Now that rioting and looting in cities across the country have finally begun to subside, people at the CNN cable channel have decided to dramatically expand the network's race coverage.
Leading the extensive change will be network president Jeff Zucker, who has announced that a newly assembled team will cover such topics by creating several new positions for senior editors and reporters, as well as writers of breaking news.
According to an article posted on Monday by Ted Johnson of the Deadline.com website, recent CNN addition and multimedia expert Delano Massey will be in charge of the new group.
Zucker released the news in a memo that indicated:
I could not be prouder of the impactful work that CNN has done on every platform in the last few years -- and especially in the last several weeks -- covering race and racial injustice in America.
Our reporting has been powerful, emotional and helped to shed a light on the growing movement against institutional racism.
In addition, the moves are part of an effort to make “an even more significant, sustained commitment to ensure race coverage is a permanent part of our journalism.” Also, he stated that the new team “will break news and cover the stories and conversations around race. The struggles, progress and triumphs. The systemic racism that the majority of Americans now acknowledge exists.”
Zucker, who is also chairman of WarnerMedia News and Sports, announced that Pervaiz Shallwani will oversee “a beat” on policing in America, with plans to add a digitally focused senior writer “who will go deep into the renewed scrutiny on police tactics, training and unions.” Also being added is a data and visuals editor who will be “a finder of data, trends, and statistics about race and policing.
The CNN president also stated that new coverage will include:
The latest polls and studies and data. How race is intertwined with inequality in business, politics, sports, media, housing, health care and education. Lack of representation in leadership roles in so many industries.
The still-present signals and symbols of racism. Voices who provide solutions, inspiration and leadership. Black, White, Latino, Asian American, Native American, multiracial and all races.
“That work will continue,” he stated. “It must.”
