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In Memory of Chauncey Bailey: We'll Miss You Chauncey!

by Lynda Carson (tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com)
The cold blooded murder of Chauncey Bailey in downtown Oakland is shocking beyond belief! Chauncey was a beautiful soul!
In Memory of Chauncy Bailey:

The death of Chauncey Bailey hits close to home.

It is shocking to learn that Chauncey Bailey was shot to death by an assasin in downtown Oakland earlier today.

It was Chauncey Bailey who welcomed myself and many others into the world of Oakland politics, and it hurts to think that he died in such a violent way.

Back in 1999, Chauncey Bailey contacted me to ask if I would help him put together a series of articles for the Oakland Tribune about the then rampant Section 8 housing rent scams happening in Oakland, whereby greedy landlords were forcing Section 8 tenants to pay extra cash under the table in addition to their agreed upon Section 8 rental contracts. Tenants were being forced to pay extra cash under the table, or face termination of their Section 8 contracts.

True to his word, Chauncey interviewed a number of people I hooked him up with and he ran a series of articles in the Tribune about the Section 8 rent scams, which set off a number of investigations.

One afternoon, Chauncey even called me up to urge me to get to an Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) meeting later that night, and he said he would write an article about it if I showed up at the meeting to speak out against the Section 8 rent scams of Oakland. True to is word, Chauncey showed up at the OHA meeting that night, and being my first time at such a meeting he was kind enough to show me how to prepare myself as a speaker for that event.

As a follow up to bringing the Section 8 rent scams out into the open for all to read about in the Tribune, it was on Soulbeat TV where Chauncey Bailey opened up the phone lines during a few evenings to invite Section 8 tenants to call in and share their experiences about the Section 8 rent scams happening in Oakland. And indeed, they called in, and they called in....

The existance of Oakland's Section 8 rent scams could no longer be denied by OHA officials or Oakland's greedy landlords who scammed on the poor.

Through the years I ran into Chauncey during numerous rallies at Oakland's City Hall, and was always glad to see him take an interest in our community events.

Chauncey knew how to make us all feel special through his type of activism.

I last saw Chauncey at Albertsons near Lake Merrit in Oakland a while back, where he greeted me like an old friend and it made me feel good to know such an inspiring individual.

Today I grieve the loss of such a beautiful soul...

We'll miss you Chauncey!

Sincerely,
Lynda Carson
Oakland, CA.

Chauncey Bailey Gunned Down In Oakland:

Oakland Post editor gunned down
MediaNews
Article Launched: 08/02/2007 08:53:37 AM PDT

http://origin.mercurynews.com/alamedacounty/ci_6526267

Friends expressed shock at news that Oakland Post Editor Chauncey Bailey was gunned down this morning in downtown Oakland.

Witnesses told police a masked gunman shot a man, then fled on foot to a waiting van and drove off. Police have not released a name but sources said that Bailey, 57, was the apparent victim.

The shooting happened about 7:25 a.m. in the 1400 block of Alice Street.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said they have no motive for the killing, except that it appeared to be a deliberate attack, and no suspects have been arrested.

Friends said Bailey's morning routine was to go to the McDonald's restaurant at 14th and Jackson streets and then to work at the Post offices at 405 14th St. in downtown Oakland.

Derrick Nesbitt, a friend who worked with Bailey at SoulBeat TV, showed up at the crime scene when he heard the news.

"Bailey was a great reporter, he lived for this stuff," Nesbitt said. "He was very controversial he could bring anger out in people. I always admired that in him. People would call in to the show."

Nesbitt felt a change in Bailey after he left the Tribune. "I always thought he was trying to get back on his track," he said.

An Oakland Tribune reporter for 12 years, between April 1993 and June 2005, Bailey was named editor of the Oakland Post this summer after writing freelance travel stories for the African-American weekly for about two years.

Bailey grew up in Oakland and had worked at other area media outlets including KDIA radio and Soul Beat TV and was involved with OUR-TV on Comcast Ch. 78.

Tribune Managing Editor Martin Reynolds talked with Bailey last week, when they saw each other at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza - outside Oakland City Hall.

"Chauncey was a unique and dedicated journalist who always captured the essence of the stories on his beat," Reynolds said. "He was passionate about his work, he loved his son and would often bring him into the Tribune newsroom."

