"A VIRTUAL WHITEWASH"?

August 1999
		The NAACP challenged NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox over the lack of minority characters in their new fall programming. Two experts take your questions.

Forum introduction Should the networks be required to have minorities in leading roles? Do some minority characters reinforce stereotypes? What about diversity behind the cameras? What can minorities do to help diversify television? Are the networks misrepresenting the U.S. to an international audience?   July 26, 1999: A discussion about diversity on television. December 12, 1995: A newsmaker interview with Kweisi Mfume. Browse the NewsHour's coverage of race relations and the media.     The NAACP NBC ABC CBS FOX

Winston Wilson of New York, NY asks: What can African-Americans do (besides boycotts) to begin to own their own image and to create alliances with black corporate sponsors/black media executives to let them commit to funding black-oriented programming? Damon Standifer responds: I think the African American need to focus less on the owning of an image and focus more on finding the universality of his experiences. I think that the key to creating projects that are attractive to advertisers and to networks is to transcend race and find the commonality of our humanity. Of course, to be seen and heard by media executives is much more difficult. The industry is set up to make it as difficult as possible for new people to join the club. Often one must know someone to gain access (that's why it is so important to network); this, and not racism, keeps many blacks out of the game. However, many black stars have production companies and are always looking for new works. Find out who they are and find a creative way to get them your scripts. However, remember no matter who you are or who you know it is always very difficult to get something produced on television.   Earl Ofari Hutchinson responds: Blacks must pool their resources to buy new or subsidize established radio stations and networks, position themselves to buy cable TV outlets, produce more video news and public affairs shows for cable outlets, create more Web sites, and use Internet sound and eventually visual technology to produce and distribute their own commentaries, discussions, and feature programs.