CNN has come under fire for denying media credentials to every Black-owned media entity, including those based in Atlanta, for the upcoming presidential debate on Thursday.
Despite granting over 600 media credentials, not even one was extended to Black-owned outlets, sparking outrage and accusations of systemic exclusion in a predominantly Black city.
The rejection has ignited a firestorm of criticism, highlighting the broader issue of racial inequity in media representation. Atlanta, a city with a rich history of Black culture and leadership, finds its Black-owned media sidelined at a critical political event.
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a leading voice for Black-owned media, began reaching out to CNN last month about credential opportunities but never heard back. When inquiring about covering the debate last week, the NNPA received a letter from CNN rejecting the organization’s request for credentials.
This reporter, NNPA’s senior national correspondent, received the following response:
“Hi Stacy,
Thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of requests and space and security constraints, we are unable to accommodate any additional credential requests following our June 7th credential deadline. If you would like to receive transcripts and photos from the debate, please let us know and we will ensure you are on our distribution list.
Best,
Dylan Rose.”
The NNPA represents the 197-year-old Black Press of America, which counts among its more than 230 newspapers and media companies, The Atlanta Voice, Atlanta Daily World, and the Atlanta Inquirer. The popular Rolling Out magazine also counts among the Black Press’ members frozen out by CNN.
Media personality and Black Star Network owner Roland Martin tweeted that his phone had been “buzzing from Black-owned media outlets in Atlanta who say they are being denied media credentials to the debate.”
The prolific news leader further noted, “They don’t care about us. This is despicable. The treatment of Black-owned media is pathetic.”
NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. also weighed in on the exclusion.
“CNN’s decision is an affront to the very essence of press freedom and diversity. In a city where Black voices and perspectives are essential, this exclusion is both a slap in the face and a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles for equitable media representation.”
The timing and nature of the rejection letter have only fueled the outrage. Despite having ample time and resources to accommodate a diverse range of media outlets, CNN’s refusal to include Black-owned entities suggests a troubling oversight or, worse, a deliberate and overtly racially motivated dismissal.
Local Black-owned media outlets, many of which have served the Atlanta community for decades, expressed their frustration and disappointment with collective assertions that CNN has intentionally overlooked the heartbeat of the city’s news and culture.
The exclusion comes at a time when media diversity and representation are under intense scrutiny. Advocacy groups and community leaders have also called for immediate corrective actions from CNN and other major networks to ensure that Black-owned media entities are not just included but are given the respect and opportunities they deserve.
As the debate approaches, the spotlight is not just on the candidates but also on the institutions that shape public discourse. CNN’s decision has cast a long shadow over the debate, raising critical questions about who gets to tell the story and who gets left out.
“Our exclusion from this pivotal event is not just an insult to our organizations but to our readers and viewers who rely on us for their news,” Chavis argued.
Congressional Black Caucus Political Action (CBCPAC), Chairman Rep. Gregory Meeks released a statement admonishing CNN for excluding Black-owned media from covering the CNN Presidential Debate and calling on CNN to act immediately to credential a minimum of 10 Black-owned media outlets.
“This afternoon we learned that CNN has credentialed 800 members of the media for the first presidential debate of the election cycle. Not one represents a Black-owned media outlet. CNN’s exclusion of Black-owned media represents an egregious oversight and is totally unacceptable,” Meeks said.
“CNN must immediately credential Black-owned media outlets ahead of tomorrow night’s debate,” Meeks continued. “Failure to do so is a choice, an offense to Black Americans, and cannot stand.”
Did anyone contact CNN for comment on this report? Obviously this was a moronic move on CNN’s part, but a professional next step would have been to invite response on this story from CNN. Doesn’t look like that happened.
A few questions from a former journalist familiar with covering major events:
1. How many black-owned media outlets submitted their requests for debate press credentials prior to the June 7 deadline? Do they have proof of such requests being submitted, e.g. a dated email or text confirmation of CNN’s receipt of such a request, or even phone calls to the media center attempted?
2. Did any or all of the black-owned media who wanted press credentials for the debate know about the June 7 deadline? For those who didn’t know, why did they not know? Whose responsibility is that?
3. Did CNN have any requirements to be eligible for a credential, such as minimum readership or viewership numbers, or membership with an official state press association, such as the Georgia Press Association?
I know from my experience covering large national events that get inundated with credential requests, the event’s media staff usually set numbers that have to be met in order to get a credential. Typically, there is not enough room to accommodate everyone, even a room with TV monitors separated from where the event itself is taking place. That happened to me when I covered the Boston Marathon. Even though I worked for a newspaper with over 150,000 daily circulation, I could not get a spot on the press truck that went in front of the runners. As you can imagine, that event is overwhelmed with media requests, just like presidential debates. I was very disappointed and it obviously affected my access to a big part of the event of course, but I understood the numbers game, and I hustled hard to get the interviews and materials I needed for my stories (I had a mainbar and a couple of sidebars to write). Journalistic hustle can often make up for hindered access. Hustle (and some creativity) is available to all journalists regardless of ethnicity, gender, nationality, etc.
Thanks.
Mike Towle
Former journalist
They’re not “being denied”.
They never even applied and literally missed the deadline. And not by a day.
If they didn’t “hear back” last month, they needed to … keep pushing. That’s what journalists do.
The Atlanta Black-owned media were offended they didn’t get a personal invitation and said they “didn’t know there was a deadline because nobody told them”
As a journalist you know this is pretty basic stuff.
And only NOW, 24 hours before, are they complaining about it.
Now … it is 600 … or 800? Even the number varies.
Did you apply before the media pass application deadline?