Report: Few Minorities Appear on U.S. News Talk Shows

**RamyGras** · 05-14-2007, 11:08 PM

Few minorities appear on U.S. news talk shows: report
Mon May 14, 2:46 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The influential Sunday news talk shows aired by U.S. television networks are overwhelmingly dominated by white men, with women, blacks and Latinos having little presence, a liberal media watchdog said on Monday.

About one in five guests on the programs were women, said the group, Media Matters for America, which studied four network Sunday news talk shows over a two-year period.

Blacks made up about 7 percent of those appearing on most of the programs, while Latinos made up about 1 percent, Media Matters said. In all, about seven out of every eight guests in 2005 and 2006 was white, the group said.

"Our report demonstrates the all-important Sunday shows are seriously lacking a meaningful presence of women and people of color," said David Brock, president of Media Matters.

The report came a month after radio host Don Imus lost his network television and radio shows for using a racial slur to describe the mostly black women's basketball team at Rutgers University.

The networks and prominent journalists who frequented Imus' show were criticized at the time because they had previously supported the program despite his track record of racist and sexist language.

Some critics said the Imus situation occurred in part because of a lack of diversity in the network newsrooms.

A lot of what has been debated on these threads lately have been race related, so I thought I'd throw this out there. Didn't feel like typing the link. So.....

**spywizard** · 05-14-2007, 11:14 PM

David Brock, president of Media Matters. sounds like a really bad raciest to me..

**brewerpi** · 05-15-2007, 12:00 AM

I guess they missed Al Sharpton a few weeks ago...

**RamyGras** · 05-15-2007, 12:12 AM

I do wonder which four programs they used for analysis.

**gixxerboy1** · 05-15-2007, 07:04 AM

I know its naive. But if we are all supposed to be equal. Why does it matter how many men, woman , blacks or whites are on a show.

Isn't keeping states separating us by race a little racial in itself?

RA · 05-15-2007, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by gixxerboy1

I know its naive. But if we are all supposed to be equal. Why does it matter how many men, woman , blacks or whites are on a show.

Isn't keeping states separating us by race a little racial in itself?

Exactly what I was thinking.

The media was playing up the fact that both superbowl coaches were black and Tony Dungy came out and said first and foremost were both Christians...I laughed so hard it hurt. That statement ate the liberal medias lunch.

**BgMc31** · 05-15-2007, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by gixxerboy1

I know its naive. But if we are all supposed to be equal. Why does it matter how many men, woman , blacks or whites are on a show.

Isn't keeping states separating us by race a little racial in itself?

We are 'supposed' to be equal, but there still exists many pockets of society where we are not viewed equally. And competing stats isn't racists it shows how racists those pockets are still. If we eliminated those stats and didn't point out these discrepancies, do you honestly believe that racism would cease to exist? IMO, NO!!! It would simply allow people to discriminate even more because there would be no accountability.

**BgMc31** · 05-15-2007, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by brewerpi

I guess they missed Al Sharpton a few weeks ago...

That was only one...

**BgMc31** · 05-15-2007, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by roidattack

Exactly what I was thinking.

The media was playing up the fact that both superbowl coaches were black and Tony Dungy came out and said first and foremost were both Christians...I laughed so hard it hurt. That statement ate the liberal medias lunch.

No one made an issue about Dungy's statement. Please post the link to the article you are referring to. Why do you conservatives feel as though you need to make up things to better state you position? From what I've saw during the SuperBowl, all media outlets made a point to point out both coaches strong faith. The so-called liberal media didn't back away or cower after Dungy's statement.

**gixxerboy1** · 05-15-2007, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by BgMc31

We are 'supposed' to be equal, but there still exists many pockets of society where we are not viewed equally. And competing stats isn't racists it shows how racists those pockets are still. If we eliminated those stats and didn't point out these discrepancies, do you honestly believe that racism would cease to exist? IMO, NO!!! It would simply allow people to discriminate even more because there would be no accountability.

