Press Release

April 29, 2020

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ABC7NY/WABC-TV New York Host Instagram Live Town Hall to Address COVID-19 Racial Disparity in the African American Community

‘Coronavirus Pandemic: Impact on African Americans Mortality, Messaging and Money’ Town Hall on Instagram Live,
Thursday, April 30 (7:00-8:00 P.M. EDT)

Audience Members Are Invited to Participate in a Q &A With ABC7NY News and a Panel of Experts via @ ABC7NY Instagram Page

WABC-TV, New York’s and the nation’s No. 1 station, presents a one-hour virtual town hall on Instagram Live, Thursday, April 30 (7:00-8:00 p.m. EDT), to discuss COVID-19-related socioeconomic factors impacting the African American community. The virtual town hall is hosted by Eyewitness News reporter Darla Miles and features ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton .

In an eye-opening report that aired Thursday, April 9, WABC took an early lead in reporting the harsh reality of the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. Data revealed that while African Americans make up 22% of New York City’s population, they accounted for 28% of coronavirus-related deaths.

The panel, consisting of both influencers and stakeholders in the African American community, will answer questions, give guidance on COVID-19, and discuss mortality, messaging and money. The town hall will be live on @ABC7NY Instagram page.

The panelists will include the following:

  • Tanya Christian, ESSENCE News & Politics Editor – addressing unique challenges to the African American community, i.e., socioeconomic disparities, social distancing challenges
  • Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent – discussing the latest on COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, treatments and vaccines
  • Claire Sulmers, CEO, Fashion Bomb Daily – discussing the impact of counter-messaging about coronavirus to communities of color and millennials on social media
  • Gregg Bishop, NYC Commissioner of Small Business Services – providing resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and give advice on how to adapt to the new economic landscape

Viewers are encouraged to submit their questions via comments during the live feed on @ABC7NY Instagram page.

A recording of the Instagram town hall will also be available the following day on abc7ny.com and ABC7NY/WABC’s community page, and archived on @ABC7NY Instagram page.

About WABC
WABC-TV has been the leader in local news and entertainment programming in the New York City area for more than 60 years. Producing more than 45 hours of live, local news and weather each week, Channel 7 “Eyewitness News” is the most watched local news in New York and the United States. WABC-TV also produces “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” weekdays at 9:00 a.m., which is seen in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Quality news and programming, cutting-edge technology and ongoing community outreach are the hallmarks of excellence that have consistently kept WABC-TV New York’s No. 1 station and the most-watched television station in the nation.