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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Shocking Lack Of Diversity On This Week’s Sunday Shows
http://thinkprogress.org/media/2014/06/15/3449155/sunday-shows-men-june-15/The Sunday political talk shows have drawn repeated criticism for filling their lineups with disproportionately white, male guests. But if this weeks lineup is any indication, the shows arent working too hard to fix the disparity.
Between CNN, Fox, CBS, NBC, and ABC this Sunday, there were no women or people of color featured as the main, solo interviews of the show. Even in the roundtable discussions that follow the featured interviews, the participants were unrepresentative: Eight women joined the roundtables, while 15 men were part of the conversation.
Of the 38 total guests between the one-on-one interviews and the roundtables, there were five people of color. None of the shows had on more than two women, or more than two non-white guests.
The lack of diversity is simultaneously most and least surprising on a week in which foreign policy has dominated the news cycle. All of the shows featured discussion of the ongoing unrest in Iraq. And while international news may seem like an area ripe for diverse perspectives, the U.S. foreign policy establishment is overwhelmingly male.
liberal N proud
(60,302 posts)This lack of diversity in these propaganda machines has been normal since early in the bu$h regime if not before. It has taken nearly 15 years for anyone to actually pen an article highlighting it.
I call Face the Nation, the Lindsey Graham and John McCain show, if one isn't on the other is and the rebuttal is zero.
xchrom
(108,903 posts)TheCowsCameHome
(40,163 posts)Seriously.
liberal N proud
(60,302 posts)RKP5637
(67,032 posts)machine.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,163 posts)It NEVER, EVER happens, always a load of warmed-over bull and doublespeak.
That applies to both parties.
I'd rather take a long walk and enjoy my Sunday morning.
closeupready
(29,503 posts)Week after week. Which doesn't stop them from complaining, lol.
warrant46
(2,205 posts)The only thing different is Joementum Limpmann is no longer in the Trio singing the Song
longship
(40,416 posts)And one can interpret meat in the metaphoric way. In fact, one should probably do precisely that. No (few) women allowed.
JustAnotherGen
(31,683 posts)The Fox News viewers are simply not watching what is on the 'Big' Three Networks.
The networks might be even more to blame than Fox news for the high volume of low information people running around screaming Benghazi!!!!!!
Response to xchrom (Original post)
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Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)The Sunday shows are overwhelmingly pale, stale and frail.
Response to Snarkoleptic (Reply #7)
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Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)I'm certain there is an old white guy somewhere in the Fox Newz bullpen who can be trotted out in order to discuss the subtleties of race relations based upon his deep cultural understanding of the issue.
Have you interacted with DUer MIRT?
I'm certain you will soon meet.
Response to Snarkoleptic (Reply #16)
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ismnotwasm
(41,921 posts)You're missing a significant portion of the dynamic in race relations, White privilege, and a lot of last century history that affects present day events.
Now try a thought experiment and answer you own question.
Response to ismnotwasm (Reply #22)
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ismnotwasm
(41,921 posts)That's part of what a thought experiment does
whathehell
(28,969 posts)Are you getting it now?
Response to whathehell (Reply #21)
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ismnotwasm
(41,921 posts)Or Male people, or wealthy people--diversity gives us a richness of human experience.
Where did you get the idea everyone thinks the same way?
Response to ismnotwasm (Reply #26)
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ismnotwasm
(41,921 posts)A variety of experience and opinions?
Response to ismnotwasm (Reply #32)
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ismnotwasm
(41,921 posts)Have you done something significant that a talk show would be interested in?
Response to ismnotwasm (Reply #36)
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ismnotwasm
(41,921 posts)Interesting people of color? Or gender? What about Gay, or intersexed--- without their sexual orientation being the topic?
They got nothin'?
Response to ismnotwasm (Reply #40)
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whathehell
(28,969 posts)why do we need to have guests of all skin colors or vaginas just for the sake of it"?
To maybe give THEM a chance to offer their opinions?...You never know, they just MIGHT
like a chance to participate.
Response to whathehell (Reply #30)
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whathehell
(28,969 posts)millions OUT of Public Conversation AND political power and if it weren't for The Civil Rights
Movement and the Feminist Movement they would STILL be kept out of both.
