RACE
What happened to the "reckoning" in food media?
Want a copy of our first-ever print magazine? You can order one here.
Food is an inextricable part of our lives. Whether you’re hunting down word-of-mouth recommendations, tinkering with new recipes, or shoveling down something from the frozen aisle because you’ve forgotten to eat for most of the day — all of which I’ve done — you’re looking for something to sustain you.
And food does more than fuel. It’s part of how people build community — making something that accounts for different nutritional needs and preferences and sharing it with friends over conversation.
From seed to harvest to pan, people (and politics) are behind the business and production of food. Good food journalism needs to view those dynamics with a critical lens, though journalists of color note this hasn’t always been the case.
In 2020, their critiques came to a head when Bon Appétit and food journalism at large faced calls to grapple with systemic racism’s impact in newsrooms and coverage?
The Objective asks: Have things changed? The answer isn’t so simple. In partnership with L.A. Taco, we published our first-ever print magazine, The Reckoning in Food Media, ten pieces that we’ve released over the past couple months.
In addition, Infatuation D.C. writer Omnia Saed, The Food Section editor Hanna Raskin, and L.A. Taco’s editor-in-chief Javier Cabral hashed out their thoughts on how the industry’s shifted in the past three years and shared advice for burgeoning food writers in our virtual launch event for the issue.
Want to dig into our coverage? These questions will get you started:
Has food media lived up to its diversity commitment?
Check out Izzy Johnson’s first-hand account of how those promises can falter.
Read my Q&A with Jenny Dorsey of Studio ATAO, who worked with Well & Good and The Kitchn, in which we discussed tokenism and equitable representation in their newsrooms.
The Objective’s co-director Gabe Schneider spoke with Whetstone Magazine founder Stephen Satterfield, who reflects on the lack of Black-owned food publications.
What gaps and pitfalls remain in food media?
Saed addresses the ahistoric exclusion of African cuisine in food reporting.
Alex Espitia wrote about the importance of covering urban farms as community resources.
Restaurants often tout their “farm to fork” credentials. Curtis Yee, who copy edits for The Objective, peeled back some of the buzzword’s layers.
Remember Martha Stewart’s insider trading scandal? John Besche critiques the lack of critical coverage around celebrity chefs.
Raskin, The Food Section editor, chronicles the origin of her publication and the importance of taking food journalism seriously — not just as a chance to get a free meal.
How does social media impact conversations around food?
Frankie Huang breaks down a missing element of the discussions about cultural appropriation and appreciation in food, from so-called “Noodlegate” to white TikTokers making “authentic” Korean food.
Could your childhood favorite spot become overrun with tourists soon, thanks to TikTok? Jireh Deng explores the tangled threads between small businesses, social media and gentrification.
We couldn’t have hit this new milestone without all of our members, readers, and contributors! Thank you to everyone who participated in bringing this to life. You can read the full series online and order a copy of the magazine on the project’s landing page.
WHAT ELSE?
A bit more media
The troubling framework of the ‘Neo-Nazi's girlfriend’: Newsrooms shouldn't minimize the role of women in white supremacy, argues Alina Kim for The Objective. Kim also outlines ways newsrooms can improve such coverage. Read more.
All the exciting media outlets are dying. What’s next? For The Walrus, Tajja Isen examines the digital media landscape in the wake of the Buzzfeed News and MTV News shutdowns and Vice’s filing for bankruptcy, given the impact those outlets have had on traditional media’s models and tone. Read more.
RIP Buzzfeed News, 2012-2023: The last piece published on the newsroom’s site is an oral history chronicling what Buzzfeed News means to the staff who made it possible. Of note: The company is paying four members of the newsroom’s union less because they aren’t connected to its New York office. Read more.
Buzzfeed prioritizes diversity … that is, diverse AI:
During its investor day, the company’s — which owns brands like Complex, Tasty and Huffpost — presenters spoke glowingly about the tool. “We see creators, AI and moments as intersectional,” said Andrew Guendjoian, Buzzfeed’s senior vice president of client partnerships. Read more.
Insider Union poised to strike: Yesterday, over 230 employees voted to authorize a strike should one be called; the union has been bargaining over higher salary minimums to keep up with inflation, an end to proposed layoffs and a fair deal for the 60 workers whose layoffs were announced last month. Read more.
No need to shoot The Messenger: In Nieman Lab, Joshua Benton looks at who’s funding the news startup, which launched this week with over 200 stories on its first day — some just one sentence — and discusses its aspirations. Read more.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Stay up to date
4 days until ... the deadline to apply for LinkedIn Premium for Journalists. Working journalists have the opportunity to secure a free LinkedIn Premium membership for a year to help them use the website to its fullest.
5 days until … the application deadline for The Data Institute’s free annual workshop. Designed to teach journalists to use data, code and design in their stories, the in-person workshop will take place from July 10-21, and round-trip travel is covered. Past workshop materials are available online.
6 days until … Economy + Democracy: Sourcing Solutions Stories about Community Ownership, Wealth, and Labor. The online event, hosted by the Solutions Journalism Network, will offer insights into a solutions journalism framework covering economic democracy.
FINALLY…
A few more resources
Looking for a job? Here are a few places to look: INN | ONA | JournalismJobs.com | 10 Jobs and a Dog | NABJ | AAJA | NAHJ | NLGJA | @WritersofColor | MEO Jobs | Freelance Journalist Rates | Source Jobs | Opportunities of the Week ($) | West Coast Media Jobs
How about a style guide? Trans Journalist Association | Diversity Style Guide | Tribal Nations Media Guide | NABJ Style Guide | Disability Language Style Guide | AAJA Guide to Covering Asian Pacific America | NAHJ Cultural Competence Handbook | SPJ Race & Gender Hotline | AMEJA Media Resource Guide | The Press in Prison | The Conscious Style Guide
Thanks for reading. We’ll have more for you soon.
This issue is by James Salanga with editing by Curtis Yee and Jen Ramos Eisen.