4/12/2007

One final word: sexism

An open letter to NBC News President Steve Capus:

Mr. Capus:

There is no question in my mind that you know the man Don Imus is, love him and loved his show. You said so, and I take you at your word.

Over the years that “Imus in the Morning” was simulcast on MSNBC, I missed few mornings having coffee with the I-man and his staff and guests.

I always came away from his broadcasts better informed and feeling pretty good that someone with such clout is helping others – through charities and political discourse.

Throughout the media blitz against Don Imus your anchors and show hosts characterized his unfortunate words as “highly charged racist and sexist remarks.”

May I point out to you, Mr. Capus, your own sexist shortcomings?

A few years back, in a discussion with friends on a liberal forum, one male commented, “There’s one thing you can say for Fox News, they’ve got hot babes as news readers.”

Not long after that you began to fill your daytime schedule with “hot babes,” who seem to have no more journalistic skills than being able to read a teleprompter or listen to producers in their earpiecess.

Over the last year, MSNBC's daytime schedule has been dominated by news of Anna Nicole Smith, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. These female “role models” even find their way into your evening programs.

There are no female hosts on your nightly lineup, and, I believe, only one black female, who substitutes as a nighttime host.

Mr. Capus, what message is MSNBC sending to the teenage girls of our country?

As I write this I’m listening to Imus raising money for sick kids on the annual Radiothon, streaming live on WFAN.com. He sounds relaxed and upbeat this morning, doing what he does best. I thought you would want to know.

Sincerely,

Ms. B. J. Trotter

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is at least one person listening to Don Imus that understands the distinction between "friend" and "acquaintance." -- Frodo

B.J. said...

At noon, I voted on themost.msnbc.com and here are the results of the question:

Imus has been dropped from MSNBC: (1803 responses)

He'll be missed.
83%

Won't miss him a bit.
17%

Anonymous said...

I disagree with you on Imus. I have read top much negative stiff on the other side; for instance, an column by Gwen Ifill in which she writes about when Imus described her as a
cleaning lady while she was covering the White House for the NYT.

He may have good qualities but he has ruined it for himself with his racist talk. Some people call it "free speech" and that Imus' free
speech rights have been violated. Airth 10

Anonymous said...

Well, the Green God ($$$) won as CBS drove the final nail for the crucifixion of Imus right in the midst of his fundraiser. How crass can they be! If I was a betting person, I would lay the odds
there will be a resurrection that will put these talking heads and
corporate-owned media outlets to shame, because they just cut off the legs of one of the biggest fundraisers for a large number of people-oriented charity organizations. And God only knows
how far-reaching the damage will be felt among the recipients of
those fundraisers. The Heart of Gold will not fade into the sunset
like the ending of an old Reagan western movie.

Ann Coulter constantly spews hate, and Imus didn't. That's the big difference in those two. Plus, I don't know of any
charities that she tried to benefit, either.

I've heard a couple of blacks affirm that Imus is being the scapegoat, because Sharpton and Jackson have both made disparaging remarks about other races of people. And every time someone farts they are the first ones in front of the microphones. I think they do more harm to their race than any other
race would even think of today.

Not to mention what their own hip-hop, rap, and sports persons do. What kind of role models have they been?

I was five when I saw my
first dark-skinned person, and my Dad told me then that God made
us in different colors, red, white, brown, black and yellow, and that
we were all God's children, and he loves us equally. I will never forget that. Can still see that scene as plain today as the day it happened.

Like you, I do not believe Imus
had any ill intent toward anyone.

The people who really care aren't going to give up on Imus. He's done so
much for other people rather than feeding a greed for himself, which cannot be said for those thundering against him. What
have they done for their fellow human beings?

Hang in there, I think the Imus star will rise again. Clara

Here are the addresses of media suits and advertisers who pulled out of Imus’ program:

WFAN/New York City PD Mark Chernoff
WFAN-AM
34-12 36th Street
Astoria, NY 11106
Tel. 718 706 7690
Fax 718-361-1076
pd@wfan.com

Steve Capus, Pres. NBC News
212-664-3228
steve.capus@nbc.com

Bill Wolff, VP Program.
201-583-5008
bill.wolff@msnbc.com

Jeremy Gaines, VP Comm.
Tel. 201-583-5000
Fax 201-583-5977
jeremy.gaines@msnbc.com

John Boxley
Programming Producer
Tel. 818-840-4763
Fax 818-840-4275
john.boxley@nbcuni.com
Advertisers who have caved in to pressure:

General Motors Corp.
100 Renaissance Center
Detroit, MI 48243
www.gm.com
1-800-462-8782

American Express Co.
PO Box 7000 STN B
Willodale Ontario, Canada
M2K 2R6
1-800-668-2639

Procter & Gamble
One Procter & Gamble Plaza
Cincinnati, OH 45202
www.pg.com
513-983-1100

Sprint Nextel Corp.
2001 Edmund Halley Drive
Reston, VA 20191
www.sprint.com
703-433-4000

GlaxoSmithKline
One Franklin Plaza
PO Box 7929
Philadelphia PA 19101
http://us.gsk.com/
1-888-825-5249

Ditech.com
3200 Park Center Drive
Suite 150
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Anonymous said...

Imus has apoligized both publicy and privately. Not the popular
brush-off "I'm sorry" on his way to rehab either. I hope
someone will keep tabs on the number of apologies he
receives from those who have castigated him, his family,
and the charities he helps to fund. Know anyone who
will take on that task?