Hi Peace, Thanks for the Flag. I used to work for ABC News, glad I don't anymore. Talk about short-sighted!
Posted on 02/28/2002 8:29:18 AM PST by Peacerose
02/25/2002
David Westin, President of ABC News, has demanded diversity of guests on his network's news programs - diversity measured by skin color and ethnicity. According to Peter Johnson of USA Today, "ABC News has compiled a database of 480 people - all minorities - to turn to for on-air or taped comments". To make sure that these select individuals are used, "employees have been told evaluations will be based in part on how many of these sources they call."
"The goal here is to make sure that when we are seeking experts outside the news division to help explain stories we're working on, we include in the group we're considering a wide variety of possibilities, rather than simply going back to the same, limited group." - David Westin in a January 19 e-mail
Jeffrey Schneider, ABC News spokesman, told Johnson, "We're proud of our efforts to try to reflect the great diversity in our country."
Johnson further reports: "Both CBS and NBC say that they have rules similar to ABC's and grade producers on the issue accordingly. CNN has diversity plans but doesn't grade producers on it." Fox News spokeswoman Irena Steffan conveyed a novel approach: "We pick knowledgeable people who know what they're talking about."
Diversity is a fabulous thing! But is a list of 480 minority individuals diverse enough? Media bias activists have been calling for a more diverse presentation of ideas for years.
Ethnic diversity is important up to a point, yet ABC's diversity plan suggests that all African Americans, Hispanics, Muslims and/or Polynesians march in ideological lockstep. I'm in favor of not having to listen to Jesse Jackson's opinion on every issue of victimhood, but I suspect he is on the approved list any way. (ABC will not release the list.)
Here is where it gets complicated: Given a choice of the NOW point of view told by a Hispanic spokeswoman or the NOW point of view told by a white spokeswoman, it is still the NOW point of view and NOW's point of view does not coincide with the ideas of all (or even most) women. By the same token, Rev. Jerry Falwell does not speak for all Christians who happen to be politically conservative, nor does he represent the "white" way of thinking.
Dividing people up by race is entirely too easy, too superficial. Ethnic diversity in "on-air and taped comments" is a cop out, a cheap substitute for what is really needed in the mainstream media: ideological diversity!
Let's write to David Westin and ask what he plans to do to ensure a fairer representation of ideas. Below is the contact information.
David Westin
ABC News President
77 West 66th Street
New York, New York 10023
Phone 212-456-7777
FAX 212-456-4292
Read more here:
ABC News' evaluation: Diversity is a priority
MRC CyberAlert, 02/19/2002
1st Reporter) Hey, I'll trade you a yellow and a brown for a 2 lesbians. 2nd Reporter) Naw, I need them for my piece on "Education reform".
Hi Peace, Do tell!?! Wouldn't releasing a list of their stable of liberal sycophants be news? Silly me, it must not be newsworthy. It is not important; we should trust them? I don't think so. What are they afraid of....US????? Arrogant BA$TARD$ keep my blood pressure way to high.
We should DEMAND the list! Shall we start a new operation? ABC's list of liberal sources HACKS held captive; RELEASE THEM NOW!
I can envision a balanced debate between Al and Jesse on the pros and cons of black reparations. Wouldn't THAT be informative????
FGS
ABC diversity list held hostage; RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!
FGS
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