Reports of hate crimes have surged nationally, with targeted violence against Asian-Americans, Jewish Americans, and Black Americans all dominating national headlines.
Journalists need to understand what is behind the increased violence, and what the trends are in hate crime attacks, which have historically been significantly under-reported.
Seeking to remedy that problem, Congress last month passed a law that approves more federal resources for local police departments to improve their training in the recognition and reporting of hate crimes to the FBI, while providing funding for states to establish hate crime hotlines. The law further authorizes judges in their sentencing of individuals convicted of hate crimes to require community service and educational rehabilitation programs that are centered on the community victims of the crime.
On June 9 at 2 p.m. ET, the National Press Club Journalism Institute will hold a professional development program for journalists on improving their coverage of hate crimes. Registration is now open for this program, which is free and open to all interested participants.
Participants will learn:
- The difference between a hate incident and a hate crime
- The history and social context behind the national rise in hate crimes
- How to transition from episodic coverage of hate incidents and crimes to ongoing coverage of the community impact of hate
Speakers include:
- Moriah Balingit, reporter covering national education issues for the Washington Post
- Lecia Brooks, chief of staff at the Southern Poverty Law Center and a longtime public speaker and educator on hate crimes and the American Civil Rights movement
- Tara Rosenblum, an award-winning senior investigative reporter for the News 12 Network who led a two-year long project documenting hate incidents across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
The program will be moderated by Rachel Oswald, reporter for CQ Roll Call and Journalism Institute professional development team lead.
The Institute is offering this program at no cost thanks to a generous grant from the Gannett Foundation
If you have questions about this program, please email Julie Moos, Institute executive director, at jmoos@press.org.