As for diversity, the fact is, women and People of Color HAVE had different life experiences
due to centuries of prejudice. If this is "news" to you, I can only ask what
Egalitarian Fantasy World you've been living in.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)and this fantasy "color/ gender blind" world you seem to believe exists doesn't.
GeorgeGist
(25,294 posts)so subtle.
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Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)Response to Snarkoleptic (Reply #17)
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ismnotwasm
(41,921 posts)With the occasional exception, diversity is fairly new, and as the chart shoes, not well implemented
Response to ismnotwasm (Reply #27)
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ismnotwasm
(41,921 posts)No one was interested in what the black population had to say because of overt racism. Or any other person of color.
Or women for that matter Just white men.
Latinos make up 17% of the population. Where are they?
Response to ismnotwasm (Reply #38)
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whathehell
(28,969 posts)of voices heard in this and other countries.
Response to whathehell (Reply #42)
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whathehell
(28,969 posts)Take a look at the number of Hate Groups listed by the Southern Poverty Law
Center, not to mention the rape statistics which are growing and
I think you'll gain a different point of view, and, btw, If white women are now the 'largest
voting demographic', that's no thanks to white men..They are apparently
just not voting as regularly.
As for other countries, yes, we are concerned about them, but since we are not
citizens of those countries, we're limited as to their political choices.
Response to whathehell (Reply #46)
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whathehell
(28,969 posts)but I'll let you fight that one out with the rest of the membership.
ismnotwasm
(41,921 posts)Sounds extremely boring
LuvNewcastle
(16,820 posts)Probably all of them have some investment in the war machine, so they're going to choose people who want us to go back into Iraq. White male Republicans fit that bill. Some might say that my thoughts are paranoid or conspiracy-oriented, but I think it really is that simple. A few people in this country have already made billions off of war in Iraq and they want to make more. Our corporate-owned news is nothing but propaganda; I don't think it's any better than RT, really. It's worthless, and it's just a shame that anybody at all watches it. All it does is confuse people.
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)Surely the networks could find people in DC who do not share the opinions of McCain and Graham? Why are they given so much airtime? Remember when President Obama wanted to address the nation, all the networks REFUSED to give him airtime? Yet, these warmongering clowns are on weekly. They could save $$$ by simply asking people "What do you think McCain and Graham will discuss this week?" Answer "How wrong the President is about EVERYTHING. How McCain could have done a better job, along with the Wasilla Wendingo, Palin at his side" Little Johnny is never questioned, just spouts off and gets red in the face, fake smiles, and everything is great. Bob Schieffer should retire, take his good friends with him.
RKP5637
(67,032 posts)a flow of cash to start soon so they can take another dip into the money chest.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Between now and Nov the opinions will range from center-right to fascist.
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)My dream Meet the Press is
to see a Meet the Press roundtable with Luke Russert, Chelsea Clinton, Jenna Bush and Megan McCain
talk about diversity let alone genes!
Baitball Blogger
(46,575 posts)Can you imagine a breakfast clutch panel filled with minority members? There are some truths that need to be heard.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)SheilaT
(23,156 posts)in the past. Especially by those who are not middle aged white men.
It's almost insulting and rather patronizing that all of a sudden everyone -- or at least everyone here -- is shocked, just shocked that there's only middle aged white men on these shows.
RKP5637
(67,032 posts)sitting around pontificating. This morning I was trying to get some information about what was going on in Iraq, and all were talking their own crap, some analyst they drag out of the closet. I turned it off. I learn more on DU than I could ever hope to gain from crap TV news shows. And news anchors, I wish they would just report the facts, than making the show about them.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)maybe more. And I never did watch them very regularly. I also rarely if ever watch what is considered mainstream news. It helps that I don't actually own a TV. I get what entertainment and news I want from the internet. Or the radio. Every morning I wake up to Amy Goodman. That station (KSFR in Santa Fe, NM) also has the BBC on before and after Amy. I feel as if I'm actually much more well informed than most people I know.
RKP5637
(67,032 posts)kristopher
(29,798 posts)It would be interesting to see the results of number crunching that compares the distribution of wealth by gender/race with the observed diversity on the talk shows.
My guess is that it would match better than straight demographics.
And to be clear - I think that would indicate a problem.
AndreaCG
(2,331 posts)Steve Kornacki and Melissa Harris-Perry have very diverse commentators. They always have thoughtful discussions in their two hour blocks Saturday and Sunday