July 26, 2021

Contact: Dave McCleary, RABJ President

president@rabjonline.org

RABJ Statement Regarding Sexual Harassment of Journalist Brianna Hamblin

The Rochester Association of Black Journalists supports and commends Spectrum News 1 journalist Brianna Hamblin for her bravery in confronting the inappropriate behavior of male passersby during her news reporting Friday.

Unfortunately the harassment of women in public spaces is not uncommon. But women should not be forced to just “roll with it or ignore it,” as emphasized in Hamblin’s tweet exposing the situation.

In an industry that is still dominated by men, it is important that we all demand that women in the field be treated with respect and dignity. Additionally, as a Black journalist, Hamblin is already faced with an uphill battle to obtain equity.

Part of the mission of RABJ is to serve as a resource to Black journalists and to advocate for fair and equal treatment in the newsroom and in the field. We will continue to support Hamblin and all Black journalists in this quest.

Founded in 2004, the Rochester Association of Black Journalists is a nonprofit that works to groom future journalists of color, help chapter members thrive in their current roles, and advocate for African-Americans to be depicted in a fair and balanced way in the media. The National Association of Black Journalists named RABJ the Professional Chapter of the Year in 2019.