Maynard Institute Launches Wire Service On Structural Racism

The Maynard Institute’s Media Center on Structural Racism today launched America’s Wire, an innovative news service that will provide enterprising content for wire services, metropolitan newspapers, ethnic/community papers, magazines and websites.

In an effort to help the media better cover communities of color and the impact that structural racism has on the families who reside there, America’s Wire will provide subscribers with professionally reported, written and edited stories that will help readers better understand the obstacles and challenges that people of color continue to face in America today.
“We are excited that America’s Wire will bring a better understanding of communities of color and the challenges they face,” said Dori Maynard, who chairs the America’s Wire Advisory Board and is president and CEO of the Maynard Institute.  “Our goal is to provide professionally reported, written and edited stories that can broaden the selection of articles that daily newspapers, magazines, ethnic media and websites make available to their readers.  We urge media outlets to sign up for our trial offer and subscribe to America’s Wire, and bring a wider variety of stories to your readers.”

“The news media in the United States has historically been a guardian of the public’s interest,” said Michael K. Frisby, president of America’s Wire.  “But there has to be a realization that the media have not accurately communicated the continued impact of structural racism in America.  Public opinion polls repeatedly show that a majority of whites believe that racism and discrimination no longer exist. But those residing in communities of color know the reality.  Their communities are devastated by high unemployment, poor schools, environmental dangers, inadequate housing and many other conditions that are caused by structural racism rooted in American society.”

America’s Wire will report on the people impacted by structural racism and their communities, hoping to improve awareness of the true conditions in communities of color.

As part of our introductory offer, all media outlets and the public can visit our website at http://www.americaswire.org/ and sign up for a free, 30-day subscription. During that period, subscribers can download and publish our stories free of charge in their media outlets. After the trial period, media outlets must obtain a paid subscription to access our stories. The rates, which vary according to outlet type and size, can be viewed at http://americaswire.org/catalog/5.

The initial offering of stories include articles on:

- The impact of residential segregation on health outcomes
- Conservatives blaming the poor for being poor
- The declining number of black males at colleges and universities
- Tim Wise, a white crusader against racism
- States easing restrictions on ex-convicts
- Commentary by University of Chicago Professor Cathy Cohen on African American youths and the midterm elections

America’s Wire is made possible through a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.