News Lisa Matthews spearheaded those conversations and after discussions with race and ethnicity editors and reporters at the AP, agreed to work on the project.
Matthews said the joint panel is a timely opportunity for both organizations.
鈥淲hile the AP and theGrio鈥檚 editorial approaches differ, our common goal is to grow and inform our audiences,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is a great first step toward doing that in a joint fashion. Having a conversation about what we are reporting and engaging new audiences is critical at this time of uncertainty in the nation.鈥�
The panel features Morrison; AP race and voting reporter Ayanna Alexander; theGrio鈥檚 Dr. Christina Greer, a political scientist and host of ; and Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, anchor of . AP's national race and ethnicity team video journalist Noreen Nasir moderates.
鈥淭heGrio and Associated Press are the stewards of an influential industry as information can transform lives and make a meaningful difference. Ida B. Wells understood this. So did Frederick Douglass,鈥� said Geraldine Moriba, senior vice president of News, Entertainment & Empowerment at the Allen Media Group.
鈥淭his partnership is a reminder that representation is not a gift. It is a right," Moriba said. "As torchbearers of today鈥檚 crucial conversations, our role is to examine the challenges to American democracy.鈥�
The Allen Media Group's theGrio is a member of The Associated Press.
Gary Fields (), The Associated Press
