Newspapers / Winston-Salem chronicle. / Jan. 1, 2004, edition 1 / Page 2
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fc, Neusteit awe Poll: High profile news stories draw audiences based on race and gender WASHINGTON (API - Women were more likely than men 10 follow the news story about Laci Peterson very closely, and bl?cks were more likely than whites to closely watch the legal trouble* of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jackson, said a poll ?rt last week. Women were almost twice as likely as men to say they were very closely following the case of Peterson, a murdered pregnant woman, whose husband is on trial in the killing, according to the poll by the Pew Research Center for People & the Press. And blacks were far more likely than whites - by 47 percent to 1 3 percent - to be closely following developments in the sexual assault case against professional basketball star Kobe Bryant very closely. By a smaller margin, blacks were more likely to be closely following the molestation case against singer Michael Jackson, by 42 percent to 26 percent. Most everyone showed interest in news about Iraq - the top 2003 story in terms of (pedia interest - but the audiences for other high-profile news stories varied dramatically. Almost two-thirds, or 63 percent, said they Bryant followed news about the war in Iraq very closely. J White evangelicals were twice as likely as Catholics and non evangelical Protestants to have very closely watched the case of the Alabama chief justice's efforts to defy federal orders to remove a j monument of the Ten Commandments from a state courthouse. I Voters over age 65 were more than four times as likely as young I adults to have kept a sharp eye on news of the Medicare bill in Con gress. . The study was based on Pew polls throughout, the year and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus I percentage point. New Cincinnati police union president pledges to forge better communication CINCINNATI (AP) - The new president of the Cincinnati police union pledged to improve communication with residents and to work to create a better image of the department that has been accused of brytality against blacks. The union announced last week that members voted to oust the former president who was criticized for describing a black man who died in a violent struggle with police as a "craclihead." "We've gotten some bad press we don't deserve," said police Sgt. Harry Roberts, new Fraternal Order of Police president. Roberts defeated Roger Webster by a nearly two-to-one mar gin. Webster's comment about Nathaniel Jones in a televised news conference drew angry responses from black activist groups. Jones died after he was brought down with repeated strikes from nightsticks by officers. ? Webster also drew complaints from fire department union offi cials about his criticism of fire personnel for leaving the scene of Jones' struggle w ith police. The fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by a white police officer in April 2001 prompted three nights of rioting in Cincin nati. N.H. pastor criticizes Democrats Frustrated with Democratic presidential candidates who "pimp the church," the pastor of a black church in Portsmouth, N.H., has criticized those who would use his congregation as Trbackdf&p. for campaign photos rather than a serious discussion of issues. "Come because you want to be here." the Rev. Arthur Hilson of New Hope Baptist Church said from the pulpit recently in an appeal to the candidates. "Don't come here because you want to use me or our people." Hilson said he has not endorsed any candidate, although a photo taken during a visit by front-runner Howard Dean showed Dean Reside the pastor's w ife. The photo appeared in Newsweek. "When the Dean people came they said, 'Can you be at the door and have your wife with you?'" Hilson said. A Dean campaign spokesman said he was disappointed Hilson took the occasion of Dean's visit in a way that had not been intended. "It's very unfortunate that Reverend Hilson feels this way," said Matthew Gardner. Dean's New Hampshire press secretary. "Gover nor Dean very much enjoys meeting with people throughout New Hampshire, and we Celt warmly received by the reverend and other members oC the congregation." Hilson said a visit by Carol Moseiey Braun. in contrast, was not preceded by a request to have certain people on hand. "They simply came into the church and took seats." he said. Hilson's church also has been visited by Sen. Joe Liebennan and Rep. Dick Gephardt. Gray to get award from black film critics NEW YORK ( AP) - F. Gary Gray, director of "The Italian Job," will receive a special achievement award from the African American Gray Film Critics Association. "Wilt) this year's release of The Italian Job.' former music video director F. Gary Gray demonstrated strong growth and a solid command of the filmmaking process with a stylish remake of the 1969 caper classic," said Gil Robertson, a [Syndicated columnist and one of the group's vice presidents. The critics chose "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" as the top film of 2003. followed by "Lost in Translation" and "In America." "The Italian Job." starring Mark Wahlberg. Charlize Theron and Mos Def. came in seventh on the group's top? 10 list. The rest of the list, in order: "Dirty Pretty Things." "The Last Samurai." "Finding Nemo." 'Tupac: Resurrection." "City of God" and "Mystic River." The African American Film Critics Association, which consists of print, broadcast and online movie reviewers, aims to draw attention to movies w ith appeal to black audiences, or to works that come from black filmmakers or star black actors. ' Ttie Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest H. Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published every Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing Co. Inc., 617 N. Liberty Street, Winston-Salem, NC 37101. Peri odicals postage paid at Winston-Salem, N.C. Annual sub scription price is $30.72. