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Updated: Wednesday, November 7, 2007 Published: Tuesday, April 10, 2007

PRESIDENT'S CORNER LINKS Past Messages President's Biography Letter to the FCC On Minority Media Ownership

The hundreds of passionate discussions and heated attention this saga has produced sends us a message: Americans -- and not just black Americans, but men and women of every shade who've expressed outrage over the past few days are fed up.

As journalists and pundits, we are seen as the ones who have allowed the quality of thought and discussion to sink to an all-time low. We are accused of playing to the lowest common denominator, the most salacious interests of listeners and viewers, all in the name of ratings and dollars. As overblown as some of the criticism is, its essence has been true.

But now, we have this window of opportunity as if a cultural tsunami crashed ashore over these past days, a storm that may forever change Americas conversation around race. Right now, today, we in the media now have a historic opportunity to do better. We can help to lead and to transform the conversation about race, diversity, inclusion and tolerance in our nation. Just maybe, we can actually encourage real, honest debate and respectful discourse that can really transform America. In this, the media have an obligation to truly lead, and not just follow.

If we allow this incident to be just another story -- a two-day blip good for selling some extra papers or pulling a few more viewers to the tube, only to be bumped off the front page and the A-block of news reports by the latest Anna Nicole Smith episode -- then we, indeed, will be at fault.

In the past few days, I have received many calls and emails, some in support, others critical. In the latter category, many have asked the basic question: Whats the big deal?

One reader argued:

I cannot believe that all you people are making such a big deal out of what that IMUS guy said.

Another reader wrote:

This type of talk is prevalent on more than just the Don Imus Show. DJ's from around the country involved in "shock jock" air time, and comedy air time alike, are always making comments that would offend one or another.

One reader sent me an email titled Get A Life:

"I have a middle-class black service tech whom has worked for me for three years. He said, "Wow, a big deal over the truth!! HIS WORDS. Have you looked at those Rutgers players???? They are body tattooed, dress and act on the court like gangsters. They act and look the part, Imus uses bad judgment and speaks the truth and you guys get all bent."

That question, "Whats the big deal?" proves to me how big a deal this incident truly was. We in the media have lulled our country into apathy and ignorance. The audience has become numb to these insults, accepting of racial attacks for pure entertainment purposes. As we cross line after line attacks on women, gays, people of color, fat people, and now teenagers the increasingly insensitive masses only want more. They want us to provide them with more inanity, more rudeness, more vileness. We have to keep topping ourselves, all in the name of better ratings and increased circulation and attention.

All the major TV networks, radio owners and media companies must use this as a time to dramatically shift the tide of debate in the country. Is it really necessary to make money off of radio formats that appeal to the worst in us? Is it really necessary to cash in on the our lowest instincts with certain kinds of rock and hip-hop music that denigrate women, or to profit off of demeaning TV shows such as VH-1s The Flavor of Love? Is this really the best we can do?

Or, can we use our public trust to, in fact, do better?

Look at the courageous work done at CNN with Paula Zahns Out in the Open program, which each night examines issues of intolerance and race from an honest, audience-challenging perspective. Or check out how Oprah Winfrey has managed to build a billion-dollar television empire out of appealing to the best in us. There is another way.

Check out Tavis Smileys compelling talk show each night on PBS or the insightful columns of Leonard Pitts in the Miami Herald. There is another way.

And we can be successful, too. I would argue that these and other shows and content have become appointment TV and reading for millions across the country. I'd be the last to suggest that all journalists feel, sound or express themselves alike. Certainly, that would be boring -- and far from diverse. Inane, kum-bah-ya programming is neither funny, provocative nor entertaining. But I reject the notion that it is an either/or proposition.

Whether Don Imus was to use the public airwaves for his kind of comedy, for this kind of speech was, ultimately, a question for his listeners, his viewers, his advertisers and his employers. But whether we let this saga pass whether we do as some readers have compelled us to do and simply move on, let it go, and get over it -- that will become a lasting reflection on we in the media.

So, heres how NABJ will continue to keep the conversation going:

Meanwhile, I urge all journalists black and white to use our platforms to continue asking the tough questions while elevating the coverage. We must not let this go.

