Who's to Blame for the Toothless Interviews?

So, we're all-too familiar with the irritating practice of journalists who regularly select toothless, unkempt, attention-seeking "eye witnesses" to speak on camera about newsworthy events.

We cringe when we see roller-clad women and men, whose down-home vernacular is less than grammatically correct, on the nightly news ... how can I put this? ... reinforcing negative stereotypes.

I admit that I always assumed the "eye witnesses" were the main culprits. I figured these men and women were looking for their 15 minutes of fame and chased down camera crews to share their version of events.

However, a friend of mine suggested that maybe the news media has more to do with this recurring phenomenon than I originally thought.

He suggested that in a quest to include the most compelling and interesting interviews, editors continue to consciously use this footage in news packages to boost ratings. After all, as sad as it is, a toothless, hairless woman with a strong country accent will draw more attention than the educated, sister who carefully chooses her words when speaking to the camera.

So, which do you think it is? Is it a case of "homely" individuals hungry for camera time, or are news producers actually including footage of your aunts and uncles to boost ratings?

Diff'rent Strokes? Unfortunately Not

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20206185,00.html

A co-worker sent me the above link to a story about the lack of Blacks on TV this season. I'm a TV watcher. I've cut down and now I only spend about 12 hours in front of the tube on a given day. So, it troubles me that the days of diversity are gone.

Networks used to make an effort to put Blacks on TV. Let's see. When I was growing up, there were shows with majority-Black casts: "The Jeffersons," "227," "Amen," "The Cosby Show," "A Different World."

What happened?

Here's my guess. Upstart networks like WB, Fox, UPN started using "Black" shows to launch and pull in minority viewers, realizing Black TV viewers were thirsty for more minorities on screen. However, the shows they put on were garbage: "Homeboys From Outerspace," "The Diary of Desmond Pfifer,".... I could go on, but it hurts my feelings.

So, where shows with Black casts were once of quality and full of crossover potential, the new shows couldn't even draw their target audiences.

Unfortunately, that left Black shows with a stigma. They're automatically deemed of lesser quality, unlike the glory days of "Good Times" and "Sanford & Son."

So, how long will it be before we get some more quality programs with a majority Black cast?

If the new season's lineup is any indication, it won't be anytime soon.

That's not good for Black actors, and it's not good for young people, who can only look to reruns on TV Land to see their reflections on the tube.

Why is this still an issue in '08? How important is it for young people to see themselves on TV? Is there anything we can do to get more Black shows on TV? (The NAACP's pressure hasn't worked.) Should we even try, or is that the last place our focus should be?