There is No Room for Certain Black-owned Press Despite the Illusion of Inclusion in Harris Camp

By Mona Austin 

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks about restoring reproductive rights 
at her Alma Mater, Howard University.  Photo by Mona Austin

Certain Black media has been shut out of the historic speech Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to deliver on the ellipse near the White House today. This is a major address about the security and integrity of the election process and what type of leader she hopes to be if elected. The speech is being billed as Harris' "Closing Arguments' which means there won't be another like it. That an outlet with a large audience of Black readers and listeners was not approved to cover it is unacceptable. I didn't expect to be writing about this one week before the presidential election but this shameful rejection is too important to brush aside.

It seems that one would have a better chance of being a citizen and filling out a form advertised online to attend the event than being a professional political reporter. According to various reports an anticipated 20-40,000 attendees are expected to show up. With these projections a large amount f press would also be expected and this is something I did not want to miss. So, on the morning of the event, I like thousands of others signed up. Unlike others, I belong inside of the press bin. My suspicion on the odds of getting access were correct. Within a couple of hours I was approved.

I am not the only Black journalist who was not credentialed for this major event. The Harris-Walz press team has denied access to several Black individuals and outlets over the campaign season. The Slice News has been covering Harris long before she became a presidential candidate, when the bulk of the mainstream press at the Whtie House pretended that she was a non-factor in co-leading the country. I have also covered several stops on the campaign trail; yet, we were not approved to partake in this historic moment and have not been granted access for pool coverage or an interview as we requested several times prior to said engagement.

Internet personalities have been given preference above a reporter with seniority and a respected written canon of White House coverage. This type of discrimination against their own must be addressed before some to the same people on the campaigning press team enter the White House if Harris wins the presidency. They are turning away fair, accurate and intelligent reporting in exchange for media "partnerships" with Black newspapers, popular online personalities and media platforms where every other work is an expletive. Donald Trump may have started the "fake media" raid but he at least has demonstrated that he understands the importance of embracing all forms of it. The team should ensure equitable coverage for the press while demonstrating their commitment to alternative media access. They are blocking standard broadcast press platforming and giving preference to digital platforms.  With its multi-platform dissemination, the Slice News does both.

In the media blitz over the past month Harris ahs interviewed with a variety of media showing that she values the mixture. BUT, many of those who she spoke to catered to her and did not ask hard questions. She sat down with Shannon Sharpe, a Youtube host who was recently the subject of a "leaked" sex tape, Roland Martin who has been a Harris defender and Charlamagne da God of the Breakfast Clube to name a few. The Slice News works for the people. Perhaps we are not their "type."

Despite this lack of cooperation, the Slice News has never failed to provide news to our community, giving our audiences a fulsome look at the internal dealings of the Biden Administration.

I am extremely disappointed in the outcomes I have experienced as there are untold ramifications that are a disservice to my audience, the Black community, which I have proudly served by working for and with Black-owned and operated radio, magazines and newspapers for almost 20 years.

This afternoon, I submitted the following grievance letter to the Harris-Walz press team hoping for a change:

Good Afternoon XXX,

I am submitting this formal grievance regarding the denial of press credentials by the Harris-Walz campaign. As a dedicated and community-centered publication, The Slice News  has continuously served as a vital platform for news that is often overlooked or under-reported in mainstream media. Our commitment to balanced, insightful, authentic coverage has earned the trust of our readership and listeners, particularly within communities historically marginalized in both politics and media representation.

It is deeply concerning to me that despite our reputation for reliable journalism and our audience's interest in following the developments of the Harris-Walz campaign, we were denied credentials. This decision not only impedes our ability to cover the campaign fairly and directly but also signals a reluctance to engage with a publication that resonates deeply with communities of color and other marginalized groups and uniquely, the faith-based demographic.

I am writing to ask you to reconsider granting The Slice News access to the Vice President's speech today.  

I believe it is a mistake to ostracize a BLACK AND WOMAN OWNED media outlet that directly reports to  #blackchurchvoters, especially when Blacks tend to be the targets of voter interference and intimidation. I am hoping it was an oversight of a staffer who may not be familiar with The Slice News.  I should be among the press approved to cover the ellipse event in person as a newsgatherer and maker who holds hard passes at both the White House and U. S. Congress. Covering any event at the White House should come with ease, particularly since I know that popular Black media  who work outside of the White House are granted access to such events.  

The Slice has consistently done our job WITHOUT receiving any election funds for advertising, acknowledgement or having proper access (such as in the pool or at major events outside of campaign coverage) in order to serve the public's interest and maintain public trust. Given this truth, it is unfair to be continuously blocked from doing the same work that my colleagues on equal footing are permitted to do. At this late stage it is highly disappointing that we are not being acknowledged as a serious news outlet in the sphere controlled by Democrats when your party's tag line is about fairness and representation.  I do not understand why I encounter snags with credentialing and genuinely hope you can grant a single press credential for this evening's event.

Not only  am I asking you to reverse the decision for this particular event, but also to supply answers to my previous interview request and to at least acknowledge that you received it even if you cannot accommodate a change.

Mona Austin, WHC

The Slice News