By: Vaughn Wilson
Source: Capital Outlook
The Florida Association of Black-Owned Media (FABOM) met with Florida Governor Charlie Crist on April 30, to discuss opportunities for state procurement.
Members of the black media were welcomed by the governor to the Florida Capitol for a roundtable discussion on issues that affect their businesses. “I’m am very well aware of the reach you have, and the voice you share,” Gov. Crist said. That set the tone for the meeting as members of the Florida black media expressed their disconnect with state procurement as the process is cluttered with red tape.
The Office of Supplier Diversity in the Florida Department of Management Services is responsible for registering and certifying minority and women-owned vendors with the state and notifying them of contracts. With the latest law that adds military veterans to the department, it will become more difficult for black businesses to do business with the state.
Charles W. Cherry II, co-owner with his brother Glenn of the Florida Courier, Daytona Times and TAMA Broadcasting said, “Black people are at the top of every crucial negative indicators and at the bottom of the list of positive indicators statewide.” “Yet, when advertising comes out targeting these very issues, the black media doesn’t get the advertising that should be targeted to our audience…we’re simply not getting it,” he added.
Bobby Henry Sr. of the Westside Gazette in Ft. Lauderdale had a personal example of why the advertisement method is flawed. “All of us in here have family and friends affected with HIV/AIDS, yet very little advertisement is being done in our media,” he said.
FABOM is an association of diverse media organizations within the State of Florida. They include newspapers, magazines, websites, radio stations and television stations. Some of the businesses in the group are generational and have been in business for decades. Several surveys over the years have determined that as many as 30 percent of blacks subscribe to black media and not any other form of media. In addition to those blacks who subscribe to multi-media formats, black media is unequivocally the most impacting medium.
Additionally, FABOM met with Torrey Alston, Director of Supplier Diversity at the Department of Management Services. Alston, was very receptive to making the process simpler for minorities to participate in the procurement process. “I am reviewing the certification process in order to determine what can be be eliminated to streamline the process and remain in compliance with the law, ” he said.
FABOM was represented by 16 members who represented newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television stations, and internet sites. Cities from across the state who were represented at the meeting included Pensacola, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Sarasota, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Daytona respectively.
