>> Ted: A DISCUSSION ON MEDIA BIASED AND REPRESENTATION IN NEWS REPORTING.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> Announcer: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOVERNOR HOBBS HAS ENDED FORMER GOVERNOR DUCEY'S PROGRAM THAT DIRECTED FEDERAL FUNDS TO SCHOOLS BUT ONLY IF THEY REJECTED COVID-19 PROTOCOLS INCLUDING MASK REQUIREMENTS AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD DEMANDED DUCEY END THIS PROGRAM WHICH PROMPTED A LAWSUIT WHICH WAS DISMISSED.

HOBBS' ADMINISTRATION WILL CREATE A COMPLIANT NEW PROGRAM TO COMPLETE THE U.S. TREASURY.

>>> THE CDC HAD THE COVID TO RECOMMENDED ROUTINE VACCINATIONS AND THEY ARE FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS.

IT INCLUDES MULTIPLE DOSES OF THE MMR-VACCINE DURING A MUMP'S OUTBREAK AND ACTIVATED FOR THOSE TO THE VIRUS.

THOSE FOR UPDATED BOOSTER SHOTS ARE 14 TIMES LESS LIKELY TO DIE FROM THE DISEASE THAN THOSE UNVACCINATED.

THAT IMPROVEMENT IS MORE PRONOUNCED AMONG SENIORS AND THE BOOSTERS ARE NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS PREVENTING INFECTION AND THAT ANY PROTECTION FROM BOOSTER SHOTS INTENDS TO WAN.

THREE MONTHS AFTER ADMINISTERED.

>>> THE MORTGAGE IS UP AND ONLY A300 DEATHS300 DEATHS OF A PERCENT.

STRONG JOB'S REPORT FOR THE LATEST RATE INCREASE.

>>> THE DEATH TOLL FROM 7.8% MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS INJURED AND A NUMBER KILLED IN TURKEY IS MORE THAN 17,000 AND THEY'RE IN SYRIA AND SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS WORK AMID TEAMS AND THERE'S COLD WEATHER AND THE LACK OF WATER, COMMUNICATIONS AND POWER.

>>> AND FINALLY, THE PHOENIX SUNS MADE WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST TRADE IN TEAM HISTORY BY ACQUIRING 13-TIME ALL STAR KEVIN DURANT IN A TRADE WITH THE BROOKLYN NETS AND THEY LOST BRIDGES AND DURANT IS A TWO-TIME CHAMPION IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME.

DURANT IS OUT WITH AN INJURY AND EXPECTED TO BE IN THE SUN'S LINEUP BY THE END OF THE MONTH AFTER THE ALL-STAR BREAK.

>>> MARICOPA COUNTY IS SEEING A SURGE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES.

INDEED, THE NUMBERS ARE THE HIGHEST SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION BACK IN 2008.

COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS TO PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FACED ADDICTION AND FOR MORE OFFERED AND WHY EVICTIONS ARE GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY OR SPIKED, WE WELCOME PAMELA BRIDGE AND ADVOCACY WITH LEGAL SERVICES AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: INCREASED IN EVICTIONS IN MARICOPA COUNTY AND LAST MONTH, IT WAS ASTRONOMICAL AND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS RENT INCREASES.

SUBSTANTIAL RENT INCREASE FROM OUR LOW INCOME HOUSING TO OUR HIGH INCOME HOUSING AND OUR POPULATIONS CAN'T AFFORD THE RENT INCREASES AND POPULATIONS OF SENIORS ON FIXED INCOME AND RENT IS INCREASING SO MUCH AND PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD IT AND SO WE SAW THIS ALMOST MORE THAN 7,000 EVICTIONS IN MARICOPA COUNTY IN JANUARY.

>> Ted: THERE WAS A TIME WITH FEDERAL FUNDS OR STATE ASSISTANCE AND SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN'T EVICT AND WHAT HAPPENED?

>> THAT WAS A PART OF COVID AND SO, THAT WAS A PART OF THE CARE'S ACT AND A LOT OF PROTECTIONS ARE OVER.

