Romenesko

Kansas City Star
Some observations about minorities and sports journalism from Jason Whitlock:
* "The issue of diversity in coaching and sportswriting is very complex. It's foolish to look at the raw, end-result numbers and conclude that racism is the only explanation and that jobs should just be handed to minorities in the name of diversity. You have to give jobs to the people who have demonstrated a passion for them."
* "Out of fear and insecurity, the system sometimes short-circuits and backfires when it's forced to work with a minority journalist who doesn’t express the proper amount of gratitude, expresses too much self-confidence, too much passion for the business."
* "A significant number of talented minority sportswriters have been run out of the business at an early age simply for expressing themselves and their perspective. The industry that promotes free speech sometimes fights it ferociously behind the scenes."