NYABJ’s Behind the Headlines of the Diddy Trial Panel

By: Jewel Benton

On Tuesday, November 18, members of the New York Association of Black Journalists and other members of the press gathered for the enlightening and engaging in-person event Behind the Headlines: Covering the P. Diddy Trial from Start to Sentencing at Hunter College.

Moments leading up to this highly anticipated event, Jericka Duncan, the multi-award-winning journalist whose coverage of the P. Diddy trial gained her 20,000 followers, reflected on the high-profile case.

“This trial was so complex,” she recalled to Pulse. “There were so many different layers involved: allegations of sexual assault, domestic violence. Then, we have the aspects of money, power, and fame. And I think that’s why there was such interest. But what I’m hoping to do today is to come together in community with people who also experienced being a part of the trial—writing about it, speaking on it, listening to unpack what we experienced. I also want to educate some of the younger people in the room—the next generation of journalists—about how to cover a trial, what to consider, and to acknowledge how social media played a role in all of it, too.”

Moderated by Duncan, the panel included Pix 11 reporter and correspondent Jay Dow, senior news producer Loren LoRosa from The Breakfast Club, ABC 7 News reporter Darla Miles, TMZ field producer and journalist Seleah Bussey, YouTube content creator Armon Wiggins, and senior correspondent for Extra! TV, Mona Kosar Abdi. The overarching themes were the significance of the trial, the commitment of the journalists to telling the story and sharing it with the public, and the rapport they built among one another. After the event, Armon and Loren went out for drinks, while Seleah assisted Darla in the field. Another major theme highlighted by Duncan was the powerful role social media played throughout the case.

“It’s a team of seasoned professionals—people with years, if not decades, of experience covering celebrity trials. I look forward to hearing what they have to say because they’ve been in the trenches. They’ve seen the minutiae that come with covering such a trial,” said Latrice David, a longtime NYABJ member and journalist, ahead of the discussion.

Morning anchor at WBLS and Bronx Ent. reporter Martha Buckner, who has covered many cases including the Amadou Diallo trial, was also in attendance, driven by her passion for this beat.

The panel concluded with applause, and panelists, attendees, and board members took the opportunity to mingle.