I honestly think it would be a start. If we are all equal it shouldn't matter if there are more whites or blacks on a talk show this week. We are all equal. Equal doesn't necessarily mean mathematically. Like 5 and 5. I think that's where a lot of us see differences . To be equal people do you have be on the show the equal amount of times? I say if we are really equal it shouldn't matter who is on there how many times.

I think we are never going to get any closer if we keep pointing out all the differences.

**BgMc31** · 05-15-2007, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by gixxerboy1

I honestly think it would be a start. If we are all equal it shouldn't matter if there are more whites or blacks on a talk show this week. We are all equal. Equal doesn't necessarily mean mathematically. Like 5 and 5. I think that's where a lot of us see differences . To be equal people do you have be on the show the equal amount of times? I say if we are really equal it shouldn't matter who is on there how many times.

I think we are never going to get any closer if we keep pointing out all the differences.

But we aren't equal and we are different. We are not the same. We see things from different perspectives. Our cultures are different. And if those differences aren't showcased, it leads to your assumption that everything is ok and those differences should not be celebrated but rather demonized. Sure we have a lot in common, but there is no denying that since we see things through different lenses we are different. The United States is a great country because of our differences not in spite of them.

**gixxerboy1** · 05-15-2007, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by BgMc31

But we aren't equal and we are different. We are not the same. We see things from different perspectives. Our cultures are different. And if those differences aren't showcased, it leads to your assumption that everything is ok and those differences should not be celebrated but rather demonized. Sure we have a lot in common, but there is no denying that since we see things through different lenses we are different. The United States is a great country because of our differences not in spite of them.

But that's people in general. You can have 5 white men and they all can have different cultures and different prospectives and all born and raised in the US.
Yet you can have a black and white guy agree on stuff.

You can go to 1 high school and get 100 different experiences and perceptions on life and culture. All from kids who live in the same town and go to the same school

What i highlighted doesn't that just separate us more. You are saying we are different based purely on the fact you are black and I'm white.

**BgMc31** · 05-15-2007, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by gixxerboy1

But that's people in general. You can have 5 white men and they all can have different cultures and different prospectives and all born and raised in the US.
Yet you can have a black and white guy agree on stuff.

You can go to 1 high school and get 100 different experiences and perceptions on life and culture. All from kids who live in the same town and go to the same school

What i highlighted doesn't that just separate us more. You are saying we are different based purely on the fact you are black and I'm white.

We are dude!!! Simply because I'm black and you're white. Look, I was raised in a military family, I have friends from just about everywhere. We are all raised in similar areas, but because of the small differences of color we are different. There are things that I have experienced that they would never experience because I'm black and they are not, and vice versa.

**gixxerboy1** · 05-15-2007, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by BgMc31

We are dude!!! Simply because I'm black and you're white. Look, I was raised in a military family, I have friends from just about everywhere. We are all raised in similar areas, but because of the small differences of color we are different. There are things that I have experienced that they would never experience because I'm black and they are not, and vice versa.

But so is the fat kid or the red head. Its not just race.

**BgMc31** · 05-15-2007, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by gixxerboy1

But so is the fat kid or the red head. Its not just race.

I can tell there is no convincing you. It's pointless to go back and forth. The fat kid and redhead are a different situation. But you can't see that, so it's pointless to continue.

**gixxerboy1** · 05-15-2007, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by BgMc31

I can tell there is no convincing you. It's pointless to go back and forth. The fat kid and redhead are a different situation. But you can't see that, so it's pointless to continue.

I'm saying we are all treated different because of the way we look. Minorities may have it worse. But tell that to the fat kid who is picked on and beat everyday.

Honestly i think it causes more racial problems by saying its because I'm black and you cant understand it as your defence all the time.

I'm glad we can talk about this with out anyone getting mad at each other.

**Carlos_E** · 05-15-2007, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by gixxerboy1

I know its naive. But if we are all supposed to be equal. Why does it matter how many men, woman , blacks or whites are on a show.

