Professor Funabiki Discusses Journalists for Diversity Group

COLUMBIA JOURNALISM REVIEW -- I was a member of the organizing committee that met at San Francisco State on October 9, 1993. After years of discussions, the togetherness we long sought appeared within reach. We came up with several ideas: one was to begin a “news watch” magazine that issued zingers to media for specific racist acts.

“It was risky. It was new. It was bold,” says Jon Funabiki, a professor of Journalism at San Francisco State University, via email. “I can remember journalists of all stripes being excited about working together and standing together. ... By standing shoulder-to-shoulder in this very visible public collaboration, Unity really projected a voice and a vision.”