THERE IS STILL RENT ASSISTANCE OUT THERE, BUT THE PROBLEM IN ARIZONA IS OUR EVICTION PROCESS IS SO FAST.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE FASTEST PROCESSES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET RENT ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY FALL BEHIND IN TIME TO STOP THAT EVICTION.

>> Ted: INTERESTING.

OBVIOUSLY INFLATION AND SOARING RENTS ARE A BIG DEAL HERE AND IT SEEMED LIKE THEY DROPPED SOMEWHAT SHARPLY DURING THE PANDEMIC AND AM I WRONG ABOUT THAT?

>> THEY DID DROP AND WE STILL HAD EVICTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK WHAT WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC, LANDLORDS WORKING WITH TENANTS AND A LOT OF PAYMENT PLANS HAPPENING.

AND A LOT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE WENT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT NOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO PAY THE HIGHER RENTS AND LANDLORDS IN ARIZONA ARE ALLOWED TO RAISE IT.

THERE'S NO CAP ON RENT INCREASES IN ARIZONA.

SOME STATES HAVE CAPS.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT AND SO, THIS IS LEGAL AS LONG THEY ARE GIVING THE RIGHT NOTICES.

>> Ted: AND I ALSO NOTICE WITH ARIZONA WITH HOMELESS USE AND WHY IS THAT GOING ON?

>> I THINK WE HAVE SEEING PEOPLE IN CRISIS AND WE DON'T HAVE -- WE NEED TO INCREASE SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND BEDS FOR THAT HOMELESS USE IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.

>> Ted: I'M SEEING $23 AN HOUR FOR SALARY IS NEEDED JUST FOR A TWO-BEDROOM RENTAL.

YOU TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOUSE DOES THAT GET DONE WHEN THERE IS NO -- THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PUSH FOR THAT KIND OF THING.

>> WE NEED INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPERS TO BE CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NONPROFITS TO BE CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES, THERE'S NO WAY -- THEIR LEASE IS UP AND NO WAY TO AFFORD THE RENT INCREASES RIGHT NOW.

>> Ted: IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LOOKING INTO PLANS AND IDEAS ALONG THESE LINES?

>> THERE IS SOME, BUT THIS IS A STATE ISSUE AND OTHER STATES HANDLE THIS AND WE'RE NOT ALONE.

SOME STATES ARE CREATING EVICTION BY VERSION AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS OTHER STATES ARE DOING TO CURB THE PROBLEM AND ALSO MAKE INCENTIVES MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> Ted: I SAW AS WELL A TENANT BACKGROUND SCREENINGS AND WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

TENANT BACKGROUND SCREENINGS?

>> Ted: TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN AFFORD IT AND YOU DON'T GET EVICTED?

>> THE PROBLEM IS A TENANT DECIDES THEY FIND A LEASE AND SIGN A YEAR LEASE AND DECIDE THIS IS THEIR INCOME AND CAN AFFORD IT BUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR LEASE, A 30-DAY NOTICE THEIR RENT IS SUBSTANTIALLY GOING TO INCREASE.

BUT WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND SCREEN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN A POSITION TO NEED TO MOVE.

>> Ted: THAT 30-DAY NOTICE, IS THAT SOMETHING TO LOOK AT?

IT IS IF WE CAN MAKE IT LONGER.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE MONTH-TO-MONTH WITH TEN-DAY NOTICES.

>> Ted: WOW!

THAT'S QUICK.

SO WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE IS OUT THERE.

IF SOMEONE IS IN A SITUATION AND WHERE IS THE HELP?

>> IF IT'S ABOUT RENT AND MOST EVICTIONS ARE ABOUT RENT, BUT IF IT'S ABOUT RENT, THERE'S RENTAL ASSISTANCE OUT THERE AND THEY CAN COME TO COMMUNITY LEGAL SHERIFF'S OFFICESSHERIFF'SSERVICE OF SHERIFF'SSERVICES.

