Hollywood Foreign Press Ason. This Sunday it is preparing for its annual Golden Globes and responds to criticism for failing to develop an inclusive and diverse organization. The group does not currently have any black journalists, including its 87 87-person membership. In fact, Maher Tatna, a former HFPA chairman and board chairman, has not had a black member in the organization since at least 2002 when he joined.
In an interview for DiversityTata addressed the interaction with the heads of four major award organizations – Oscars, Globes, SAG and BAFTA. “As a person of color, it’s important to me,” Tatana says. “It’s just that there is noise, as an organization of immigrants, who write for our homeland, that discovery [for international Black journalists] Not easy, but that doesn’t mean we should give up. We will try, and we will be part of the compromise. ”
When asked about the last black HFP member, he couldn’t remember if there was a black member or who he was, saying, “It was before my time, but he doesn’t remember what country he came from.” An HFPA spokesman said the last black member was from Belize but did not provide membership dates.
An HFPA spokesperson noted that all journalists from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds based in Southern California writing for international media can apply, and also noted that the majority of the group’s membership is female, with 35% members from non-European countries. Egypt, North Africa, Japan, India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile. The FFP is also considering possible changes to its rules to expand its pool of applicants.
However, membership criteria and qualifications make the goal of obtaining different membership difficult. On the Golden Globes website, read instructions for new member apps as part of:
Applicants for a legitimate foreign publication must work with and be sponsored by Southern California-based journalists covering the entertainment industry. Two Current HFPA members. For the last 3 years applicants will have to submit 24 sample clippings of their work. For the past two years they have also been listed in the MPAA Directory of Journalists.
For a foreign journalist based in Los Angeles, building a relationship with this small group, which is largely unknown to most people, is difficult because of its tight and distinctive membership policies. More transparency will help dispel people’s perceptions that the group is not trying to be included.
On Friday afternoon, the activist organization Times Up tweeted a photo with the hashtag #TimesUpUpGlobs. Presenter Sterling K. Brown also posted a Times Up photo and said that “the lack of representation of the vote for any of the current Hollywood Awards board of directors shows a level of irresponsibility that should not be ignored.”
A Times Up spokesman responded Diversity Commenting, “We refer you to HFPA.”
In recent years, HFP has said it has no black applicants. In May 2013, The Winto reported that, as described by an anonymous HFPA member, “Samantha Of Fall-Prince, a highly experienced Los Angeles-based Black UK journalist who writes primarily for the African, Caribbean and black British press,” was denied membership. “She was disqualified on the basis of lack of evidence,” said a so-called insider.
At the time, a HFPA spokesman said, “It is a criminal offense to make any allegations against the organization and to claim any race issues.”
On Thursday, HFP said in a statement: “We are fully committed to ensuring that communities around the world represent the film, TV and artists that inspire and educate. We understand that we have black members, as well as There is a need to bring in members from other backgrounds, and we will work to implement an action plan to achieve these goals as soon as possible.
HFP did not make current President Ali Sir available for comment.
The Golden Globes will air on Sunday, February 28, at 8:00 PM EST.
