The first national breast-beating about Katie Couric leaving the anchor desk and potentially un-diversifying the anchor corps has come from Time TV writer James Poniewozik, who demands that the networks enshrine diversity. "Am I calling on the networks to act in the name of mere cosmetic appearance? Yes! News anchors are -- more than any profession outside of car-show modeling -- about cosmetic appearance." (Unlike Time, apparently, who picked top editor Richard Stengel in 2006, a disappointing "white dude.") Poniewozik lamented that just as the diversity in the Democratic campaign looks like 2060, the networks are headed back to 1960:
If one side of the debate stage is Star Trek, however, the question-asking side looks like Dragnet. In the Democratic debates, Obama and Hillary Clinton have taken questions from Charles Gibson, Brian Williams, Tim Russert, Wolf Blitzer--white guy, white guy, white guy, white guy.
Now the white-male preserve of TV anchoring may get yet white-maler. Katie Couric, whose CBS Evening News remains in deep third place, reportedly may leave after the presidential Inauguration or sooner. Should Hillary pull the election out, the first female President could be sworn in just in time to say goodbye to the first solo female anchor.
Poniewozik laments that CBS is hoping to blame "society" for Couric’s failure while they look like brave pioneers. He doesn’t criticize PBS for picking the wrong woman for the job, someone who on the gravitas scale projects less Madeleine Albright and more Kathie Lee Gifford. Then he hits the virtual picket line:
P.C. alert! Am I calling on the networks to act in the name of mere cosmetic appearance? Yes! News anchors are -- more than any profession outside of car-show modeling -- about cosmetic appearance. Yes, they need news chops, but they are hired, foremost, literally to be the face of a news division. Diversity is no more superficial a goal than gravitas, which apparently derives from the Latin for "white dude."
There are journalistic reasons to make this call too. Race and gender are real campaign issues--and white men have every right to cover them--but the networks have been practically handicapped by their makeup. If they were not largely fronted by white men, they would have been less vulnerable to the uncomfortable images of the media's boys ganging up on Hillary in the earlier debates or of largely white TV personalities piling on Obama about Jeremiah Wright in the much trashed ABC debate and before. Finally, there are solid business reasons. If TV news has any hope of finding another generation of viewers, hiring staff who reflect younger viewers' reality is relevant.
It’s a complete straw man to argue that everyone else has to have a white-male anchor to feel their gravitas quotient has been fulfilled. CBS could certainly replace Couric with a woman with less gums and giggle, or go in the Obama direction and hire a black anchor like Russ Mitchell or NBC’s Lester Holt. But it’s certainly painful to watch white-guy liberal writers beat up on white guys as yesterday’s news. Step aside, then, Captain Self-Loathing, go back to Salon.com, and let Eric Deggans or some other liberal who doesn't look like you write on TV for Time.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Network evening
April 25, 2008 - 08:58 ET by Hero SquadNetwork evening news hasn't been relevant for almost two decades, so why would it matter if it looked like 1960 or 2060?
Hardly a revelation here, but by the time they hit the airwaves at 6 p.m., most people already know the news they want to know from cable news or the internet.
So they can put pretty much anyone they want there. It's not going to make much difference. The only people watching it anymore are the few people who have no other outlet for their news, and they probably prefer a nostalgic 1960s feel to their network news.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
CBS could certainly replace
April 25, 2008 - 08:58 ET by motherbeltCBS could certainly replace Couric with a woman with less gums and giggle,
Good point, Tim! They chose The Perky One because of her popularity, thinking it would translate to the evening news. It didn't. Image is everything, and Katie's image is "Morning Show Lite."
Let's face it, when Ms. Couric "goes serious" it just doesn't come off as her natural demeanor. She always looks like a middle-schooler acting out the part; trying so very hard to project that air of "gravitas."
What about the NBA reign of
April 25, 2008 - 09:01 ET by the strugglerWhat about the NBA reign of the "black dudes".Point gaurd,shooting gaurd,forward,center.Black guy,black guy,black guy, black guy.
Well...
April 25, 2008 - 09:24 ET by sunandsteelThats different. Everyone knows white guys are only good at curling and hockey.
What doesn’t kill you, only makes you pissed off. -Children of Bodom
Don't forget...
April 25, 2008 - 09:35 ET by GothampcDon't forget lacrosse. All of us white, elite guys excel at lacrosse. It's the rich, white guy sport. :)
I forgot.
