Alvin Patrick: Last News

CBS News has named Alvin Patrick the head of its newly-formed race and culture unit, the network says. Patrick starts immediately and will report to Kimberly Godwin, CBS News’ executive vp of news.

BET and CBS News will debut a primetime newsmagazine series next month, America In Black, that will feature segments with Gayle King and other news figures, as well as the return of Ed Gordon.

Ted Johnson CBS News is forming a race and culture unit, with Alvin Patrick named as executive producer.The network said that the unit will ensure that the news division’s “reporting reflects diverse perspectives,” and it will spearhead initiatives on race and culture and be a place for any staffer to pitch relevant stories.The news division’s president, Susan Zirinsky, said in a statement, “We must always be aware of how race and culture impacts our journalism – and, in terms of the future of CBS News, this unit will be as important as Standards and Practices.”Patrick joined CBS News in 2012, as a senior producer working exclusively with CBS News special correspondent James Brown.