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02/25/2002 "The goal here is to make sure that when we are seeking experts outside the news division to help explain stories we're working on, we include in the group we're considering a wide variety of possibilities, rather than simply going back to the same, limited group." - David Westin in a January 19 e-mail Jeffrey Schneider, ABC News spokesman, told Johnson, "We're proud of our efforts to try to reflect the great diversity in our country." Johnson further reports: "Both CBS and NBC say that they have rules similar to ABC's and grade producers on the issue accordingly. CNN has diversity plans but doesn't grade producers on it." Fox News spokeswoman Irena Steffan conveyed a novel approach: "We pick knowledgeable people who know what they're talking about." Diversity is a fabulous thing! But is a list of 480 minority individuals diverse enough? Media bias activists have been calling for a more diverse presentation of ideas for years. Ethnic diversity is important up to a point, yet ABC's diversity plan suggests that all African Americans, Hispanics, Muslims and/or Polynesians march in ideological lockstep. I'm in favor of not having to listen to Jesse Jackson's opinion on every issue of victimhood, but I suspect he is on the approved list any way. (ABC will not release the list.) Here is where it gets complicated: Given a choice of the NOW point of view told by a Hispanic spokeswoman or the NOW point of view told by a white spokeswoman, it is still the NOW point of view and NOW's point of view does not coincide with the ideas of all (or even most) women. By the same token, Rev. Jerry Falwell does not speak for all Christians who happen to be politically conservative, nor does he represent the "white" way of thinking. Dividing people up by race is entirely too easy, too superficial. Ethnic diversity in "on-air and taped comments" is a cop out, a cheap substitute for what is really needed in the mainstream media: ideological diversity! Let's write to David Westin and ask what he plans to do to ensure a fairer representation of ideas. Below is the contact information. David Westin Read more here: ABC News' evaluation: Diversity is a priority When you feel your personal media bias tolerance gauge rising into the red zone, don't throw stuff at the TV screen! Send your suggestion to outrage@fairpress.org! Each week, one hideous example of media bias will be selected for closer examination. Hmmmmmm . . .
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