WE OFFER FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND CONCERNING RENT, NORMALLY WE'RE OUT FOR THE LOW INCOME AND WE HAVE A GREAT GRANT FOR MARICOPA COUNTY, WE CAN PROVIDE ADVICE TO REPRESENT THEM IN COURT AND WE CAN NEGOTIATE WITH THE LANDLORDS.

>> Ted: FROM THE LEGAL ASPECT WANTWANT WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE UP A CASE.

>> WE SEE?

>> WE SEE PEOPLE GETTING BEHIND OR CHILDCARE COSTS AND ALL REASONS WHY PEOPLE GET BEHIND.

WHEN THEY COME TO US, IT MEANS THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE LANDLORD HAS BROKEN DOWN BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I TELL PEOPLE TO START TALKING TO YOUR LANDLORD.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING TO DO.

AND THEY MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND THEY'RE WORRIED, IN CRISIS AND NOW THEY'RE FORCED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY MOVE.

MAINLY WE SEE PEOPLE, AGAIN, THE NONPAYMENT OF RENT IS THE MAIN REASON PEOPLE COME TO US FOR EVICTION.

>> Ted: LET'S SAY I'M A STATE LAWMAKER AND YOU CAN HAVE MY AND, WHAT EAR, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

>> I THINK ALTHOUGH I'M NOT ALLOWED TO LOBBY, WE CAN LOOK TO THE OTHER STATES.

WE DON'T HAVE A RATE TO COUNSEL IN ARIZONA, WHICH SOME STATES HAVE A RIGHT TO COUNSEL.

AND OTHER STATES HAVE LONGER TIMES.

THEY HAVE EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAMS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS BY LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER STATES WHO HAVE DEALT WITH THIS FOR SUCCESSFULLY THAN ARIZONA HAS.

>> Ted: INTERESTING.

PAMELA, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU POSSIBLE HAVING ME.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, WE CONTINUE A LOOK AT HOUSING ISSUES WITH NEW FUNDING FOR CREATIVE HOUSING PROJECTS FOR THOSE IN NEED.

>> Ted: THE NEED FOR HOUSING IS GREATER THAN EVER AND THE HOUSING FUND IS ADDRESSING ONE HOUSING CONCERN BY WAY FOR LARGE NEW GRANTS TO HELP FUND HOUSING PROJECTS THAT SERVE THOSE WHO ARE UNSHELTERED.

WITH US NOW IS HOWARD EPSTEIN, THE FOUNDER OF THE HOUSING FUND.

ARIZONA HOUSING FUND AND GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF WHAT HA THAT IS.

>> WE PROVIDE EQUITY GRANTS TO OUR GREAT NONPROFITS AROUND THE STATE TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MORE LOW INCOME AND PERMANENT HOUSING TO HELP OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.

>> Ted: $850,000 FOR FOUR SEPARATE PROJECTS, HUH?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Ted: AND I GUESS THE GOAL IS HELP THOSE UNSHELTERED AND HELP THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND GET THEM IN A SHELTER.

>> RIGHT.

SO WE'RE NARROWLY FOCUSED ON PROVIDING THESE GRANTS TO OUR EXCELLENT NONPROFITS AND TO BRING NEW UNITS, NEW INVENTORY TO THE MARKET AND WE'RE FOCUSED ON HELPING OUR MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE WHO ARE PREVIOUSLY HOMELESS AND LIVING IN SHELTERS OR WORSE, PEOPLE UNSHELTERED IN THEIR CAR OR ON THE STREETS.

>> Ted: THERE'S $100,000 THAT TURN SHIPPING CONTAINERS INTO MICROHOMES.

>> A FAMILY PROMISE OF GREATER PHOENIX AND A PROPERTY IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA AND THEY HELP PREVIOUSLY HOMELESS FAMILIES WITH HOUSING AND IT'S A LOW COST ALTERNATIVE TO NEW CONSTRUCTION GROUND UP AND THAT PARTICULAR NON-PROFITNONPROFIT HELPS FAMILIES AROUND THE SAFE.

