In a significant development for aspiring sports journalists from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Howard alumnus and former NFL media reporter Jim Trotter has plans to create a scholarship fund supported by his recent lawsuit settlement with the National Football League.
Earlier this month, Trotter settled in a retaliation lawsuit he filed against the NFL after alleging racial discrimination within the organization. Although the specific terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, Trotter revealed via social media that the NFL will contribute to the scholarship initiative to support HBCU students pursuing careers in sports journalism.
Details of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit stemmed from Trotter’s claims of a hostile work environment for Black employees, discriminatory hiring practices, and racist remarks made by prominent NFL figures, including Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula. In one alarming instance, Trotter quoted Pegula as saying, “If the Black players don’t like it here, they should go back to Africa and see how bad it is,” in response to the league’s social justice efforts.
Commitment to Diversity in Sports Media
At a recent sports media and management event during Howard’s centennial homecoming, Trotter emphasized his commitment to empowering the next generation of journalists. “From the very first moment that I filed this lawsuit… my focus was always on having a portion of it going back to HBCU students that want to be sports journalists.,” he stated.
Beyond financial contributions, Trotter hopes to inspire systemic change within the NFL. Reflecting on his experiences, he noted, “We had no Black managers, no Black copy editors, we had no full-time Black employees on the news desk. To my knowledge, nothing has changed, which is really disappointing.”
Hamilton shared similar sentiments regarding the lack of diversity within the league after visiting NFL headquarters earlier this year, where he said most of the influential figures did not reflect his background.
Trotter believes meaningful change will only come through fiscal accountability. “The way change is made in this league is through litigation or a loss of revenue,” he explained.