NBC owes Ashleigh Banfield an apology - and back pay!

And Phil Donahue, too!

Ashleigh Banfield, the reporter who made wearing glasses fashionable, was basically dumped by MSNBC for daring to make a public speech critical of the way reporters were covering the war. Given all the current hype over Scott McClellan's new book, I think NBC owes Banfield and Donahue an apology -- and back pay!

In 2003, Banfield was asked to speak at Kansas State University, as a participant in the school's Landon Lecture series. Her speech touched on many issues, with probably the most controversial being the "sanitized" coverage of the war.

You didn't see where those bullets landed. You didn't see what happened when the mortar landed. A puff of smoke is not what a mortar looks like when it explodes, believe me. There are horrors that were completely left out of this war. So was this journalism or was this coverage? There is a grand difference between journalism and coverage, and getting access does not mean you're getting the story... . [...]

As a journalist I'm often ostracized just for ... going on television and saying, "Here's what the leaders of Hezbullah are telling me and here's what the Lebanese are telling me and here's what the Syrians have said about Hezbullah. Here's what they have to say about the Golan Heights." Like it or lump it, don't shoot the messenger, but invariably the messenger gets shot.

We hired somebody on MSNBC recently named Michael Savage. Some of you may know his name already from his radio program. He was so taken aback by my dare to speak with Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade about why they do what they do, why they're prepared to sacrifice themselves for what they call a freedom fight and we call terrorism. He was so taken aback that he chose to label me as a slut on the air. [...]

How can you discuss, how can you solve anything when attacks from a mere radio flak is what America hears on a regular basis, let alone at the government level? I mean, if this kind of attitude is prevailing, forget discussion, forget diplomacy, diplomacy is becoming a bad word.

Banfield goes on to talk about the "FOX news effect" and how by having an "agenda" in their coverage they were able to take viewers away from CNN and MSNBC. Marketing replaced reporting. A memo that I'm sure was meant to be confidential leaked about why Donahue was fired. MSNBC didn't want an "anti-war" voice while FOX was waving the flag every night, calling anyone who opposed the war unpatriotic.

I'm hoping that I will have a future in news in cable, but not the way some cable news operators wrap themselves in the American flag and patriotism and go after a certain target demographic, which is very lucrative. You can already see the effects, you can already see the big hires on other networks, right wing hires to chase after this effect, and you can already see that flag waving in the corners of those cable news stations where they have exciting American music to go along with their war coverage.

As responsible citizens I think we must question the actions of our government, and our media. The Fourth Estate has great power, and with that power should go a responsibility to serve the best interests of the people. It can do that by presenting all sides of an issue, and then letting the people decide.

When a news outlet bangs the war drum, we need to call them on it. And when it jumps on the bandwagon for a particular candidate, we need to call them on that as well.


See:
MSNBC's Banfield Slams War Coverage
Ashleigh Banfield: "Don't Shoot The Messenger"
Commentary: The Surrender Of MSNBC
Battling For The Soul Of Donahue

You've come a long way baby

From 1974: The Three Degrees - When Will I See You Again



From 2000: Destiny's Child - Independent Women


We've moved from women in pant suites and turtlenecks singing "When Will I See You Again" to women not so covered singing about "Independent Women." Yes, we've come a long way, baby.

An article on Salon.com suggests "Women are the new men on TV" this season, saying:

Here's the good news: When you turn on your television this fall, you'll be watching more women kick more ass than you can possibly imagine -- physically, economically and sexually. Hard-bodied and smart, rich and aggressive, confident and independent, the chicks who populate the prime-time lineup are being cast in roles that once belonged almost exclusively to men. [...]

Welcome to the new world on television, where the women are strong, and the men are cavemen.

So what do you think? Are women the new men?

A New View?

According to the New York Times, ABC is close to signing a deal with comedian's Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd to join "The View." The new panelists would fill the roles on the program once held by Rosie O’Donnell and Star Jones.

The Los Angeles Times first reported yesterday that Ms. Goldberg and Ms. Shepherd were in negotiations to take positions on “The View.” An ABC executive, who requested anonymity because the talks were continuing, said yesterday that “people are speculating about those two names” and that the newspaper’s report was “prematurely saying a deal is in its final stages.”

I hope they do sign Whoopi, if for no other reason than to provide a counter to conservative co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck better hold on to her chair, because it could be a very bumpy ride!

Fabulous Women

It's really late, and it's been another great day in Detroit. I have long had an interest in women in media, so the morning plenary session was particularly fun. It was a discussion of women in the media featuring Chenese Lewis, Sherry Stringfield, Jill Soloway and Dr. E. Faye Williams.

Chenese Lewis is a gorgeous model and actor in Los Angeles where she advocates positive portrayals of plus size women in the media. She is the spokesperson for the Love Your Body Project, and is also a writer and serves as Empowerment Editor for PLUS Model Magazine.

Sherry Stringfield is not a doctor, but she certainly knows how to play one on TV. For more than a decade Stringfield played Dr. Susan Lewis on NBC's prime time hit ER. An ardent feminist, she spoke of the need for positive roles for women in television and film, and provided suggestions on how feminists could help influence media. A lifetime member of NOW, Stringfield recently purchased lifetime memberships for her two children saying: "My son is two years old, and he is sooooo going to owe me when he's older and can tell his girlfriend 'yeah, I've been a NOW member for 15 years!'"

Jill Soloway is a talented writer and producer who is determined to change the culture for women in media. For four seasons she was a writer and eventually co-executive producer of HBO's hit series Six Feet Under. She is currently directing her first feature film, Tricycle, and has just finished writing the screenplay for Pledged, a comedy about sorority life. She recently signed on as a writer for ABC's Grey's Anatomy.

Soloway, and the group OBJECT she helped form, recently took on Lionsgate and AfterDark Films for their billboards promoting the film “Captivity” that presented graphic depictions of violence against women. Soloway said the action wasn't about taking away First Amendment free speech rights or censorship, but about public space -- asking "why should I have to see this" as she would drive around Los Angeles with her young son.

Soloway went on to say that all men have to do everyday is simply get up and write, whereas women have children to raise, households to manage, and husbands or partners to care for. She encouraged the potential writers in the room to not be afraid to tell their stories. And to not be afraid of their sexuality.

Dr. E. Faye Williams, the National Chair of the National Congress of Black Women, closed out the session with yet another inspirational message challenging NOW activists to support these women in their work and to "never go back." She sited comments made about the Rutgers women as an example of men trying to marginalize the gains women have made over the past few decades. Dr. Williams pledged to continue to challenge the likes of 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg.