FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2021
NAHJ National Board leadership meets with TEGNA media over discrimination at KUSA newsroom in Denver
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the leadership of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), met with Grady Tripp, TEGNA chief diversity and inclusion officer, and Eric Valadez, TEGNA corporate content executive team member, to discuss concerns raised in a column written by former KUSA employee Lori Lizarraga and published March 28 in Westword, a Denver publication, including the incorrect use of the phrases “illegal immigration” and “illegal immigrants.”
Lizarraga’s column and subsequent comments and complaints from former staff has shed light on a workplace that is hostile against journalists of color in TEGNA’s KUSA newsroom in Denver. This does not happen overnight and there are clear examples where the leadership has fostered a culture where journalists of color are not provided the tools they need to be successful and are discriminated against. This cannot be allowed to continue.
NAHJ thanks Tripp and Valadez for their time and individual commitments to increase inclusion and improve the environment in TEGNA stations.
During the meeting, Tripp described specific diversity and inclusion initiatives and a proposed system to hold newsroom leadership accountable. However, there is no guarantee that those initiatives and proposals will be carried out or how effective these proposals would be. TEGNA has made it clear they stand by the leadership of KUSA, despite the numerous accounts by employees showing discrimination and a pattern of behavior on the part of management that allows this hostile environment to continue. The current leadership has been in power for decades, and despite promises of change over the years, there has been no improvement.
To understand the issues and challenges facing a community, a newsroom must reflect that community. To ensure that happens, leadership teams — including recruiters, human resource specialists, managers — must recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion. It’s clear that the current leadership at KUSA does not share those values.
NAHJ National Board leadership will return for follow-up meetings with TEGNA leadership in mid-April. We expect to speak to CEO Dave Lougee, Patti Dennis, director of recruiting, and 9News Content Director, Tim Ryan.
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About the NAHJ
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States and dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. The mission of NAHJ is to increase the number of Latinos in the newsrooms and to work toward fair and accurate representation of Latinos in the news media. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. NAHJ has over 3,300 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals, and journalism educators. For more information please visit NAHJ.org or follow on Twitter @NAHJ.
Media Contact:
BA Snyder
Veritas Group for NAHJ
512.630.6337