Calling a spade a spade…
NBC did not respond to my e-mail and thus I share my opinion with you…
Dear NBC,
It was disheartening this morning while watching Meet the Press to see the distasteful and stereotypical approach regarding the portrayal of violence and use of firearms. NBC elected to broadcast the clip whether it was made on a staff person’s private time or not. Additionally, it was disturbing to watch the host try to explain without success, why the coverage about gun violence, his show aired, was totally biased. What does it have to do with whether he has never being pulled over in his car by the police.
Unfortunately, yet again, the coverage cast in a most prejudiced manner, showed only black men incarcerated speaking about their regrets concerning the use of guns during the commission of crimes. The most ironical aspect of the clip, is that it was aired in the wake of a white man killing nine black people.
Although at a societal level, it is laudable to cover the conversion of criminals, but the question that NBC must answer and communicate to its viewing public is whether that coverage was balanced or another occassion perpetuating the skewed societal view that only black men are violent, are in jail and use guns when that is an absolute departure from the truth. Are their other races other than blacks in jail, do other races use guns and do other races commit crimes. NBC, the incontrovertible answer is yes.
Why would NBC show that clip without making sure that it was balanced. NBC should evaluate the essence of its role in covering and broadcasting topical and all issues. What does the freedom of press allow the press on this specific and other matters, NBC. Is it the right to distort the news or to communicate the facts as they exist.
Furthermore, how does this type of disdainful coverage further the memory of Tim Russet. Would the unbalanced nature of the clip have evaded his scrutiny and when Eugene Robinson immediately brought it to his attention, would he in a nonchalant manner have dismissed the obvious without an unequivocal apology. The attempts of the current host afterwards during the show to handle the error were patronizing and failed abysmally.
An immediate apology from NBC is required, not in a week when the next episode of Meet The Press is broadcast. Also, NBC should evaluate its editorial processes.
June 21, 2015
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