>> Ted: I SEE A SIX-FAMILY MICROCOMMUNITY OF MICROHOMES.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Ted: OTHER AREAS AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, PERHAPS?

>> EXACTLY.

EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FOR LOW COST ALTERNATIVES, CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO SOLVING THIS PROBLEM AND WE'RE SEEING IN OUR STATE PEOPLE COMING UP WITH SOME FANTASTIC IDEAS, FANTASTIC PRE-PURPLEPRE-PURPOSEING IDEAS.

>> Ted: SHIPPING CONTAINERS IS INTERESTING AND PRE-PURPOSING INTO 50 APARTMENTS.

>> THIS IS A NOT SO NICE HOTEL.

THIS IS WHY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ARE ON SITE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP AND THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT IS GOING TO HELP PREVIOUSLY HOMELESS SENIORS AND VETS AS YOUR LAST GUEST MENTIONED, TWO OF THE POPULATIONS OF HOMELESSNESS WITH SENIORS AND VETS AND YOU'LL SEE THAT TREND OF ORGANIZATIONS REALLY TRYING TO HELP THE POPULATIONS.

>> Ted: ON SITE CASE MANAGEMENT HELP THERE?

>> YES.

>> Ted: WHAT DOES THAT INVOLVE?

>> BENDINGIT'S MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, HEALTHCARE NAVIGATORS WHERE YOU HAVE LARGER VETERAN POPULATIONS AND YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE WHO HELP VETERANS AND PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION ISSUES AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES, THEY USUALLY NEED THE HELP AND IF THEY LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE, OFTEN THEY FAIL.

>> Ted: THE GOAL, SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

>> YES.

>> Ted: AS WELL AS ST. VINCENT DePAUL AND A THOUSAND DOLLARS BED SHELTERS?

>> A HUNDRED.

IT'S A LONG-TERM TRANSITIONAL PROJECT, AND YOU CAN STAY THERE FOR TWO YEARS AND MAYBE LONGER AND, AGAIN, IT'S NEEDED AND SHELTERS ARE OVERFLOWING AND A PROJECT LIKE THAT DOES WONDERFUL WORK AND WE THINK THAT'S SUCCESSFUL AND I THINK THAT'S COMING ONLINE EARLY 2024.

>> Ted: WOW!

SENIOR'S VETERANS, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES AND THE FOCUS, AS WELL?

>> EXACTLY.

>> Ted: $200,000 FOR A 25-UNIT MANUFACTURED HOME AND C HARRISBURGHIONVALLEY.

>> FAMILIES, PREVIOUSLY HOMELESS FAMILIES AND THE COALITION FOR COMPASSION JUSTICE AND NORTHERN ARIZONA HAS THEIR SHARE OF HOMELESS ISSUES AND OUR FUND IS A STATE-WIDE FUND AND SO, ANY NONPROFIT WHO DOES THIS KIND OF WORK AROUND THE STATE WILL BE ELIGIBLE AND WHAT WE SEE IS FILLING A NEED IS A LOT OF THE FUNDING FOR THE PROJECTS COME FROM LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS A BUDGET WAS BUILT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OR REPURPOSING OR MODIFICATIONS AND MAYBE LIKE A YEAR AGO AND THE FUNDING WAS BUILT OFF OF THAT.

COSTS HAVE GONE UP SINCE THEN AND IN THE CASE OF THE REPURPOSED HOTEL, THERE'S A SHORTFALL OF WHAT THE COUNTY CAN PAY AND WHAT IT COSTS AND THE ARIZONA HOUSING FUND IS MAKING UP THAT DIFFERENCE SO THE PROJECT CAN CONTINUE.

>> Ted: DO YOU FIND LIKE OUR PAST DISCUSSION HERE, THIS DISCUSSION NOW, LACK OF HOUSING, DO YOU FIND THE HOUSING FUND IS WORKING HARDER THAN EVER?

IT IS.