Just look at the work over the past few days by Roland Martin at WVON & CNN, Eric Deggans at the St. Petersburg Times, Al Roker, Ron Allen and Paula Madison at NBC, Gwen Ifill at PBS, Eugene Robinson at The Washington Post, our own Richard Prince on Journalisms. Each, in their own way, kept the conversation alive, making sure this would not pass.

For us in the media, now its our turn. Its time now to back up our powerful talk with even more powerful action. Its time to check ourselves and to check the companies that pay our salaries.

Right here, right now, its our call. We can really do better.

It has been nearly a week since ten young women from Rutgers University, fresh from an admirable performance in the NCAA Womens Final Four Championship, suddenly had their efforts and their character dismissed and insulted by an intellectually lazy talk show host.

After taking two days to understand what he said and offer an initial two-line apology, veteran host Don Imus finally received a tepid slap on the wrist, being suspended by NBC and CBS for two weeks for calling 18- and 19-year-old women nappy headed hos.

We think this is good first step by NBC and CBS. Now it is time for them to finish the job. What Mr. Imus said about these young women was so hurtful and so vicious, we still believe it is time for him to go.

And so do others, as the voices of outrage continue to grow. The National Organization of Women (NOW) has joined NABJ's call for Imus to be fired. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) don't understand why he still has a job. The Bishop T.D. Jakes, quoting scripture, What goes into a mans mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean. (Matthew 15:11 NIV)

Imus is a broadcast industry professional, who I hold to a higher standard. Imus employers are broadcast conglomerates that I also hold to a higher standard. And the advertisers that spend millions on Imus show should also be held to a higher standard. Allison Gollust, senior vice president for news communications at NBC, has stated: We take this matter very seriously. If so, Imus and McGuirk should be unemployed today and the excuses should stop, so that the healing can begin.

On behalf of decent moral people of all backgrounds, and specifically for women of color, we heard the so-called joke. But now the entire media advertisers and industry executives should deliver the punch line.

Some say Imus apology should be enough, that perhaps instead of being fired he should fall under the Bobby Knight Rule named after the former Indiana basketball coach who went on repeated sideline tirades until, after being given one more chance, did it again and was fired.

But he had been given that one more chance. Several times. He and his staff on the show have admitted to making these kinds of racial insults in the past. And then they apologized. Then they made more statements. Then they apologized again. At some point, America has to say, enough is enough.

We went on the air with Imus on Rev. Al Sharptons show this week. We wanted to ask he talk show host about the impetus for his comments, what was he thinking?

MONROE. Mr. Imus, I have a daughter. I think you have a daughter. What would you do if a 67-year-old man went in front of millions of people and called your daughter what you called these women? Mr. Imus, what do you think the consequences of those words should be? Should an apology be enough?

IMUS. Probably not. Probably some gesture of reconciliation, I think. I mean, you see I know the work that I do so I mean I'm not - I don't have to go have a Road to Damascus experience and say, go round me up a bunch of black kids and act like I'm going to do something good or try to get me some black friends or something or [commit?] myself to any kind of cause like sickle cell anemia, which I've tried in vain to do. So I don't - I havent thought about what I actually have in mind

We also applaud those thousands of NABJ members and journalists around the country who have come together and spoken out this week in the wake of the controversy. If there was any question why America needs black voices on the air, behind the camera and in the top ranks of reporting and editing, any question why it is important to have us in the room when decisions are made, this week has provided that answer.

Our colleague, Gwen Ifill of PBS, brought it home in an op-ed in the New York Times:

Why do my journalistic colleagues appear on Mr. Imuss program? That's for them to defend, and others to argue about. I certainly don't know any black journalists who will. To his credit, Mr. Imus told the Rev. Al Sharpton yesterday he realizes that, this time, he went way too far. Yes, he did. Every time a young black girl shyly approaches me for an autograph or writes or calls or stops me on the street to ask how she can become a journalist, I feel an enormous responsibility. Its more than simply being a role model. I know I have to be a voice for them as well. So heres what this voice has to say for people who cannot grasp the notion of picking on people their own size: This country will only flourish once we consistently learn to applaud and encourage the young people who have to work harder just to achieve balance on the unequal playing field.

Gwen is right. We at NABJ strongly believe in the First Amendment and the right to free speech. And we also know that, with that free speech comes responsibility, and with that responsibility, in a case such as this, there must be consequences.

So, as NABJ members, what can you do? We indeed have the power to stand up for Free Speech and for these women, that's why our organization was founded more than 30 years ago.