Moderated by the Black Lawyer Affinity Group & in Celebration of Black History Month

Proskauer was honored to host its annual celebration of Black History Month with a Q&A featuring Dean Baquet, the Executive Editor of The New York Times.  Moderated by the co-chairs of Proskauer’s Black Lawyer Affinity Group, associates Sean Spence and Krista Whitaker, the discussion highlighted Mr. Baquet’s illustrious career as a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who became the first African-American to hold the highest ranked position in The New York Times newsroom, as well as the first African-American to lead a major U.S. newspaper when he was previously named Editor of The Los Angeles Times.

Mr. Baquet shared his views on the evolution and challenges of news reporting in the digital age, navigating generational differences in a newsroom, as well as the importance of newsroom diversity.  He emphasized that a diverse newsroom is one of the many facets that allows The New York Times to accurately capture and tell human stories. In his words, “How can we write and speak for the American people if we do not look like the American people?”

Proskauer’s Black Lawyer Affinity Group (BLAG) provides a forum for the Firm’s black attorneys to share ideas and experiences, and hosts events that celebrate the richness of backgrounds and perspectives that distinguish the group.  In addition to the discussion with Mr. Baquet, BLAG celebrated Black History Month by curating an art exhibition showcasing diverse artists, featuring cuisine from the African diaspora in the Firm’s New York office, as well as making a charitable donation to a civil rights organization.