WE'RE FAIRLY NEW AND SEEING THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS TRYING TO GET AROUND THIS AND ALL HANDS ON DECK SITUATION AND WE'RE RAISING AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN.

WE GAVE OUT 850,000 AND SINCE RAISED ANOTHER 550,000 AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT MORE GRANTS SHORTLY.

>> Ted: ONCE THE PROJECTS ARE ONLINE AND SOME ARE IN THE PROCESS HERE, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WOULD HELP ACCELERATE THINGS, AT LEAST AS FAR AS FUNDING IS CONCERNED.

>> YES.

>> Ted: BOTTOM LINE, THE SAME QUESTION THE PREVIOUS GUEST.

I'M A LAWMAKER AND YOU HAVE MY EAR, WHAT ARE YOU TELLING ME?

>> WE HAVE 12, 13,000 PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE WHO ARE ON THE HMIS LIST, HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM LIST WHO DON'T HAVE HOUSING TODAY WHO WANT IT AND THAT'S 12,000 PEOPLE WHO NEED HOUSING IMMEDIATELY.

IT'S JUST, WE NEED MORE UNITS AND IT TAKES GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND OUR STATE CAN LEAD THE WAY OF FINDING THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM BY BUILDING MORE UNITS AND WE JUST CANNOT ALLOW OURSELVES TO BECOME L.A., SAN FRANCISCO, SEATTLE WHERE ALMOST SEEMS LIKE THEY'VE CROSSED THAT LINE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN BE REPAIRED.

WE NEED DOLLARS, HOUSING, WE NEED TO PUT HOUSING INTO THOSE HOMES.

>> Ted: HOWARD EPSTEIN, THANK YOU, SIR.

>> TODAY, TED >> Ted: MEDIA OUTLETS AND JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT IN THE WAY NEWS STOWS ARE REPORTEDNEWS STORIES AREREPORTED.

WE WELCOME JAMAR YOUNGER, WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DEFINE BIASED IN REPORTING ESPECIALLY IN RELATION TO BLACK ISSUES AND WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> PERPETUATING STEREOTYPES AND BASICALLY NOT GAINING THE PERSPECTIVE AND JUST NOT RESPECTING THE COMMUNITIES AND JUST OPERATING ACCORDING TO, YOU KNOW, JUST STEREOTYPES AND THINGS THAT DON'T REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES.

>> Ted: IS IT A LACK OF REPORTING OR THE WAY IT'S DONE OR BOTH?

>> A LOT OF CASES, IT CAN BE BOTH.

A LACK OF REPORTING AND NOT ALLOCATING TO COVERING THE COMMUNITY.

YEAH, IT COULD BE A LACK OF REPORTING AND IF YOU DON'T THE LEADERSHIP IN THE NEWSROOM, IT LEADS TO A LOT BIASED AND THERE'S NO ONE IN THE NEWSROOMS THAT CAN HOLD ANYONE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE WAY IT'S CONNECTED WITH.

>> Ted: WE'VE SEEN THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES WHERE A DEAD OR MISSING BLACK WOMAN DOESN'T GET THE COVERAGE THAT A DEAD OR MISSING WHITE WOMAN GETS.

YOU SEE THAT, TOO.

>> ALL OF THE TIME.

IT'S JUST ENGRAINED BIASED.

AND THAT'S WHERE HAVING BLACK JOURNALISTS IN THE NEWSROOMS CAN HELP EVEN THAT OUT AND BRING MORE ATTENTION TO IF A BLACK WOMAN IS MISSING OR BLACK CHILD IS MISSING, BUT IT TAKES MORE REPRESENTATION IN NEWSROOMS AND IT TAKES JOURNALISTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND CONFRONTING THE BIASES AND MAKING SURE THAT COVERAGE STARTS TO EVEN OUT.

>> Ted: IS THAT INTENTIONAL BIASED?

IT IS UNCONSCIOUS BIASED AND WHAT DO YOU ANY?

>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.

