::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

THE SLICE NEWS OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE WHITE HOUSE TAKING CONTROL OF POOL SELECTION Written by Mona Austin, White House and Congressional Correspondent for The Slice News A dispute between the AP, the White House Correspondents Association and the White House Press office calls for a formal examination of press freedom/access procedures. As someone who has been and can further be directly affected by the decisions I am weighing in on the matter. The context of my input is regarding who is allowed/qualified to cover 1600 Penn and who is allowed/qualified to be the decision makers following recent changes. The public deserves to understand what is behind the actions on both sides. BACKGROUND The AP filed a law suit against the White House alleging a violation of free speech. The White House retaliated by excluding their staffers from events with the president after the independent news organization refused to solely refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. White House jou...

Gospel artist Kirk Franklin. Photo by Mona Austin By Mona Austin (The Slice): Gospel music icon Kirk Franklin is protesting the Gospel Music Association, producers of the Dove Awards and their broadcasting partner the Trinity  Broadcasting Network (TBN). In a video posted on Facebook, the artist explained "history has repeated itself" with a recurrence of his comments being edited out of the Dove Awards telecast. "Today I feel like quitting, I am heart-broken that I even have to share this with you," he starts the video saying. Franklin's sentiment reflects the micro-aggressive behaviors in business and society that  bring to light what many Africans-Americans perceive as blatant discrimination decades beyond the Civil Rights Era. VIDEO: Kirk Franklin announces personal boycott of Dove Awards and TBN Continuing, the Sunday Best host details the background on why he is taking a personal stand. He referred back to the year when h...