He was very proud of his son and showed Reynolds a trading card with his son's photo on it. Reynolds said Bailey talked about returning to Vietnam, where he had done travel stories. "You always feel good after talking to Chauncey," Reynolds said.

Another friend expressed shock . "I've made phone calls all over telling people," said Sharon Broussard, a friend of Bailey's for at least 10 years. "They can't believe it. He's done so much for the community.

"I can't believe something like this, so tragic, would happen to someone who really cares about black people in Oakland and as a whole. I really can't talk anymore, because I'm really trying to work through all this."

David Glover, whose friendship with Bailey dates back to the 80s, when Bailey worked in Oakland as a mentor to young people, said "It's just shocking and unbelievable."

He added, "I have no idea why anyone would do it. Chauncey Bailey was a consummate professional."

Glover recalled Bailey as a tireless advocate for journalism - especially the need to attract more blacks and people of color to the field - and a good friend.

"This is not just a local loss, this is a loss to the field nationally," said Glover, executive director of the Oakland Citizens Committee for Urban Renewal, or OCCUR. "His work over the years has probably been responsible for an innumerable set of people being involved in the industry. I know he has been an inspiration to a lot of people."

Glover first met Bailey when he worked with OCCUR, mentoring young people who aspired to careers in journalism.

Bailey also had created a Black Press Weekly, a compilation of significant articles from black newspapers around the country.

"It's a tremendous loss to the community," Glover said. "He's been an intense and committed journalist all his professional career. . . . He was just an outstanding human being. I can't believe it."

Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $10,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. Anyone with information can call police at (510) 238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at (510) 238-6946.

***************
Oakland editor slain in suspected contract killing
Chauncey Bailey, recently promoted to head the Post, an African American-run weekly newspaper, was gunned down near his office.
By John M. Glionna, Times Staff Writer
1:01 PM PDT, August 2, 2007

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-oakland3aug03,0,7724030.story?coll=la-home-local


SAN FRANCISCO -- The editor of a weekly newspaper in Oakland was gunned down as he walked to work this morning in what police called a contract killing.

Chauncey Bailey, 58, recently promoted to editor of the Oakland Post, was shot at 7:30 a.m. not far from his office. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses told police that a gunman in dark clothing approached Bailey and shot him multiple times before fleeing. He was shot in the back and in the head.

Roland Holmgren, a spokesman for the Oakland Police Department, said officials were treating the crime as a contract killing "because of the witness statements, the shooter's mannerisms and how the crime was committed."

Bailey, a former reporter for the Oakland Tribune, was promoted just a few months ago to editor of the Post, the largest African American-run newspaper in Northern California.

Before his promotion, as a Post reporter, he mainly wrote political and human-interest stories. He recently traveled to Vietnam for a story, said Gwendolyn Carter, advertising manager of the 50,000-circulation paper.

"He loved politics and writing about people," she said. "He just did a story on a lady who just recently found her son after 40 years of being separated."

Holmgren said Bailey, who lived in Oakland, was known for his aggressive style of questioning public officials. But colleagues said he rarely did the kind of investigative stories that might have earned him enemies.

"People might be upset at him, but Chauncey didn't go around making enemies," Carter said. "He was a wonderful guy. He was my big brother, and I was his little sister."

Police today were trying to piece together Bailey's routine and whether he was so regular in his schedule that the killer could have lain in wait.

"We're exploring everything," Holmgren said. "We just don't know if there was something related to his job that was the root of this. There's nothing glaring at the moment."

Bailey's one dozen colleagues were in shock.

"No one here has any idea at all how this could have happened," said John Bowens, an advertising consultant at the paper.

"You see things on TV that just don't seem real," he said. "I know what people mean when they say that now. It's like a horror movie."

john.glionna [at] latimes.com

********************
(Click on link below for photo of Chauncey Bailey)
RIP Chauncey Bailey -- Fierce Advocate for the Black Community
by NAM (reposted)
Thursday Aug 2nd, 2007 6:19 PM
Originally From New America Media

Thursday, August 2, 2007 : The New America Media family would like to extend our personal condolences to the family of Chauncey Bailey -- a consummate professional , friend, mentor and Black Media pioneer. Mr. Bailey was gunned down this morning in Oakland, California.
The New America Media family would like to extend our personal condolences to the family of Chauncey Bailey -- a consummate professional , friend, mentor and Black Media pioneer. Mr. Bailey was gunned down this morning in Oakland, California. He will be remembered as a fierce advocate for the African-American press and community, a loving father, a visionary media businessman and a friend of New America Media/Pacific News Service for over twenty years.

