Black Journalist Indicts Mainstream Media

New Controversial Book exposes mainstream media's insouciance to minorities

[ClickPress, Wed Aug 30 2006] Bankole Thompson, Detroit based journalist, editor and media critic, has released a new book, challenging the coverage of mainstream media on issues affecting minorities.

Jet Magazine called it a "book on the mainstream media's poor coverage of inner cities."

Ignoring The Underprivileged: A Journalist Indictment of Mainstream Media is the title of Thompson’s new book, launched in June of 2006 and already been used for graduate and undergraduate classes at two Michigan universities.

In the book, Thompson explains how, and why mainstream media ignores issues that affect majority of the US population - including many Detroit residents who the author believes fall within the underprivileged class - while lavishing attention on issues relating to the privileged few in society.

Thompson views the term underprivileged, from an empirical socio-political and economic lens, and portrays the underprivileged as having interests that neither attract the attention of mainstream media organizations nor the interest of the politically governing and economically ruling classes to whom mainstream media owes its existence and allegiance.

“The mainstream media engages in selective coverage of issues and it is clear to any right thinking individual that there is inherent and deep seated bias in the towers of mainstream media operations,” Thompson said. “The only way we can right the wrongs of the mainstream media is to force them to look at their own inactions on issues affecting Blacks, Latinos or Asians.”

We cannot be silent in the face of this kind of journalistic irresponsibility, Thompson said.

“The alternative media has been the light house of the struggles of the underprivileged in our communities,” Thompson said. “The emergence of the Black Press and other forms of alternative media in our country has made a lot of difference in redeeming issues that revolve around the daily lives of the masses of the people from under the carpet of deliberate mainstream media relegation.”

In the book, Thompson confronts the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and what he calls “the apparent racial thrust,” of the mainstream media coverage of the Katrina victims, majority Black who were fending for themselves.

However, Thompson said those who think they have no voice have a voice.

He went on to place focus on why and how the underprivileged can make the most of the opportunities provided by the easily accessible world of blogging in a chapter of the book called, “The Rise of Citizen Journalists,” to let the world know their ignored plight, challenges and achievements.

Cliff Russell, host of American Black Journal, on WTVS Detroit-PBS station, wrote the foreword of the book. Russell called the book, “A powerful salvo fired in the war to protect true journalism from plunderers.”

Russell added, “Thompson hurls piercing shards of fact, logic and history at corporate media and the sycophants who pose as journalists. His style is direct, biting and, at times borderline frenetic. The urgency of his message leaps off the pages and slaps the reader, perhaps belying the compassion and humanity Thompson has brought to his own journalistic work.”

Thompson, 27 is city editor at The Michigan Citizen, an African American weekly newspaper. BlackPressUSA.Com, a consortium of 200 Black newspapers in the country, syndicates his articles.

In Detroit, Thompson’s voice is a mainstay on the airwaves [both radio and television] including Spotlight on WXYZ, American Black Journal on Detroit Public Television and Talk of the Town on Detroit's number one talk radio MIX 92.3FM.

Frankie Darcell, host of Talk of the Town in her endorsement of the book said, “I recommend this book to everyone who cares about the media, and how it impacts the world. Bankole’s opinion on my show is a strong addition to the continuing political dialogue to move Detroit forward.”

Thompson is the host of Michigan Citizen Speaks, a weekly live television show produced by the award winning newspaper on WHPR TV 33 88.1FM & Comcast channel 20 in Detroit every Thursday 4pm-5pm.

Detroit Congressman John Conyers (D-Detroit) applauded the book calling Thompson “an esteemed journalist, one of few in his profession with integrity.”

Former U.S. diplomat, George W.B. Haley, and brother of Roots author, Alex Haley described the book as a must read for Blacks in journalism and communication

“This book is a demonstration of Bankole’s journalistic aptitude,” Haley said. “His work must be read by Black men and women in the field of communication and journalism.”

Ignoring The Underprivileged is a 120-page book.

Wayne State University Department of Africana Studies lecturer Howard Starks is using Thompson’s book as a textbook for both the summer and fall semesters in his Black Social and Political Thought class where he is examining the media’s impact on Black development.

“Bankole Thompson candidly and analytically exposed the inherent sophism within the media. Moreover, he offers solutions for us to adjust our sails, thus arriving at that port of civic responsibility by representing the voice of the voiceless and all who feel beleaguered from the guile of the powers that are,” Starks said.

Eastern Michigan University School of Journalism Professor Charles Simmons made the book a required reading for two classes in the fall semester, news writing and opinion and analysis classes.

“This city editor in the nation’s poorest post-industrial city writes with passion and scholarship because he loves both the profession and humanity. Those who question the dumbing down and infotainment movements must read his words and the book should be required for students of media, all the social sciences, and international affairs,” Simmons wrote in his endorsement of the book.

Black publisher Shanita Michelle whose publishing company FRM Inc in Iowa published the book said, “We are happy we were able to get Thompson to work with us to get the book out quickly despite his busy schedule. We are thrilled that the book is being used in universities something that many authors don’t get.”

Thompson is working on his second book.

In Detroit the book can be purchased at the following bookstores: Shrine of the Black Madonna, Black Star and Truth bookstores.

For more information about Bankole Thompson visit http://www.bankolethompson.com