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636 Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636 Shuttlesworth takes new challenge THK ASSOCIA1 EDfRESS ATLANTA - Few have ' laced the kinds of obstacles that civil rights leader the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth has: He's been arrested by police for fighting for his rights. His home has been bombed. He has been beaten bloody by angry racists armed with whips and chains. At 81. Shuttlesworth faces a new challenge as he takes over as interim president and CEO of the Atlanta-based Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the once vaunted but now struggling civil rights organization fighting a battle to stay relevant. "I can count on my hands how many times I have been in death's j^ws," Shut tlesworth. who "now lives in Cincinnati, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for a Christmas Day story. "I didn't think 1 would live to be 40 ? years old." Shuttlesworth replaces ?Martin Luther King III, son of the slain civil rights leader, as head of the SCLC. .^vKing, named to the top j SClC job in 1997, resigned L lastynonth tu take over as I president of the King Center I for Nonviolent Social Change. ' In 2001, King survived an attempt by the SCLC board to oust him after the board accused him of not being an aggressive and vigilant leader. Lack of aggressiveness is not the conference's only problem. Shuttlesworth takes the job at a time when some Photo by Ken Stewart/ Zuma Prfcs The Rev . Fred Shuttlesworth speaks out from his pulpit on Dec. 8 about police brutality by Cincinnati police. observers have argued that the SCLC has become irrelevant. By all accounts the organi zation's heyday was during the era of the civil rights struggle. And in recent years the group has suffered from the changing face of black politics and economics, politi cal infighting and the rising prominence of other black civil ^fights organizations, such as the Rev. Jesse Jack son's Chicago-based Rain bow-PUSH Coalition. Jackson's Rainbow Coali tion has made inroads even into the SCLC's own backyard of Atlanta. Jackson opened an office here and has come to town to weigh |n on such local issues as the city's sewer cri sis, troubles in Clayton Couiu ? ty and helping Morris Brown College get back on its feet. The Rev. Joseph Lowery, another former SCLC presi dent considered by many to be the dean of Atlanta's civil and social rights activists, now heads the Georgia Coalition See SCLC on A9 Rep. Davis pushes nationwide black male study BY JAMES WRIGHTS AFRO NEWSPAPERS . WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) has issued a call for President Bush to launch a national commission to study the prob lems of the African-American male. Davis says that a com mission is needed because of concerns that were raised at the recent Status of the African American Male Initia tive that was recently held in Washington. "Based upon statistical data, it is my contention that conditions relating to African American males are continu ing to decline and thereby require intervention," the let ter said. "For example, the unemployment rate among African^ American males is approximately 31.9 percent, which is triple the national average. African-American males make up 6 percent of the total population and account for 48 percent of the prison population. "According to the Census Bureau. 30 percent of African American males under 18 live below the poverty line." Marc Morial. former mayor of New Orleans and now president and CEO of the National Urban League, noted at the initiative event that "Black men lead every nega tive aspect of almost any sta tistics compiled." Black-men earn less, are deeper in debt, save less,' are less educated," and tend to lack employable job skills, he said. Morial's solution was for the government and the pri vate sector to come together to solve these problems. In the letter, Davis urged Bush to charge the commis sion to look at disparities -in the health system, criminal justice system, school dropout rates, economic opportunities and cultural trends. Davis said. "It isjjur hope that the commission will identify causes and recommend both short-term and long-range policy and B^jwa^ynua^*; direction* ipiiiwtive* change." ? A commission to study the problems of black men is not new on the state and local lev els. Washington has a com4 ' mission to study the problems of black men and boys in the INDEX OPINION. A4 SPORTS SI RELIGION. B4 CLASSIFIEDS. B7 HEALTH. C2 ENTERTAINMENT... C5 CALENDAR C7 * city that was set up by D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), and is set to issue a report in 2004. Indiana, led by Jose Evans, established a commis sion several years ago and has become a model for others to follow. For example, in Indiana, each major city has a commis sion of activists and con cerned citizens set to monitor the progress of black men in employment, the criminal jus tice system and education. Davis With the support of the Congressional Black Caucus, the NAACP, National Urban League, the Association of Black Psychologists, the National Organization of Con cerned Black Men and the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Davis has organ ized a group of cities where discussions will be ' taking place, at various times, regarding the status of black men. See Davis on A9 / BIBLE BASED EDUCATION / INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION / CO-OPERATIVE PROGRAMS / SUPERIOR FACULTY /FLEXIBILITY / COST j 6 REASONS FOR YOU TO ATTEND ^ JJ FOUNDED TO HELP TRAIN MINISTERS TO EVANGELIZE THE WORLD WSBC provides two degrees with one major area of study. All of the Col lege's programs are designed to help each student be successful in various areas of Christian service. Therefore every graduate will have a major in Bible Studies. In addition, each student will have an emphasis in one of four areas of Practical Ministry - Pastoral Ministry, Urban Ministry, Christian Education, % HJfctieal Languages. A student am e?rn aJfeche Arts in Min istry Degree in 2 years. Contact us for more information: Winston-Salem Bible College P.O. Box 777 Winston-Salem, NC 27102-0777 . www.wsbc.edu 336-744-0900 PREPARING REAL PEOPLE FOR \ REAL MIXISTRY IN A REAL WORLD ' Registration begins January 5, 2004 Classes begin January 12, 2004
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