TV News Has A Diversity Issue And It’s Stifling America
by @MichaelACanty
TV news is a powerful medium. It has the ability to influence the thoughts of millions in as little as 10 minutes. Cable News is a phenomenon that cements information and ideas by reporting information every hour in a 24-hour period. When we think of major US events we can remember the faces of the news anchors who reported it. Cable news (and the internet) have ushered in a new phenomenon making news headlines memorable for no more than 48 hours. After that the new network profit centers are looking for the next headline attracting new viewers (i.e. advertising dollars) and clicks (likes and views equal success in the internet world).
Diversity has been stated as the element that when implemented effectively grows business productivity and earnings through the creative incorporation of new ideas and different, often non-traditional perspectives. It suggests everyone can make a great contribution to any organization. Leaders can effectively make the most of a diverse staff through practices and habits that create a culture where differences are heard, considered, even taking through the problem solving process using any standard evaluation tool.. Diversity in news production provides information on the variety of ways viewers would perceive info as well as the choice of language to reach the maximum number of viewers. Pew polling suggests mainstream news sources are considered less and less trustworthy. People now tend to get their news from sources that support their ideological beliefs. This results in many hearing what they already believe from people who look like them. So if you are vested in hearing the news you way and want to see your “type” of person in your living room, you probably are not a fan of the concept of diversity. But corporations are courageous right? Innovative right? They even express the importance of valuing diversity. Although media reports on and expresses it’s values in their official corporate documents, the company’s hiring results may tell another story.
Right now a little black girl is in the same room with her parents who are watching the evening news intensely. She doesn’t see herself. She doesn’t see a woman like her. When she imagines her career she will think of where she saw people who look like her. When she imagines her career she will think of where she saw people who look like her. If she has an interest in cable news her inspiration may not look like her. Contrary minds might say, “Oprah did not see a woman like herself yet still pursued a TV news career”. My response to that is people of color know they may be the first in some aspect of their life. Wouldn’t it be great if all Americans could see themselves reflected equally in society? Imagine all Americans actually believing they can do anything they dream. Later that same little girl learns how black and brown people experience being American. She learns about racism and how different people live in the richest country in the world. Her parents have “the talk” with her and she works to excel in a world that does not always display positive images of black women. She learns how the political class reacts to black women in the past and right now, It isn’t positive. Like many who didn’t see themselves in TV news, she may choose another career. A young brown boy sees himself on cable news but only in the context of the immigration discussion and border debate. How does he feel about his chances for success when he isn’t reflected everywhere? I suggest to you children of color don’t feel equally optimistic as their white peers and it seems as if they won’t see change anytime soon. Studies show young girls dreams are affected as early as 5 years old.
Imagine if a person of color determined what news stories aired. At the very least had influence in what stories aired. Imagine people unaware of zip code specific experiences and how learning about them could inform their perspective. Don’t we know quite a bit about American farmers? What we learned was through the efforts of news outlets everywhere. How many urban viewers know the plight of the American Farmer? Why do those farmers know so little about urban issues?
Being a huge news junkie, a few things became apparent. People of color are selected and strategically placed when it comes to who anchors TV news. That is why you see very few. Looking at some of the networks one by one, each has its own problems. Here is my view of them.
MSNBC/NBC
Before Chuck Todd was the anchor of Meet the Press and MTP Daily, he was the numbers guy, then the Network Political Director making appearances and hosting segments on most of the evening shows and Meet The Press. He then succeeded David Gregory as Chief Washington Correspondent then as host of Meet The Press.. He and NBC’s Savannah Guthrie partnered for a number of weekday shows and special broadcasts.
Steve Kornacki and Mark Murray were groomed for Todd’s previous functions. Steve now fills in on Hardball, MTP Daily and every weekday evening show hosting while Murray the Political Director determines what stories air. Former Bush 43 Communications Manager Nicole Wallace went to ABC’s The View for one of the rockiest seasons in history then landed on cable news with her own weekday show preceding MTP Daily and the title Chief Political Analyst for both of NBC’s networks. She appears on the Today Show and subs for weekday evening shows. Luke Russert, son of former Meet The Press Host Tim Russert spent 8 good years working his way into the respect deserving of any hard working journalist whose dad had a stellar reputation. NBC found room for the young man and respectfully, he quit abruptly right before a major party convention, Each of these people were given wonderful opportunities, made on camera mistakes yet were given the room and space to sharpen their skills in an environment some characterize as unforgiving.
In viewing the trajectory of the black hosts, there’s Rev. Al Sharpton (who during the Obama era appeared daily at 6:00pm) and Joy Reid (who has an awesome show on weekends) don’t look as if they’re being groomed the same way as the aforementioned people. Joy subs infrequently during the week mostly for Lawrence O’Donnell and Chris Hayes.
