Trouble at NABJ

Sharon Toomer, Executive Director of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), delivered a stinging five-page letter to NABJ board members peppered with accusations of “bad business culture” that she says are rampant enough to warrant recruiting an outsider “to facilitate the necessary organizational turnaround.” Toomer says that based on her firsthand experience and observation, [t]he board is not self-aware enough to recognize its own flaws or its contribution to perpetuating a profoundly troubled culture. She includes NABJ President Sarah Glover, a Social Media Editor for NBC-owned stations, in her accusations of unprofessional behavior in the letter obtained by Journal-isms. “One of my first observations as executive director was the disregard and abuse of national office staff,” Toomer wrote. “In fact, at my first introduction to national office staff, the board president berated staff in my presence for not making sure she was taken care of at her reception in New Orleans (at the 2017 convention.) It was a dehumanizing spectacle, and a show of abuse of power.” She went on to say, “Since I have been in this position, I have witnessed and observed conduct toward staff, members and even fellow board members that are disruptive, destructive and a disservice to the mission, necessity and value of this nonprofit organization. For example, a board and its leadership that [are] prone to undermining tactics and backbiting, which creates an environment where a lack of trust is pervasive, effectively compromising systems and infrastructure integrity throughout all organizational operations.” The board is scheduled to meet this weekend in Detroit, the site of its August 1st-5th convention. Toomer’s letter concluded, “As uncomfortable as this is to write and perhaps, for recipients to read, I wholeheartedly believe this is an opportunity to turn around this organization by doing the essential internal work required to be who and what we say we want to be.” More here.