Jim Trotter Talks Accountability, Roger Goodell Responds at NFL Owners Meeting

On Tuesday, Jim Trotter continued to address the lack of diversity at NFL Media, and Commissioner Roger Goodell remarked on Trotter's employment status.

HOUSTON — The day after the fallout from Jim Trotter's announcement of the NFL Network's refusal to renew his contract, Trotter and Roger Goodell responded.

Jim Trotter asking Roger Goodell a question about diversity at NFL Media.  Credit: Jim Trotter's Twitter Account and NFL Media

Trotter was a guest on the Brother from Another Podcast on Peacock, discussing his surprising departure from NFL Media.

"They made a decision that they didn't want to renew my contract," Jim Trotter told host Michael Holley. "I will have a lot to say about it at the appropriate time, which is not now. But the thing that I will say now is that journalism matters, and holding people who are in power accountable matters. And that's part of our job, regardless of if it's our own employer, or someone else. And which is really all I tried to do here, Michael, is one of the things the NFL always said internally is hold us accountable, hold us accountable as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion. And so for the last couple of years, that's what I've been trying to do, pointing out that in our newsroom, where we cover a player population that is roughly 60 to 70% black, according to league data, there is no black person in senior management in our newsroom, who has a seat at the table. When we are deciding how we're going to cover these players and who is going to cover them."

Trotter had been a staple and trusted columnist with the NFL Media since his arrival in April of 2018. One of his strengths was advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in professional sports, the newsroom, and for HBCU sports programs.

He previously inquired with league Commissioner Roger Goodell to address the NFL's need for more diversity in coaching, executive hires, and within the NFL Media's newsroom.

"Jim, I am not in charge of the newsroom," Goodell responded in February at the Pre-Super Bowl press conference.

On Tuesday at the 2023 NFL Owners Meetings in Arizona, Commissioner Goodell addressed Jim Trotter's employment status with NFL Media. "I wasn't part of that decision and actually was just made aware of it about 10 minutes before I walked in here," Goodell remarked. "So, no, I don't believe that had anything to do with it."

The divorce of Jim Trotter and the NFL Network will be amicable, but Trotter won't be silenced.

Here is how he concluded the discussion on the Brother from Another podcast: "Secondarily, we do not have a full-time black person on the news desk at NFL media, and I keep saying we because officially I'm not terminated until Friday. But to me, those are issues because when I think it's unfair to the players, they should have someone who shares either the same or similar life experiences and cultural experiences at the table when we talk about how we are going to cover them and the fact that we don't, to me, it's an issue. So I have raised that repeatedly over the last two years, including at the last two Super Bowls with the commissioner. And there are some who didn't like it. And I do believe it played a role in me my contract not being renewed. And I will talk about that more later. But so be it, you know, I'm not going to change, and I'm always going to fight for representation, and I'm always going to fight for the truth."

Journalism without representation is an issue for any news entity —especially those covering the diverse sports world.

Before the Civil Rights Movement and into 2023, black and white reporters have expressed concerns about diversity within newsrooms and public relations or sports information departments at colleges and professional organizations. 

While some may say, "there's been progress." Other journalists, like Trotter, will counter continuing their struggle for equity in places where it counts — the newsroom. 

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