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2007 Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ricky Clemons
National Urban League
212/558-5371
rclemons@nul.org

National Urban League Responds to Return of Imus

New York, N.Y. - December 3, 2007 - National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial called the return of shock jock Don Imus to the radio airwaves "a symptom of a larger problem -- the continuing lack of diversity in this country's newsrooms."

"When there is greater diversity in front of and behind the microphone, all voices are heard," he said during an interview on WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show today.

Mr. Morial added that Imus' coarse and unacceptable language undermines the public's opportunity for relevant commentary. "Black and urban Americans are underserved by shock journalism. The National Urban Leagues hopes to see greater diversity among the writers, producers, bookers and reporters on the airwaves."

The National Urban League's updated report, Sunday Morning Apartheid: A Diversity Study of the Sunday Morning Talk Shows, will be released in January.

For more information, contact Stephanie Jones, National Urban League Policy Institute, at 202-898-1604 or visit www.nul.org.

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National Urban League (www.nul.org) Established in 1910, The Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 36 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research.