| San Jose Mercury News
May 18, 2003 N.Y. Times plagiarism seen through prism of race
by Anne Vasquez The ink was barely dry on last Sunday's New York Times story detailing one of its reporters' trail of deceit when the conversation in newsrooms across America and on national television turned to the issue of race. The tragedy of 27-year-old star reporter Jayson Blair was no longer about a journalist's fall from grace. It was about a black journalist's fall from grace.
Pundits and critics seized the opportunity to hold Blair up as an example of affirmative action gone awry, proof that newspapers' attempts at increasing diversity are misguided. Minority journalists braced for a backlash and the bitter reality that underpins the debate:
Regardless of their foibles or triumphs, whites generally rise or fall as individuals. But when the Blairs of the world stumble, they somehow indict an entire group of people whose integrity and abilities are called into question.
``There's a belief that diversity and inferiority are synonymous,'' said Keith Woods, who teaches race relations at the Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank. ``That's a belief held by both conservatives and liberals alike. . . . Often in this country, the actions of one are attributed to the actions of the many.''
It's a double standard that says more about the racial climate in which we live than about the chilling transgressions of one journalist. It reflects the country's continuing struggle to understand the complicated matters of race -- when is it an issue and when is it not?
One point is indelibly clear: Blair conned the most respected newspaper in the country. An investigation published after his resignation this month found that he fabricated quotes, plagiarized other reporters' work and deceived his bosses into believing he was often somewhere he was not. He rose to a coveted position as a national correspondent despite early concerns about his accuracy and sloppiness.
Race is ignored
There are plenty of examples of accused cheats in which race did not become the lightning rod it has in the Blair scandal. But in those cases, most of the culprits were white. - When Michael Milken, Enron executives and, more recently, Silicon Valley's former star investment banker Frank Quattrone came under fire for alleged corruption and malfeasance, no one mentioned the color of their skin. (By contrast, when Wall Street bond trader Joseph Jett was accused of securities fraud, news reports repeatedly identified him as black.)
- When Mike Barnicle (Boston Globe), Stephen Glass (the New Republic), Brian Walski (Los Angeles Times), and other journalists in recent years violated ethics codes, their race was not at issue.
So why has Jayson Blair's color become such a hot topic?
At its core, America continues to view its existence through a racial lens. We are a country bitterly divided over affirmative action and unable to have an honest conversation about race. Questions about whether those programs work and how they are carried out have begun to peel away at initiatives designed to increase diversity.
The U.S. Supreme Court next month is expected to decide whether race-based admissions policies at the University of Michigan are constitutional, rulings that will set the stage for broader arguments about how far the country can go to rectify old inequalities and pursue diversity.
But even as that formal discussion of race in America proceeds, the informal conversations around water coolers, in living rooms and elsewhere have become stilted -- or in some cases non-existent. Much goes unsaid because people fear being labeled either racist or too politically correct. The unfortunate result is that pent-up frustrations ultimately unleash in an emotional fashion, rife with accusations and unchallenged assumptions on both sides.
In many ways, the Blair scandal is an outlet to release that steam.
Buildup of tensions
Such tensions have been pronounced in newsrooms, where many managers who are devoted to diversity argue that you can't get to the truth of life in America unless you have a mix of people on staff who better reflect the country. Some reporters -- even those who agree with that goal -- have long believed that such a pursuit sometimes means unqualified people get promoted because of their race. But those critics often don't publicly voice those complaints, fearing backlash. That leaves supporters of diversity programs feeling defensive, without being able to have frank discussions about their colleagues' concerns.
The issue has become so divisive that William McGowan wrote a book about it: ``Coloring the News: How Political Correctness Has Corrupted American Journalism.''
That's not to say that race didn't play some role in how Blair was treated at the New York Times and why warnings about his work went unheeded.
At a town hall meeting last week for staff members of the Times, executive editor Howell Raines responded to questions about whether race played a role in deciding to give Blair a plum assignment on the team covering the hunt for the Washington, D.C.-area sniper.
``Our paper has a commitment to diversity, and by all accounts, he appeared to be a promising young minority reporter. I believe in aggressively providing hiring and career opportunities for minorities,'' said Raines, according to a Times story about the meeting. ``Does that mean I personally favored Jayson? Not consciously. But you have a right to ask if I, as a white man from Alabama, with those convictions, gave him one chance too many by not stopping his appointment to the sniper team. When I look into my heart for the truth of that, the answer is yes.''
Blair's arrival at the paper as an intern in a program that was then being used in large part to help diversify its newsroom has helped fuel arguments that his skin color -- and not perceived merit -- won him favor with top managers.
But there were other factors at play. Some Times staffers blame a system of favoritism they say rewarded the type of schmoozing, savvy and enthusiasm for which Blair was known.
It's the type of good-old-boy system that is historically reserved for whites -- but one that would never call into question the abilities of an entire race.
ANNE VASQUEZ (avasquez@mercurynews.com) is the editor
of the race and demographics team at the Mercury News. |
