Nation IN BRIEF : LOUISIANA : Black Journalists May Boycott State

A black journalists’ group is considering holding its convention in 2000 somewhere else besides New Orleans because of Gov. Mike Foster’s order to end affirmative action programs. “We had been extremely interested in bringing our 3,000 members and the enormous economic impact of our convention to this great city,” Arthur Fennell, president of the National Assn. of Black Journalists, said at a news conference. “But now we must strongly and seriously question whether our members will want to spend their time and money in a state whose governor has so little regard for affirmative action and equal opportunities.” Foster announced Thursday that he had signed an order to end programs that give preferential treatment to minorities and women in hiring and that set aside a portion of government contracts for minority-owned businesses.