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PEOPLE & ARTSFriday 4 March 2016
Harris-Perry exit puts focus on MSNBC record
DAVID BAUDER In this Feb. 18, 2012, file photo, provided by MSNBC, Melissa Harris-Perry appears on the set of her white personalities like Ed
AP Television Writer self-titled show in New York. Schultz and Ronan Far-
NEW YORK (AP) — MSNBC’s row lost shows at MSNBC
facelift over the past two Associated Press due to changes instituted
years has cut the airtime under NBC News boss An-
of some of its most promi- show that was eliminated, black journalists as analysts, perspective on what issues drew Lack. During daylight
nent minority personalities and Alex Wagner’s week- on-air experts and hosts. matter and what should be hours, the network em-
— and it is starting to be day show was also ended. Illinois congressman Luis debated and discussed on phasizes breaking news —
noticed. Recently, Jose Diaz-Balart’s Gutierrez also made note television.” lately with a heavy political
The National Association of weekday morning show of the issue this week in a Richard Prince, who writes focus — and confines its
Black Journalists expressed has been missing due to House speech. a blog about minority issues opinion-oriented programs
concerns about MSNBC’s political coverage, al- “Forgive me or not notic- in journalism, said MSNBC to prime-time hours.
record in the wake of the though he was back on the ing just how much progress has been rightly proud of “MSNBC is extremely proud
noisy exit of weekend host air Thursday. NBC was making on diver- having a larger minority au- of the diverse range of tal-
Melissa Harris-Perry. The The black journalists’ group sity when some of the most dience over the past few ent, voices and perspec-
network said Thursday that labeled Harris-Perry’s exit visible people of color at years than other news-ori- tives on our air and we
it is proud of its diversity ef- “truly unfortunate.” Doro- MSNBC — like Alex Wag- ented networks. But “there would put that up against
fort and noted that people thy Tucker, a Chicago tele- ner, Melissa Harris-Perry is some retrenchment and I anybody in the business,”
of all ethnicities have seen vision reporter and NABJ’s and Jose Diaz-Balart — are think there is some concern Kornblau said.
their roles reduced or elimi- vice president for broad- disappearing,” he said. about that,” he said. Asked why a personality
nated as part of a transi- cast, said she hoped MS- “Journalists of color bring a Mark Kornblau, MSNBC like Diaz-Balart could not
tion to more breaking news NBC had room for more different texture, a different spokesman, said that anchor the political cover-
coverage. age, Kornblau said many
Harris-Perry, who is black, of the anchors have been
had been proud of bring- working from the road
ing new voices to tele- and it was difficult for Diaz-
vision on her weekend Balart, a Telemundo an-
MSNBC shows. The Wake chor, to do so. Craig Mel-
Forest University professor vin, who is black, was an-
questioned her future at choring political coverage
the network after her show from Ohio early on Thurs-
had been pre-empted day afternoon. Tamron
for several weeks due to Hall, who is black, has re-
weekend political cover- tained her prominent role
age. in MSNBC’s daytime lineup.
Civil rights activist Al Sharp- Kornblau noted that MSN-
ton’s daily program was BC had to make changes
eliminated in the past year, to its schedule due to low
and he now hosts a Sun- ratings. In the past year,
day show at MSNBC. Joy MSNBC’s viewership has
Reid lost a weekday show increased by 95 percent
and is now an MSNBC con- during daytime hours, ac-
tributor. Toure was part cording to the Nielsen
of a weekday ensemble company.q
Hoffman on Oscars:
‘It’s always been racism’
Dustin Hoffman attends the opening night of the Metrograph “I went to see the Knicks way. It’s not anything new, Hoffman made the com-
movie theater on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, in New York. game and saw my friend like Chris Rock, I heard said, ments while attending
Spike Lee there all dressed ‘Why this year’,” respond- the opening of the Metro-
Associated Press up for the Oscars, but he ed Hoffman. graph, the first indepen-
was at the Knick game,” During his opening mono- dently-owned movie the-
JOHN CARUCCI ner did not attend Sunday Hoffman told the Associ- logue at the Oscars, Rock ater to open in Manhattan
Associated Press night’s ceremony, nor did ated Press on Wednesday questioned the contro- in more than decade.
NEW YORK (AP) — Dustin he watch the broadcast. night. versy, saying: “It’s the 88th “They call my era, the
Hoffman feels there’s a But he was in the same Lee attended the game at Academy Awards, which Golden Age of film, but I
systemic racial problem in place as this year’s recipi- Madison Square Garden in means this whole black, no think the Golden Age of
America that goes beyond ent of an Honorary Acade- New York in a black tuxedo. nominees thing has hap- film still exists, but it’s done
the Oscars. my Award who boycotted Comedian Tracy Morgan, pened at least 71 other by the indies, and I think
The two-time Oscar win- the show. who was part of an Oscar’s times.” Hoffman was blunt that is what this theater is
skit, also was at the game. in his response for the rea- for,” Hoffman said.
For the second consecu- son why it’s been that way As for his thoughts on what
tive year, there was a lack for so long. can bring more diversity to
of diversity among Oscar “It’s always been racism. Hollywood: “We change
nominees with only white It’s kind of a reflection of when the people that
actors getting the nod. what the country is,” he are oppressed force it to
“Well, it’s always been that said. change,” Hoffman said.q
