[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 194 (Wednesday, December 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                       HONORING MONICA RICHARDSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2022

  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Monica R. 
Richardson, executive editor of the Miami Herald. Richardson, who is 
the first black person to serve in this role in the publication's 117 
year history. She also oversees el Nuevo Herald and the Bradenton 
Herald, and serves as McClatchy's Florida regional editor. Ms. 
Richardson is the recipient of the 2022 5000 Role Models of Excellence 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award.
  Her historic January 1, 2021 appointment as executive editor was made 
during a critical period in American history when, in the aftermath of 
the cruel and senseless murder of George Floyd. millions of people 
across the nation experienced a racial reckoning that led to cries for 
diversity, equity, and inclusion in all facets of life. Nearly 6 months 
after Mr. Floyd's death, she received a racist email from a reader that 
included derogatory and misogynistic slurs targeting her. Rather than 
sweep it under the rug, Richardson chose to address the email in a 
column and open a dialogue with Miami. ``Miami, who are we in times of 
challenge? Who are we right now? How are you using your voice?'' she 
wrote.
  A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Richardson is a seasoned 
journalist and editor. Over the course of her 30-year career, she has 
worked at the Charlottesville Observer, Florida Times-Union, and the 
Lexington Herald-Leader. She joined McClatchy after spending 15 years 
at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as the newspaper's digital managing 
editor and senior managing editor. In a statement announcing 
Richardson's appointment as the Miami Herald's top editor, Kristin 
Roberts, McClatchy's senior vice president of news, praised her 
``strong record of leadership in local journalism at one the great 
metro newsrooms in the country.''
  Richardson has been a champion for diversity and inclusion in 
newsrooms. She has served as a leader for various journalism industry 
associations and as a juror to the national Pulitzer Prize board. A 
graduate of Old Dominion University, Richardson enjoys mentoring young 
journalists and seasoned professionals. She also is an advocate for 
foster care and adoption and adopted her daughter in 2014.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Monica Richardson for using 
her position as executive editor to give voice to stories that might 
otherwise not be told.

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