Isn't keeping states separating us by race a little racial in itself?

The point of tracking the statistics is not to separate people but to ensure there is equal representation. Our country is made up of people of different ethnic and financial backgrounds and it's good to see everyone represented in the media.

**BgMc31** · 05-15-2007, 04:40 PM

[QUOTE=gixxerboy1]I'm saying we are all treated different because of the way we look. Minorities may have it worse. But tell that to the fat kid who is picked on and beat everyday.

Honestly i think it causes more racial problems by saying its because I'm black and you cant understand it as your defence all the time.

I'm glad we can talk about this with out anyone getting mad at each other.[/QUOTE]

I clearly understand what you are saying. But you cannot understand what blacks go through at times, just like I cannot understand the mentality of whites all the time. Your responses are typical of a non-racist white person, which is admirable. At times it seems you don't want to believe or understand what does goes on and we should all move on. While I agree that we should all move on, its difficult when the majority (whites) don't want to believe that problems exists or wish to simply ignore those problems hoping they will just go away. IMO, in order to go forward we need to recognize existing problems and remedy them.

I, too, am glad we can have a civil discussion about these issues. I wish the public at large would engage in this type of dialogue more often. Maybe then we could really move on!!!

**MuscleScience** · 05-15-2007, 04:45 PM

If we just saw each other as people then we would all be for the better. But its human nature to hate what we dont understand as it seems. JM2C

**RamyGras** · 05-15-2007, 07:28 PM

I'm not trying to be a prick. With that said, I hear all about the "liberal media". What is the "conservative media"? And, what is the difference?

RA · 05-16-2007, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by Carlos_E

The point of tracking the statistics is not to separate people but to ensure there is equal representation. Our country is made up of people of different ethnic and financial backgrounds and it's good to see everyone represented in the media.

The fact that people of one ethnic background or another have to be "represented" is bs IMO.

**Carlos_E** · 05-16-2007, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by roidattack

The fact that people of one ethnic background or another have to be "represented" is bs IMO.

Good thing it's just your opinion and not everyone feels the same.

**gixxerboy1** · 05-16-2007, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by Carlos_E

Good thing it's just your opinion and not everyone feels the same.

I curuious on your your view. Where does it end. So say they divide the talk show equal amounts blacks and white. What about Christian, Jews or Muslim? Or obese people don't feel like they are represented? I'm not saying its all the same but where do you draw a line?

RA · 05-16-2007, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by gixxerboy1

I curuious on your your view. Where does it end. So say they divide the talk show equal amounts blacks and white. What about Christian, Jews or Muslim? Or obese people don't feel like they are represented? I'm not saying its all the same but where do you draw a line?

Thats what I was thinking. Every religious and ethnic background will have to be "represented"

Guess were not all just people

**Carlos_E** · 05-16-2007, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by gixxerboy1

I curuious on your your view. Where does it end. So say they divide the talk show equal amounts blacks and white. What about Christian, Jews or Muslim? Or obese people don't feel like they are represented? I'm not saying its all the same but where do you draw a line?

I don't know what channels you're watching but I see fat people on TV every day. I also see Jews.

**gixxerboy1** · 05-16-2007, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by Carlos_E

I don't know what channels you're watching but I see fat people on TV every day. I also see Jews.

I wasnt siting specifics. I also see black people on tv everyday.

But I'm saying where do we stop do we keep statistics to see how many are Jewish and christian or Muslim? Or anything else that makes us different for that matter. Are gays getting their fair shake? I'm just asking where do we stop?

RA · 05-16-2007, 10:28 AM

I dont think the poor and homeless are represented fairly on US news talk shows. We need to have some smelly guy with ripped out pockets and a 5 o'clock shadow. At least one. I think I might picket until that happens.

**Carlos_E** · 05-16-2007, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by roidattack

I dont think the poor and homeless are represented fairly on US news talk shows. We need to have some smelly guy with ripped out pockets and a 5 o'clock shadow. At least one. I think I might picket until that happens.

