To the editor:

We are fortunate to have a local paper that covers our community in depth. The editorial choices of that paper directly influence what issues our community engages with and what is seen as newsworthy. That is why I was particularly disappointed to open the paper on Thursday. On the front page there was a story about a former Black student athlete’s criminal case. However, new allegations against KU’s white football coach, one of the highest paid state employees, was relegated to the sports section. This is clear messaging from the Journal-World that the alleged misdeeds of a former Black student deserve more scrutiny than allegations against someone leading one of the programs that KU invests millions of dollars in every year. Magnifying Black criminal cases while minimizing allegations against powerful, wealthy white people is a pattern for the Journal-World; it is racist, and it must end. This was a disappointing editorial choice, and one that does not convey a productive understanding of how systemic racism works in our community. In fact, this is a clear example of how editorial choices continue to influence racist stereotypes and perpetuate views about which communities deserve scrutiny. I expect the Journal-World to do better. The editorial team must consider how their choices shape conversations around race in our community. They are obligated to educate themselves so they can continue to serve as the voice of record in our community.

Pegah Naemi Jimenez,

Lawrence