Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Receiving Backlash for Prioritizing Interviews with Black and Brown Journalists

In her second year in office, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has drawn backlash after making news herself by providing one-on-one interviews marking this occasion exclusively with African American and Hispanic journalists. Given the fact news outlets employ journalists overwhelmingly White, this has not gone over well on TV media outlets and social media. However the mayor is being applauded in some circles for efforts to bring attention to the lack of diversity in newsroom.

As controversial as that was, it's important to note that the policy was for one round of interviews. @chicagosmayor gave a press conference yesterday and answered questions from reporters, regardless of background. A lot of misinformation from national hot-take artists on this. https://t.co/VEM2SzzpRJ

— Paris Schutz (@paschutz) May 21, 2021

As a Black journalist, I always had the sense that my voice — and my pen — no matter how celebrated beyond the newsroom were not as valued within it.
And this: That to examine racism in America, reporters never need venture beyond the American newsroom...https://t.co/9HsdEyOXqA

— John Wesley Fountain (@JohnWFountain) May 21, 2021

A must read from @TheChicagoCru:

“We applaud Mayor Lightfoot, Chicago’s first Black female gay mayor, for standing up to the status quo and recognizing that granting Black media with exclusive interviews is customary in the profession of media coverage.” https://t.co/WV2rvyAsJt

— Ryan Johnson (@Ryan_Johnson) May 22, 2021

FOX 32 provides commentary from their reporters. Wait for it...


The Black News Channel offers commentary as well.