You're mistaken. I have seen ex homeless and drug addicted people on news talk shows speaking for the homeless. Maybe they don't put them on Fox news.

RA · 05-16-2007, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Carlos_E

You're mistaken. I have seen ex homeless and drug addicted people on news talk shows speaking for the homeless. Maybe they don't put them on Fox news.

No, I dont want ex homeless. Thats like an ex christian representing the christians. I want the guy in tattered clothes chugging wild turkey every time he gives an answer.

**crow13** · 05-16-2007, 11:06 AM

I think some people worry to much about whats not happening instead of happening. your not going to hear me complain that we dont have the naawp? Even though its proven there is a such thing as reverse discrimination i believe thats why cali reversed their eoe laws. your not going to hear me complain that i cant go to an all black college. Who cares i feel as long as everyone does there part and are contributing members of society then you will get a fair shake. i see obama, sharpton, jesse jackson and numerous blacks on t.v I never hear of hispanics complain on this issue they just get up and go to work everyday and support there families.

**Carlos_E** · 05-16-2007, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by crow13

I think some people worry to much about whats not happening instead of happening. your not going to hear me complain that we dont have the naawp? Even though its proven there is a such thing as reverse discrimination i believe thats why cali reversed their eoe laws. your not going to hear me complain that i cant go to an all black college. Who cares i feel as long as everyone does there part and are contributing members of society then you will get a fair shake. i see obama, sharpton, jesse jackson and numerous blacks on t.v I never hear of hispanics complain on this issue they just get up and go to work everyday and support there families.

Why can't you go to a predominately Black college? You are free to go there if you so choose. I went to one, there were White people there. No one will stop you. Seriously, where the hell do you guys come up with this stuff? Do you guys just sit around and make up rumors? "I hear white people can't do to predominately Black colleges." WHINE BITCH MOAN!!

Hispanics do complain about it. Maybe you just don't pay attention and hear it. I watch Latin television stations and their news talk shows talk about the lack of Hispanics in the main stream media. It's why they decided to do their own show.

Again, do you guys sit around making this stuff up?

**gixxerboy1** · 05-16-2007, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Carlos_E

Why can't you go to a predominately Black college? You are free to go there if you so choose. I went to one, there were White people there. No one will stop you. Seriously, where the hell do you guys come up with this stuff? Do you guys just sit around and make up rumors? "I hear white people can't do to predominately Black colleges." WHINE BITCH MOAN!!

Hispanics do complain about it. Maybe you just don't pay attention and hear it. I watch Latin television stations and their news talk shows talk about the lack of Hispanics in the main stream media. It's why they decided to do their own show.

Again, do you guys sit around making this stuff up?

I agree with you on the Hispanics.

Aren't their all black colleges just like all female? I don't mean predominately

**BgMc31** · 05-16-2007, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by crow13

I think some people worry to much about whats not happening instead of happening. your not going to hear me complain that we dont have the naawp? Even though its proven there is a such thing as reverse discrimination i believe thats why cali reversed their eoe laws. your not going to hear me complain that i cant go to an all black college. Who cares i feel as long as everyone does there part and are contributing members of society then you will get a fair shake. i see obama, sharpton, jesse jackson and numerous blacks on t.v I never hear of hispanics complain on this issue they just get up and go to work everyday and support there families.

That's a purely ignorant statement!! First you can go to a historically black college. They do have white students. Their enrollment of white students is close to that of black enrollment in predominantly white Ivy League and private Christian/Catholic colleges across the country. Do some research before you speak!!! There is a NAAWP, Google it, idiot!!! Hispanics have there own channels. Just on Cox cable alone there are 35 channels in Spanish and that doesn't include pay channels that simulcast in Spanish. There are no black owned channels. And don't say BET, because BET is owned by the same company that owns MTV.