New America Media Executive Director Sandy Close said of Bailey, "Chauncey was a co-founder of New America Media and one of the best investigative journalists working bar none. He was brave in the face of whatever challenges he had to confront, especially any institution, public or private, that was not living up to the communities expectations and standards. He loved focusing on the local and global, he was adept at connecting the Bay Area Black community to the international African diaspora. He once said. "All of the ethnic media are like fingers on a hand. Only together will we be strong like a fist.' Chauncey Bailey was distinguished by his work in the Oakland Tribune, Oakland post, San Francisco Sun Reporter, San Franciscvo Bayview, Soul Beat TV and Our TV among others. He will be sorely missed."

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/08/02/18438500.php

***************
Barbara Lee's Statement on the Death of Chauncey Bailey

Aug. 2, 2007, 5:45 p.m. - Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement in response to the news that Oakland Post editor Chauncey Bailey was shot and killed in Oakland this morning:

"I was shocked and saddened to learn of Chauncey Bailey's death this morning," said Lee. "Chauncey contributed so much to the fabric our community, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."

"It is my hope that the perpetrators of this horrible crime are brought to justice swiftly, and that Chauncey's untimely death will bring our community together and strengthen our collective hand in rooting out this type of violence," she said.

http://www.reddingnewsreview.com/newspages/2007newspages/barbara_lee_07_091000140.htm

**************


Add Your Comments

Comments (Hide Comments)
by anon3
Lynda Carson testifies, "One afternoon, Chauncey even called me up to urge me to get to an Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) meeting later that night, and he said he would write an article about it if I showed up at the meeting to speak out against the Section 8 rent scams of Oakland. True to is word, Chauncey showed up at the OHA meeting that night, and being my first time at such a meeting he was kind enough to show me how to prepare myself as a speaker for that event."

If true, this is a blatant violation of journalists' ethics. A reporter does not sculpt the event he reports on.

In this case, it would have been appropriate for Bailey to call Carson and get her reaction to declarations that officials made at the meeting. But to alert her to the meeting, promise coverage, and coach her is not what a journalist should do.
by luci
Why can't a journalist have a role in the story that he or she writes? This is encouraged, or at least shown to be effective, in books, movies, and TV (think of Chloe on Smallville, or Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter).

Journalists have recently gotten in trouble for not naming the people who gave them information- as journalists, do we have to give up every single piece of information to which we have access, even if it means we can never get another tip from that person? Now that we have the internet, does a video journalist have to submit a short segment for the news, and then post all the rest of his or her footage, possibly with added commentary to explain what's going on, on the web?

In other words, there is always more going on at the journalist's desk than what there appears to be. So whether you ask two people to stand together so you can take one picture of their two signs, or you encourage someone to speak about their issue, or train someone about the kind of sound bites that you would want to include in your coverage, it can all be part of the work that a journalist does. Or an imcista.

Make media, make trouble!


by m
you have corporate media doing "embedded journalism", meanwhile you want community journalists to be nothing but walking notepads who can't interact with the community?
by ahmed
The cops have been all over the racist, crime-ridden HQ of this mess in the East Bay today.

SHUT DOWN THE RACIST BEY ENTERPRISES NOW!

This "business" has been a plague in Oakland for 25 years.

Enough. Shut it down and arrest the mofos.
by Repost: Agence France- Presse, Plus...
Repost: Links To Several Global Breaking Stories In French, Spanish, & English further below...

More on the tragic death of Chauncey Bailey:


American journalist's murder seen as work-related

Agence France-Presse
Last updated 08:08am (Mla time) 08/04/2007

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=80535


SAN FRANCISCO -- A prominent black journalist who was gunned down in Oakland, California may have been killed in relation to his work, his publication's lawyer said Friday.

