Originally posted by maria_stardust
I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill in this instance. BET's decision to only cover the Democratic convention is based on the fact
that it is of overwhelming interest to their demographic audience. This is not a form of racism, as you are suggesting. It is just good business
sense.
They are not a news media outlet. Hence, they don't have to show balanced coverage. If you want to see balanced coverage of both conventions, watch a
news station, not BET.
This particular action isn't racist, per se, but it's a huge example of bias. Just because they're not a full-time news outlet doesn't mean that
they don't have to keep their coverage balanced. It's part of professionalism in the media, and by reporting on the DNC, they are working in the
professional news field. Their decision not to report on the RNC is analogous to Fox News only reporting on the RNC because that's what most of
their viewerbase will want to see. It's against journalism ethics, which I'm guessing you aren't too familiar with.
Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
But when it comes to BET or TV One, the black channels, who broadcast programming that some people relate to and like, for whatever reason, it's all
of a sudden NOT ok if they play what their audience likes. Why not? Why is race special? Why all the talk of "racism" because they only play
a certain type of programming?
Okay, it's really not this. The issue of reporting the DNC but not the RNC is huge, blatantly obvious political bias, the kind that would be illegal
under the Fairness Doctrine (which I still hate, thank God we're rid of it).
But BET itself is racist, well, I guess it's mainly the branding. Labeling something "white entertainment" or "black entertainment" is a racist,
exclusionary form of advertisement. Its very name promotes racism. Their programming is comprised almost entirely of black people, which I think is
also racist in an isolationist way, but that's their prerogative. Branding it as "black entertainment," however, is not only racially
isolationist, but racially exclusionary.
reply to post by Andrew E. Wiggin
This is really a continuation of my response to BH. I'm never on the bandwagon that speaks out to silence someone because they are "offensive."
But I do so about BET because of how racially motivated it seems.
Right now, there are many parts of the "black community" that are highly racist, highly racially isolationist and highly racially exclusionist. A
lot of those who follow this sort of culture are, well, very racist, carry a hatred for white people, and so on.
Yeah, I'm generalizing a bit. I tried to modify it by adding adjectives that make it less inclusive, so it doesn't seem like I'm talking about all
black people. (And no, my edit was to fix grammar, not to add this.
)
Things, like those which are labeled "black entertainment" are adding fuel to the fire. They're making it worse. While we don't have the right
to make anyone shut up against their will just because we're offended, I believe that we have the responsibility to speak out against bigotry,
against racism, and hatred.
[edit on 9-7-2008 by Johnmike]