April 25, 2008 - 10:10 ET by sunandsteelWe used to have golf, but, you know. ;-)
What doesn’t kill you, only makes you pissed off. -Children of Bodom
Maybe
April 25, 2008 - 09:14 ET by 10ksnookerIt's time to let the dinosaur die in peace. I haven't watched the nightly news since the 70s when they started the "next ice age is coming" scare.
rolls eyes
April 25, 2008 - 09:25 ET by candanceA white guy in the media complaining about too many white guys in the media? Why doesn't he volunteer to be the first to donate his job?
Do as I say,
April 25, 2008 - 09:32 ET by sunandsteelNot as I do.
Side not: I might watch the msm more if they had Flava Flav doing the news. At least it would be entertaining.
What doesn’t kill you, only makes you pissed off. -Children of Bodom
Tonight's top story Obama
April 25, 2008 - 09:36 ET by taterTonight's top story Obama wins Indiana and North Carolina...YEAH BOOOYYYY!!!!!!!
"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather
Special Correspondant
April 25, 2008 - 10:14 ET by sunandsteelSnoop Dogg. "The attacks in Iraqizzle have decreased due to Al Qizzle nizzles gettin smoked G. Back to you Flav."
What doesn’t kill you, only makes you pissed off. -Children of Bodom
A clarification on Deggans
April 25, 2008 - 10:58 ET by Tim GrahamWhen I suggested Poniewozik step aside for an Eric Deggans, I should clarify that I did not mean Eric Deggans was a hack-like "quota" pick. I mentioned Deggans because he's interviewed me a few times and sometimes they're like 45-minute editions of "Crossfire," except with more laughing. I think he'd be a good fit for the Time crowd, and I read his blog. My apologies to Deggans and anyone else who misconstued my clumsy prose.
Timmy boy diversity for the
April 25, 2008 - 09:38 ET by ForeverOnTheRightTimmy boy diversity for the sake of diversity is foolish. It's much more important that the COMPETENT person fills the shoes and that we don't exclude anyone because they are white or black, male or female. To put someone in a position just because they fill the diversity quota is detrimental to any organization, including the White House, which would mean this nation.
FOTR
April 25, 2008 - 09:45 ET by candanceRush remarked on this yesterday during his show. Liberals always complain about race because they categorize people according to race. They see people as being black, white, Asian, Indian, and Native - not people as just being people.
Conservies want America to be color blind. Libs want America to be color centric.
You have that right
April 25, 2008 - 09:54 ET by ForeverOnTheRight"Conservies want America to be color blind. Libs want America to be color centric." You have that right. We should be paying more attention to a persons qualifications and not their race or sex. And if your not paying attention to a persons sex or race they accuse you of being a racist or sexist, example, this election. This backward focus IS 1960 revisited.
Remember Ben Nighthorse Campbell?
April 25, 2008 - 10:39 ET by Mica the MagnificentRemember Ben Nighthorse Campbell?
He was a Native-American democrat ( a senator I believe ) and praised by the MSM and the libs as a wise man, at one with nature, and worthy as a spokesgod for the party.
Then he switched over to the republican party, and all of a sudden, he wasn't so wise, maybe not in tune with nature, and just another overweight indian.
So diversity matters to the MSM, as long as it's liberal diversity.
Liberals seem to always talk of the "Plantation Mentality"...
April 25, 2008 - 10:56 ET by sunandsteelWho do you think runs the plantation? Who is it that is always pointing out the differences in people? It isnt in their best interest to have real equality. If that were to happen, then libs would have no one to pander to.
What doesn’t kill you, only makes you pissed off. -Children of Bodom
Liberal "diversity" means
April 25, 2008 - 11:22 ET by motherbeltLiberal "diversity" means white liberals, black liberals, male liberals, female liberals, Hispanic liberals, Native American liberals, gay liberals, Christian liberals, atheist liberals....
"Now the white-male
April 25, 2008 - 09:49 ET by Gothampc"Now the white-male preserve of TV anchoring may get yet white-maler. Katie Couric, whose CBS Evening News remains in deep third place, reportedly may leave after the presidential Inauguration or sooner."
Why does this come down to "white male"? CBS could have put several women in Katie's spot that would have had more gravitas but they didn't have "anchor face".
I think that tv news should re-title the term "news anchor". Go with the British designation "news reader" or "news presenter". It puts things into perspective.
I see white people!
