To say it has been quite a year for Jemele Hill would be something of an understatement. The co-host of ESPN’s 6 p.m. SportsCenter had gained a reputation for being “too political” and “too liberal,” and that was before she infamously tweeted that President Donald Trump is a white supremacist (which she was not suspended for) and then tweeted that Dallas Cowboys fans who disagree with Jerry Jones should boycott the team (which she was suspended for). Soon after, it was announced that she would be leaving SC6 to take a position with The Undefeated, ESPN’s outlet that explores “the intersections of race, sports, and culture.” Hill would eventually say she regretted the way she expressed her opinions but did not disavow them. Since then, she’s written about subjects such as the sexual assault scandal at Michigan State, racism in youth lacrosse, and Colin Kaepernick’s opportunity to meet with Trump at the White House.
Because of her impact and emergence as one of the most loved and hated figures in sports journalism, Hill was recently named the National Association of Black Journalists’ 2018 Journalist of the Year. The NABJ’s statement on Hill noted that “she exhibits strength, grace, and doggedness” and that “NABJ appreciates the courage and steadfastness Jemele has demonstrated as a journalist and commentator speaking truth to power.”
Of course, Hill is not a hero in all circles. On the conservative side, she’s seen as the poster-child for ESPN’s “liberal agenda” and her commentary on NFL player protests and other social issues has made her a target of many media pundits. Case in point, Fox News’ Fox & Friends spent an entire segment Tuesday chastising the NABJ for naming Hill as Journalist of the Year. Weirdly, much of the discussion was spent on the notion that it doesn’t make sense to give Hill the award because she is “unemployed.”
As we noted earlier, Jemele Hill is currently employed by ESPN and has been the entire year. A quick internet search confirms this just in case you needed proof.
Fox & Friends issued a correction on Twitter five hours later, noting that Hill is, in fact, employed.
On the show this morning a guest stated Jemele Hill was unemployed. Correction: Hill is currently employed by ESPN.
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) May 22, 2018
One commentator on Fox & Friends also referred to the NABJ as “The National Black Association of Journalists,” which is also incorrect, as you can tell just by looking at the association’s acronym.
[Deadspin]
