First Black woman hired at Washington Post gives $10K to laid-off workers
Dorothy Butler Gilliam, the first Black woman hired at The Washington Post, has made a significant contribution to support laid-off workers.
The retired journalist donated $10,000 to a GoFundMe campaign established for members of the Washington Post Guild who were recently laid off. Gilliam donated quickly after learning about the newspaper’s mass layoffs in February, according to The Washingtonian.
The fundraiser has received three substantial $10,000 donations, the largest gifts so far, with the 89-year-old’s contribution being matched by gifts from journalist Kara Swisher and an anonymous donor.
The Washington Post faced criticism in early February after implementing one of the most significant staff reductions in its history, laying off approximately a third of its workforce. These cuts led to the closure of various newsroom sections and programs.
In response, a GoFundMe campaign established for Guild members has so far collected almost $594,000.
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Gilliam expressed deep sadness and even anger regarding the layoffs, stating, “It made me very sad, even upset.” She emphasized the importance of the Post to its readership, especially in a time where balanced information is crucial: “I know many people read the Post and depend on the Post, and this certainly is one of those times when we need some balance in the information that’s available.”
The retired journalist, who became the Washington Post’s first Black woman reporter in 1961, has maintained a deep connection with the newspaper.
Gilliam, now 89, initially worked at the Post from 1961 to 1965. She then left to work as a freelance writer while raising her three children before returning in 1972 as an assistant editor in the Style section. She remained in this role until her retirement in 2003.
Driven by her own experiences with newsroom discrimination, Gilliam dedicated herself to broadening opportunities within journalism. She co-founded the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education in 1977 to train reporters and promote greater diversity in American media. Furthermore, she fostered the next generation of journalists by creating and running The Washington Post’s Young Journalists Development Program, where she mentored local high school students for almost twenty years.
Through her 2019 memoir, Trailblazer, she informed a new cohort of journalists about her work to bring greater diversity to American newsrooms.
Gilliam stated that her long-term goal of making the media “look more like America” has recently become harder to achieve. According to the Washington Post Guild, efforts to increase newsroom diversity have slowed down.
This is due to the intense opposition to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives from the Trump administration and the fact that recent staff cuts at the Post have affected a disproportionately high number of journalists of color.
Gilliam, whose career spans more than 50 years and began during the Civil Rights movement, described the current situation as “particularly alarming.” She also expressed “very, very disappointing” feelings about the change in newsroom demographics, stressing that diverse perspectives are essential for readers.
Gilliam felt compelled to assist the recently laid-off workers. She explained that her $10,000 donation was motivated by her admiration for the staff, who she believes “continue to make a significant difference in the city.”
She remains convinced that activism is essential when facing difficulty.
“It’s important for me not to let the things that are happening stop me from doing those things that I know are correct, those things that are positive, those things that can help,” she expressed. “That’s why I’m glad I was able to make a reasonable, monetary contribution.”
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