April 25, 2008 - 09:50 ET by CobraManDude, displaying a minority man or woman on the nation news broadcasts every night just to give the appearance of equality isn't diversity, it's exploitation. Stop exploiting minorities just so you can claim that you're diverse, you hypocrite!
Cobra, If the person is not
April 25, 2008 - 10:09 ET by ForeverOnTheRightCobra, If the person is not qualified for the position, then they are just a token, and that is demeaning to them. It's like saying, "Look I have a black person on my team, I am such a good person to let them be on the team." The person did not earn it, they are there just because of the color of their skin. It's a liberal way to assuage their guilt. Guilty of what we may ask, guilty of bigotry.
Strange when I watch the
April 25, 2008 - 10:03 ET by taterStrange when I watch the cable news outlets, the weather channel, and local news there are a mixture of women and minorities and certainly not a high prominice of a white male. Why does it matter that one newscast at one time must be diverse? If you ask me news media is probably quite a bit more diverse than other jobs.
"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather
Mind Control
April 25, 2008 - 10:10 ET by KC MulvilleThe moment you put on a woman strictly because she’s a woman, then you have no reason to expect white men to watch her. After all, if she won’t be representing the white male perspective (and in your theory, that’s essential), why should white men watch her? Your own theory forces men to go elsewhere. If you hire a female anchor to represent the female perspective, then don’t be surprised if only women watch your show.
Think of the logic here. Why would a woman need to hear The Female Perspective? After all, if she’s a woman, she already has a female perspective – her own. Instead, someone is trying to offer their own perspective as a standard for what women should think. They’re trying to tell women what to think. It’s pure mind control.
the mind melts
April 25, 2008 - 10:21 ET by texan1953So James, a white male, gripes about white males...uuuh...okay. Time, heal thyself. Written by a white male...and yes, I am rich.
A white male with a job, I
April 25, 2008 - 10:56 ET by Hero SquadA white male with a job, I might add. It's easier to be critical when your job and finances are secured.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
Poniewozik's complaint
April 25, 2008 - 11:12 ET by pocomocoIt is obvious that Poniewozik doesn’t watch cable news for if he did he wouldn’t have written such an out-of-touch article.
The only place where ‘white dudes’ dominate the news is on the networks.
If he watched the news on cable he would see that it is dominated by women. As Rush Limbaugh said awhile back, “cable news has been chick-a-fied”.
They all have gravitas and are very competent. Katie Couric are not they.
My only gripe is that they all look like cheerleaders with their long-blond hair which, to me, is not a professional look.
But, who am I to go against the wisdom of cable’s Sales Departments which, apparently, is what the viewers want to see.
So, I say: YOU GO LADIES!
I know of many women and
April 25, 2008 - 11:21 ET by mattmI know of many women and non-whites who would do an infinitely better job than the Leftist Cheerleader, but they'll never get the chance because they're not wide-eyed fanatical Leftists!
BTW - Notice how Libs always focus on outward characteristics, rather than inward character?
Nail on the Head
April 25, 2008 - 14:29 ET by theta sigmaExactly mattm.
'Liberal' dems define diversity as outward superficial characteristics...specifically those that can be manipulated by plays on emotion--hate, envy, etc.
The democrat party--dividing people by color, gender, economic status--but with a monolithic mindset.
True diversity would be better demonstrated by IDEAS.
Funny how most newsrooms have 'reporters'(90%) that follow the dem partys monolithic socialist meme.
That's where this country needs some true diversity.
The Doctor : Can't make ends meet...probably too many economists in the gov't.
Leela : These "taxes"...they are like sacrifices to tribal Gods?
The Doctor : Roughly speaking. But paying taxes is more painful.
The problem the old
April 25, 2008 - 14:09 ET by MidAmericaThe problem the old time networks have is that their hardcore viewers are used to having an older white father figure read them the news. But as these viewers age that means the anchors have to age with them. That's why Bob Sheifer, Harry Smith and the others like them are still working.
In the Democratic debates,
April 25, 2008 - 17:36 ET by fitzfongIn the Democratic debates, Obama and Hillary Clinton have taken questions from Charles Gibson, Brian Williams, Tim Russert, Wolf Blitzer--white guy, white guy, white guy, white guy.
Well, I guess Suz-awwwhnn Malveaux will be surprised to know that she's a white guy.
Time's James Poniewozik
April 27, 2008 - 14:31 ET by Matthew VadumDiversity Fascists are everywhere.
—Matthew Vadum is Editor of Organization Trends and Foundation Watch, two monthly newsletters published by Capital Research Center