Rochester Association of Black Journalists / P.O. Box 10490 Rochester, NY 14610

  So far 2012 is presenting an opprtunity for growth of RABJ.
  We successfully held our "Salute to Excellence" gala in Nov. 2010, and we re-established the Wyoma Best scholarship in 2011.
   Stay tuned, we have many more projects planned for 2012.
                                                                                                     

Getting the Word Out

"As it Looks From Here"

  Gary McLendon is a Public Safety Reporter for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, where he has worked since 1999. He is the President of the Rochester Association of Black Journalists, and has more than 20 years of combined experience in print and broadcast journalism.
  Prior to has current position at the D&C, Gary has been a City Issues Reporter; an Education Reporter, primarily covering city schools; and a Suburban Reporter, covering the majority of Rochester’s western suburbs.
   Before relocating to Rochester, Gary, a Long Island native, was a reporter for the Queens Tribune newspaper where he covered politics, education, crime and a variety of issues. Prior to print he worked in television and radio, as a World News Associate at CBS News and a news assistant at WBAI radio.
  Gary’s journalism experience includes work for three black-owned newspapers: The Community Reporter, a startup based in Roosevelt, Long Island, The Pensacola Voice in Pensacola, Fla., which began publishing in 1963, and the Louisiana Weekly newspaper in New Orleans, La., which has published since 1925.
  His work for the Black Press involved reporting stories in cities and small towns throughout the Florida Panhandle, and parts of southern Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. His articles have also been published in the Carolina Peacemaker, and New York Amsterdam News newspapers.
  While working for the Black Press Gary has sought-out and interviewed some of the most well-known activists, black scholars, and revolutionary figures in black America such as: the late Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael); Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan; Dr. Molefe Asante; Dr. Maulana Karenga, Dr. Imari Obadele, Dr. Na’im Akbar; Ron Daniels, Ramona Africa, reverends Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Joseph Lowery, and others.
  Throughout his journalism career, Gary has never been one to shy away from the controversial. He didn’t realize why until he learned, while researching his family history, that for a time his grandfather, attorney James McLendon, represented Marcus Garvey, and led a legal fight to desegregate Madison Square Garden.
  A volume of Gary’s work for the Louisiana Weekly series Africa Rising: A Journey Through Africana Studies have been selected along with those of noted historian John Henrik Clarke, and others, to be published by the University of Houston Press. Portions of the series appear online.
  Gary’s column - As It Looks From Here - appears regularly in Rochester’s black-owned newspaper The Minority Reporter, as well as on the RABJ website.




  

Career Background

Gary McLendon

(Rochester, N.Y.) -- The group "Activists Against Racism Movement" hosted a public discussion regarding the role and responsibility of the media when addressing cultural issues within the community Wednesday night.
  Gary McLendon, a local member of the Association of Black Journalists, said ignoring the culture of violence within the black community is more dangerous than reporting it.
  ”I am pleased to put our problems in front of those in power. It hurts to have to do it, but it will not go away until we get the people who are in position to make change to see that they have to make change in order to make this go away,” he said.
  McLendon said there needs to be balance in the way stories are covered.
  Organizers of the event suggest more media attention to positive efforts by minority groups.

Since 2004

Discussion of Media and Racism

Gary McLendon discusses media coverage concerns during Feb. 25 forum in Rochester.