Man it irks the hell out of me to hear white people, who are represented in all aspects of media extensively tell everyone else to stop worrying about being represented in the media. You all are completely missing the point. Carlos and I, as do most minorities, aren't asking for equal exposure on TV or media. The report is that we are underrepresented. The issue is that the under exposure is usually of negative stereotypes and more exposure of minorities would/could send more positive images of minorities to the masses.

**BgMc31** · 05-16-2007, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by gixxerboy1

I agree with you on the Hispanics.

Aren't their all black colleges just like all female? I don't mean predominately

Classic misnomer. The historically black colleges aren't noninclusive. The are predominantly black but let in people of all races regularly. The purpose of these schools was to offer blacks college education during a time when many colleges weren't allowing blacks to enroll. As segregation ended these colleges continued to offer blacks college opportunities in a less hostile environment. But because public colleges were no longer allowed to discriminate they began to allow whites and others into their fold. Whites don't attend in great numbers because many view these colleges as inferior to other colleges. Not true, but definately a perception.

**Carlos_E** · 05-16-2007, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by gixxerboy1

I agree with you on the Hispanics.

Aren't their all black colleges just like all female? I don't mean predominately

There is no such thing as an all Black college. That would be illegal. There are prodominately or historically Black colleges. Howard University, Morgan State, Morehouse, Spelman. You see more Whites and other ethnic groups in graduate than in undergrad.

A qoute from Patrick Swygert, President of Howard University.

Besides, black institutions were never segregated. The first four Howard matriculants were white. We've never rejected white students wanting to attend. Those seeking to share our unique cultural values should be able to do so while still getting a terrific education. They'll be in a nurturing environment with a shared cultural ethos.

**BgMc31** · 05-16-2007, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by Carlos_E

There is no such thing as an all Black college. That would be illegal. There are prodominately or historically Black colleges. Howard University, Morgan State, Morehouse, Spelman. You see more Whites and other ethnic groups in graduate than in undergrad.

A qoute from Patrick Swygert, President of Howard University.

I stand corrected! Thanks Carlos!

**gixxerboy1** · 05-16-2007, 11:38 AM

Learn something new everyday.

**Carlos_E** · 05-16-2007, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by gixxerboy1

Learn something new everyday.

The fact that White people think this scares me. You guys are getting riled up over nothing. I mentioned it a few times where I grew up is pretty much all White. My brother and I were accepted to several colleges. We wanted to go to University of Michigan because all of our friends were going there. Our parents sent us to Howard University because they wanted us to have exposure to other minorities. Something we did not get much of growing up. It was an eye opening experience and they made the right decision. I met other people like "me." It felt nice not always being the one dark person in the room.

**BgMc31** · 05-16-2007, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Carlos_E

The fact that White people think this scares me. You guys are getting riled up over nothing. I mentioned it a few times where I grew up is pretty much all White. My brother and I were accepted to several colleges. We wanted to go to University of Michigan because all of our friends were going there. Our parents sent us to Howard University because they wanted us to have exposure to other minorities. Something we did not get much of growing up. It was an eye opening experience and they made the right decision. I met other people like "me." It felt nice not always being the one dark person in the room.

That's interesting Carlos, because I was recruited by many schools (and most historically black colleges), I wanted to go to Grambling (because of Eddie Robinson), but my parents told me that HBC didn't represent reality in the world and that I should go to a larger school, which I did. Anyway, they did allow my sister to attend Howard. So go figure!! LOL!!!

**Carlos_E** · 05-16-2007, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by BgMc31

That's interesting Carlos, because I was recruited by many schools (and most historically black colleges), I wanted to go to Grambling (because of Eddie Robinson), but my parents told me that HBC didn't represent reality in the world and that I should go to a larger school, which I did. Anyway, they did allow my sister to attend Howard. So go figure!! LOL!!!

Did you come from the same type of background? I definitely had a culture shock. I didn't know how to relate to other minorities. They didn't know how to relate to us either. People would ask what country are you from?