Chauncey Bailey, 57, known for covering sensitive issues in the large San Francisco Bay area African-American community, was shot dead in broad daylight in a targeted killing Thursday, police said.

Witnesses told police a masked gunman approached Bailey on a downtown street and fired a shot to his back and another to his head before fleeing.

"The shooting does not appear to be random," Oakland Police spokesman Roland Holmgren told the media.

"Some of the stories that he was working on may contain information that could be a motive, but that is speculation at this point," said Walter Riley, attorney for the Oakland Post.

Riley called the killing "a significant blow to the newspaper and the community, and it seems to be related to his professional life."

"I've seen a lot of things as a civil rights organizer and activist in the south, but something like this is just stunning."

Journalists and black activists expressed shock and sadness Friday at the rare murder of a reporter in the United States.

Global journalists advocacy group Reporters Without Borders said it was stunned by the killing.

"The manner of Bailey's death was as shocking as its impact. It was a targeted killing carried out in broad daylight with nothing being taken from the victim," the group said in a statement.

"We hope an investigation will quickly establish the facts and bring those responsible to justice."

"African Americans have lost a champion and the world has lost an outstanding journalist," said the Bay Area Black Journalists Association on its website.

After spending over 20 years covering the African American community for the Oakland Tribune, Bailey had recently been named chief editor of the Post Newspapers, owners of the Oakland Post, one of the largest African American publications in the state.

He was known in the community as an outspoken critic of corruption.

"Chauncey was an advocate for the low income ghettos and black communities," said Lynda Carson, an Oakland tenants' rights activist. "He was always poking around and asking the right questions."

Another colleague remembered Bailey as an aggressive reporter whose pointed investigations ruffled feathers.

"He kept people on their toes," said Beverly Blythe, of Soul Beat TV. "He was curious and he did not mind pissing people off."

Congresswoman Barbara Lee remembered Bailey as a pillar of the community.

"It is my hope that the perpetrators of this horrible crime are brought to justice swiftly," said Lee in a statement.

"And that Chauncey's untimely death will bring our community together and strengthen our collective hand in rooting out this type of violence."

Copyright 2007 Agence France-Presse. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

*******************
Prominent black journalist gunned down in Oakland


Published: Friday August 3, 2007


http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Prominent_black_journalist_gunned_d_08032007.html


A noted journalist and advocate of the African American community in Oakland, California was gunned down in broad daylight in a targeted killing, police said Friday.

Witnesses told police a masked gunman approached Chauncey Bailey, 57, on a downtown street Thursday and fired a shot to his back and another to his head before fleeing.

"The shooting does not appear to be random," Oakland Police spokesman Roland Holmgren told the media.

Bailey had recently been named the editor at the Oakland Post, one of the largest African American publications in the state.

He had long been known in the community as an outspoken critic of corruption.

"Chauncey was an advocate for the low income ghettos and black communities," said Lynda Carson, an Oakland tenants' rights activist. "He was always poking around and asking the right questions."

Some former colleagues believe the sensitivity of Bailey's reporting may be connected to his assassination-style killing.

"Some of the stories that he was working on may contain information that could be a motive, but that is speculation at this point," said Walter Riley, attorney for the Oakland Post.

"I've seen a lot of things as a civil rights organizer and activist in the south, but something like this is just stunning."

Riley called the killing "a significant blow to the newspaper and the community, and it seems to be related to his professional life."

Another colleague remembered Bailey as an aggressive reporter whose pointed investigations ruffled feathers.

"He kept people on their toes," said Beverly Blythe, of Soul Beat TV. "He was curious and he did not mind pissing people off."

Congresswoman Barbara Lee remembered Bailey as a pillar of the community.

"It is my hope that the perpetrators of this horrible crime are brought to justice swiftly," said Lee in a statement.

"And that Chauncey's untimely death will bring our community together and strengthen our collective hand in rooting out this type of violence."