Evening show hosting spots hosted by Karen Finney and Melissa Harris-Perry disappeared long ago and Tamron Hall’s sprnt from the early morning Today Show to the 9am NBC hour to her 11am MSNBC show was like a daily run no other anchor had to manage. Tamron’s show aired against ABC’s The View, Wendy Williams and in some areas The Real and was like living in desert land. Then when it was contract time former Fox News Anchor Meghan Kelly accepted one of the highest offers in TV news history while Hall’s contract was not renews? It’s hard not to see who the network valued. We all remember Kelly’s unforgettable tenure with NBC. Her talk show. The room she was given for cultural mistakes and her eventual separation from the network resulting in a huge contract settlement. She literally never has to work again. Emmy Award Winning Kendis Gibson formerly of ABC World News was seen on a Saturday afternoon MSNBC slot. Hmmm the talents of an Emmy Winner for just 2 hrs a week?
CNN
The 3nd most watched cable news network seems to also be challenged but unlike Democratic Presidential Candidate Mayor Pete Buttigeig said about his ability to hire police officers of color in South Bend, “isn’t cutting it”, The NABJ has had numerous discussions with major media outlets about improving diversity hiring. This Warner Media Group currently has no mid- level black executives and the on air grooming process looks non existent. ‘They have hired some major players as Political Analysts but it seems like the ceiling for POC. Nia-Malika Handerson and Sara Sedner are excellent analysts and reporters and I have seen Ms.Henderson host Inside Politics a few times but the major fill-ins seem to go to Phil Marquart, Phil Mattingly, John Berman and Brianna Keiler when the most important shows are considered. Bianna Golodryga arrived early 2019 and has just filled in on her first evening spot. Then she disappeared. What happened? Sedner and Laura Coats hosted their own shows on HLN but are relegated to special reporting and legal analysis respectively. Recently Coats has been filling in Friday nights at 11pm. Another low ratings time slot in TV news, Weekend anchors Victor Blackwell and Fredericka Whitfield are staples yet no prime time for their long time professional efforts. On Saturday mornings during the NewDay show, 4 of the most important contributors to news, politics and culture in general have been appearing bringing an elegant view of panel discussions on current political topics. Yet they make no decisions, only contribute opinion, In addition it is still Saturday morning, a time when few are watching the network .
CBS
The $11M yearly investment in Gayle King as Lead Host of CBS This Morning and Norah McDonnell’s promotion to anchor at The Evening News is the kind of bold step that could be reflexive considering Les Moonves, Charlie Rose and the #MeToo movement. But new President of the News division Susan Zirinsky is willing to make the effort that changing culture requires. I am curious as to how and why the network lost Bianna Golodryga as I was a big fan of her reporting on CBS. Adriana Diaz and Jericka Duncan filled in with Gayle at times offering something you do not see very often-more than one black woman at a time (think of your local news, most tv shows and commercials). Gayle has also flexed her authenticity by using terms we normally reserve for home, letting her blackness rock in humorous and inclusive ways adding unscripted comments to issues affecting black women and families as well as commenting on her test of the new Popeye’s chicken sandwich. I have also seen CTM import people of color from CBSN it’s 24hr news network. All in all, I watch and wish them well for their effort.
Note: This article does not include ABC because they have no cable arm and reviewing them would make the tone of the article deeply negative. Ok, since you ask, I see GMA as an entertainment program, George Stephanoplolus has such a firm hold on the reigns of the news division, Pierre Thomas’s “straight news’”“facts only’ approach is unappreciated. As a network that showcased the great Max Robinson something has definitely changed. It’s clear opportunities for anchors of color at ABC News will be minimal. Fox is excluded because their position as the right arm of the GOP and #45 makes it perfectly clear why they have no intention of being the breakthrough network when you think of diversity in programming or hiring. We will review everyone again during the February (2020) sweeps giving everyone time to decide what direction they want to go in as it relates to diversity hires.
All in all, TV news is currently a reflection of the Washington DC political culture and US corporate structure. The good jobs are held by white men. The high paying jobs are held by white men and a few women. The decisions are made by white men and they don’t seem ready (much like the US Senate and our current Commander In Chief) to share it or prepare others to assume it Being unwilling to take a huge leap of faith in the right direction to give black and brown people the opportunity to influence corporate and news culture is in its broadest sense stagnating us all. This experiment called Democracy is young yet the ideas have become very old. America’s best efforts are not at play here.
@michaelacanty is a Social, Political and Entertainment Commentator, Human Development and Leadership Consultant, creator of weRwideopen an initiative established to openly discuss issues of race and equality, blogs, “Movies, Music, TVPlus” and “Politics Is Not a Bad Word” as well as author of the upcoming book, “Today On This Day: Meditations To Live and Love By”