I THINK IT'S MORE UNCONSCIOUS AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT SOCIETY IS USED TO.

I THINK IT'S JUST UNCONSCIOUS OR MORE ENGRAINED.

THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE.

>> Ted: THE WAY CRIME IS REPORTED AND THE WAY RACIAL ISSUES KIND OF TRANSFER IT AND MAYBE UNCONSCIOUSLY OR OTHERWISE.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES THERE?

>> I THINK THE BIG DIFFERENCES, LIKE I SAID, WHEN YOU -- A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU COVER A BLACK COMMUNITY, THE ONLY TIME SOME REPORTERS SHOW UP IS WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS.

THE REPORTERS, THEY DON'T ENGAGE OR SOME REPORTS, THEY DON'T ENGAGE IN THESE COMMUNITIES THE WHAT THEY SHOULD.

THEY'RE NOT IN TOWN WITH WHAT'S TRULY GOING IN THESE UNABLES AND NOT BUILDING TRUST WITH THE PEOPLE IN THESE COMMUNITIESES.

>> Ted: IN THESE COMMUNITIES, IS THERE A LACK OF TRUST IN THE MEDIA?

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT.

WHEN PEOPLE WATCH THE NEWS OR READ THE NEWS AND SEE HOW THEY'RE PORTRAYED, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LACK OF TRUST.

WHEN REPORTERS COME INTO THESE COMMUNITIES AND THEY DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, THEN THAT ALSO TIES INTO THE LACK OF TRUST, YOU KNOW.

OBVIOUSLY JOURNALISM IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND ABOUT BUILDING TRUST AND GOING INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES AND EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT ATTENDING A MEETING AND GOING TO EVENTS AND BEING OUT AND TALKING TO PEOPLE AND TREATING THOSE PEOPLE WITH RESPECT, AS WELL.

>> Ted: LACK OF DIVERSITY IN THE NEWSROOM, IT'S THERE AND HOW DO YOU CHANGE IT?

IF YOU HAVE A LACK OF TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY, A LOT OF YOUNG KIDS, THEY WON'T WANT TO GO INTO SOMETHING THEY'RE NOT EXCITED ABOUT.

HOW DO YOU GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT JOURNALISM?

>> MORE BLACK JOURNALISTS AND INVESTS IN THE JOURNALISTS AND YOU HAVE TO -- THEY HAVE TO DIRECT THE COVERAGE AND INFLUENCE THE COVERAGE AND YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE MORE REPRESENTATION.

I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN THING.

I THINK REPRESENTATION WILL HELP A LOT OF THAT.

>> Ted: WHERE DOES OBJECTIVITY COME INTO THIS?

I'VE WATCHED DEBATES ON THIS ISSUE AND SIMILAR ISSUES AND THE CONCERN IS THAT, WELL, IN TERMS OF WANTING TO DO THIS,.

TOO MUCH OBJECTIVITY, HOW DOES THAT PLAY OUT TO YOU?

>> BEING FAIR AND ACTING INDEPENDENTLY AS A JOURNALIST AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE BEST YOU CAN DO.

I THINK EVERYBODY HAS THEIR BIASES AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO INTO A STORE, YOU HAVE TO BE OPEN-MINDED AND FAIR AND ACT INDEPENDENTLY BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THAT NOT EVERY ISSUE HAS TWO SIDES, AS WELL.

YOU HAVE TO APPROACH IT FAIRLY AND INDEPENDENTLY.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION, ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THINGS ARE CHANGING?

>> I'M SOMEWHAT OPTIMISTIC.

YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS TO BE AS -- I'M SEEING MORE REPRESENTATION AND ESPECIALLY ON TELEVISION HERE IN PHOENIX, BUT THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

SO I'M SOMEWHAT OPTIMISTIC, BUT I THINK THE NEWSROOM LEADERS, THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE TRULY INVESTED IN DIVERSITY AND NOT JUST CHECKING A BOX.

>> Ted: THANK YOU, JAMAR YOUNGER.

I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!