Security Alert for Public Relations, Media Relations and Event Planners

June 12, 2006

Dear Public Relations, Media Relations and Event Planners,

It is with great sadness that I issue our first ever security alert. In all my years of working in journalism I have never experienced such a situation. It is a sad day for Black America when one of our own people betrays the Black Press and misuses its legacy for personal gain. After the tragedy of Katrina Hurricane, we all know the importance of the Black Press and how important it is to our communities.

Please be advised that a person is impersonating an official Black Press reporter, freelancer and/or representative using the Black Press name in order to obtain media credentials. It is also possible that this person is possibly committing ID theft by impersonating Black Press Magazine's managing editor, De Carla "DC" Livers.

For one or two events nearly two years ago, Kay L. Young was credentialed through the Historical Black Press Foundation as a freelance writer for Black Press Magazine. She was asked to cease that role shortly thereafter. For the past year or so we assumed that she had complied; however, it has come to our attention that she continues to unethically gain access to events using our company name.

Description: For the sole purpose of being able to protect the integrity of your event and identifying her, Ms. Young's description is about 5' 3 ", dark skinned, overweight woman about 57 years old with a bookish look. Generally, she wears eyeglasses, and her hair is black and very short. She has been reported to occasionally bring her children whom she "pawned off as Junior Reporters" at the National Urban League's dinner in Washington, DC.

Events attended by Kay Young: In April 2006 we discovered that Ms. Young had unethically gained access to the following events without our knowledge or permission in Wash, DC:

NFL Grid Iron Dinner (raising money for the Special Olympics) (2/2006)
National Urban League Dinner (3/2006)
Pantene Tour featuring Tyrese, Donna Richardson and Myra J (4/2006)
U.S. Dream Academy Annual Dinner featuring Senator Hilary Rodman Clinton (5/2006)
American Diabetes Association Annual Conference and Dinner (6/2006)

HOW TO GET BLACK PRESS TO COVER YOUR EVENT

While the Historical Black Press Foundation, Black Press Magazine and BlackPress.org are national news organizations based in Washington, DC, we do not always cover every event as it pertains to African Americans. When we seek access to an event, your public relations department will receive a phone call from DC Livers, the managing editor and the ONLY AUTHORIZED person who can make editorial assignments. In addition, you'll either receive a fax or an an email from blackpressmagazine@yahoo.com.

JOURNALISM VERIFICATION PROCESS

In general, we usually call in advance of the event, but on rare occasions we may not come to know of the event until the last minute. In that case, we may call on short notice or show up. We will also stop by the press registration area and receive the press kit and materials.

Badges and Identification

An official Black Press reporter, freelancers or representative will have government issued ID and an official Black Press badge (if you'd like to see a sample, please make your request by phone and an email version will be sent to you). Whenever possible, the representative will have an assignment letter but as stated before, sometimes on short notice a letter is not possible. However, badges should always been shown if they are a legitimate journalist working for our organization.

If you are uncertain as to whether or not to credential a reporter, representative or freelancer using the Black Press name, please contact DC Livers, managing editor at 646.322.3047 at any hour of the day, seven days a week. You may also send an email to blackpressmagazine@yahoo.com.

Authorities Alerted

I have alerted the Society of Professional Journalists, Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, National Black Public Relations Society, Public Relations Society of America, International Association of Business Communication, National Urban League and the NAACP of the situation in hopes of heading off additional issues. If - and mostly likely - when a security breach happens that we are aware of we will list it on this page.

With respect,

DC Livers, managing editor
Black Press Magazine
a publication of the Historical Black Press Foundation
http://www.blackpress.org