The co-chair of the National Association of Black Journalists 2024 convention in Chicago has stepped down, following former President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would attend the convention.
Karen Attiah’s announcement came via the social media platform X — after Trump’s announcement that he would attend the convention and participate in a Q&A session, Reuters reported.
I have decided to step down as co- chair from this year’s #NABJ24 convention in Chicago.
— Karen Attiah (@KarenAttiah) July 30, 2024
To the journalists interviewing Trump, I wish them the best of luck.
For everyone else, I’m looking forward to meeting and reconnecting with all of you in the Windy City. #nabj
“While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format,” Karen Attiah wrote in the thread.
The session is closed to the public, according to NABJ, but it will be livestreamed on NABJ’s YouTube and Facebook pages, Reuters said.
According to a statement from the NABJ, the session will “concentrate on the most pressing issues facing the Black community,” and it will be moderated by ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott, Fox News host Harris Faulkner, and Semafor politics reporter Kadia Goba.
“We look forward to our attendees hearing from former President Trump on the critical issues our members and their audiences care about most,” said NABJ President Ken Lemon. “While NABJ does not endorse political candidates as a journalism organization, we understand the serious work of our members, and welcome the opportunity for them to ask the tough questions that will provide the truthful answers Black Americans want and need to know.”
Fellow presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris was also invited to participate in this year’s convention, the NABJ said — and her confirmation is pending.
In the past, former presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have attended NABJ conventions either as presidents or presidential candidates, according to the NABJ.
The news of Trump’s attendance at NABJ has elicited numerous mixed reactions from members of the media and the public on social media.
Jemele Hill, a contributing writer at The Atlantic and former ESPN host, said she didn’t have a problem with the decision to host Trump under “the right circumstances.” She said she was unsure about this year’s conditions.
“A sham of an interview will destroy the organization’s credibility,” Hill wrote on X. “If the majority of NABJ’s membership is against Trump being there, the organization should listen. You have to answer to your membership and you run the risk of permanently disengaging folks. Trump isn’t worth that.”
The @NABJMonitor asks NABJ President Ken Lemon about Trump accepting the organization’s invite:
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 30, 2024
“This is a great opportunity for us to vet the candidate right here on our ground.” pic.twitter.com/hi3M2Enr4H
I’ll say this, while I don’t have a problem with Trump being at NABJ under the right circumstances because he’s a presidential candidate, I don’t know how “right” these circumstances are. A sham of an interview will destroy the organization’s credibility. If the majority of…
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) July 30, 2024
The decision to invite Trump to speak at #NABJ24 is infuriating. Black journalists are outnumbered in newsrooms, if we’re present at all. The convention is a space where our needs are supposed to be centered. Trump is the antithesis of any Black agenda. pic.twitter.com/AtMttFYJaF
— Darian Aaron (@darianoutloud) July 30, 2024
Should you be mad at @NABJ? Here is my take let me know yours….(correction Shelia Lee not Barbara Lee)#NABJ24 pic.twitter.com/NIyB3QNWaT
— Whitley Yates (@whitleyjyates) July 30, 2024
The same Trump that attacked Black journalists from the stump. The same Trump who is attacking DEI, can't get ahead of his own racism and sexism. And the guy who wants to dissolve journalism as we know it, that's who is speaking at #NABJ24 w/ record attendance. Cmon yall https://t.co/i9HMUYrBFp
— Ameshia Cross (@AmeshiaCross) July 30, 2024
this is what I've been saying since last night's 9pm news dump telling us NABJ members that Donald Trump will be attending the #NABJ24 convention in Chicago on Wednesday. It's not giving what I bet NABJ leadership thought it would give... https://t.co/ypcbmwHxtu
— S A S H A (@SashaAnnSimons) July 30, 2024
Me watching the journalists argue about #NABJ24 pic.twitter.com/Vd3AYjr5ON
— Boss Tycoon, Esq. (@nyasha) July 30, 2024