************
La Prensa - Asesinato de periodista en EUA pudo estar relacionado ...
- [ Translate this page ]

"Chauncey era un defensor de los habitantes de los guetos y barrios negros", afirmó Lynda Carson, una militante de Oakland. ...

http://www.laprensahn.com/ediciones/2007/08/03/ultima_hora/asesinato_de_periodista_en_eua_pudo_estar_relacionado_con_su_trabajo - Aug 3, 2007 - Similar pages


****************
France 24
- [ Translate this page ]

"Chauncey était un défenseur des habitants des ghettos et des quartiers noirs", a affirmé Lynda Carson, une militante des droits des locataires à Oakland. ...

http://www.france24.com/france24Public/fr/administration/article-afp.html?id=070803214018.hu8engwi&cat=culture - Similar pages

Translated version below from above France 24 link: English

03/08/07 22h40 GMT+1

Dispatch AFP

Assassinated American journalist: possible bond with its work


http://tinyurl.com/2yc5yh

The journalist killed by balls in full street Thursday in California (western) could have been victim of a payment of accounts related to his work, affirmed Friday lawyer of his employer.

“Some of the articles on which it worked could contain information concealing of the mobiles” for the assassination of Chauncey Bailey, writer in chief of the newspaper Oakland Post, one of the largest newspapers of the black community in the United States, underlined the defender of the weekly magazine, Walter Riley.

“But they are only speculations in the current state” of the investigation, affirmed lawyer. “I saw many things in my career of defender of the civic rights and of militant in the South (of the United States) but such (crime) is amazing”, it added.

Bailey, 57 years, was killed by balls Thursday at dawn by a masked man, whereas it went to its work to the center of Oakland, a town of 415.000 inhabitants in the east of bay of San Francisco, according to witnesses.

The police force remained discrete on its investigation, a spokesman, Roland Holmgren, being satisfied to affirm that Bailey did not seem “not to be aimed by chance”.

Bailey had been recently named with the head of the drafting of this publication, after having worked during 12 years with the daily newspaper Oakland Tribune. He was known like an activist within the black community and virulent criticizes corruption.

“Chauncey was a defender of the inhabitants of the ghettos and districts black”, affirmed Lynda Carson, militant rights of the tenants to Oakland. “It excavated everywhere and always raised the good questions”, according to it.

For Mr. Riley, the assassination of the journalist constitutes “a hard blow for the newspaper and the community, and it seems to be related to its professional life”.

Another colleague of the victim affirmed that Bailey was a follower of offensive journalism. “It did not release people. It was curious and it was not afraid to irritate”, remembered Beverly Blythe, of the local chain Soul Beat TV.

Representing local with the room of the Representatives, Barbara Lee, as for it homage to Bailey returned. “I hope that the culprits of this horrible crime will be submitted in justice”, it has says in an official statement.

“If the professional mobile is not established for the moment, it appears plausible. We hope that the investigation will make it possible to establish the truth quickly and to punish the culprits”, declared for its part the association of defense of the Reporters journalists without borders.

*****************
American journalist's murder seen as work-related - INQUIRER.net ...

Chauncey Bailey, 57, known for covering sensitive issues in the large San ... black communities," said Lynda Carson, an Oakland tenants' rights activist. ...
newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/ world/view_article.php?article_id=80535 - Aug 3, 2007 - Similar pages

***************
The Raw Story | Prominent black journalist gunned down in Oakland

Witnesses told police a masked gunman approached Chauncey Bailey, 57, ... and black communities," said Lynda Carson, an Oakland tenants' rights activist. ...
rawstory.com/news/afp/Prominent_ black_journalist_gunned_d_08032007.html - Aug 3, 2007 - Similar pages

****************
La Prensa - Asesinato de periodista en EUA pudo estar relacionado ...
- [ Translate this page ]

"Chauncey era un defensor de los habitantes de los guetos y barrios negros", afirmó Lynda Carson, una militante de Oakland. ...
http://www.laprensahn.com/.../03/ultima_hora/asesinato_ de_periodista_en_eua_pudo_estar_relacionado_con_su_trabajo - Aug 3, 2007 - Similar pages

*******************
France 24
- [ Translate this page ]

"Chauncey était un défenseur des habitants des ghettos et des quartiers noirs", a affirmé Lynda Carson, une militante des droits des locataires à Oakland. ...
http://www.france24.com/france24Public/fr/administration/ article-afp.html?id=070803214018.hu8engwi&cat=culture - Aug 3, 2007 - Similar pages

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