For many journalists, the crystallizing moment was the revelation that Washington Post writer Juan Williams, one of Thomas' most ardent defenders, was himself an alleged harasser. The Post had printed a Williams column minimizing the gravity of the charges against Thomas without disclosing that Williams had been accused of verbally abusing female staff members over a period of at least four years. Post management also initially held back the paper's media writer, Howard Kurtz, from reporting on the angry reaction among Post staff members. It wasn't until WRC-TV, a local NBC affiliate, broke the story that the Post mentioned the controversy in its pages. And only after a protest by 116 newsroom employees did the paper concede that the charges against Williams were founded. Unlike most incidents of sexual harassment in newsrooms, the Williams case was widely reported, largely because of its intersection with the Thomas hearings and the conflict-of-interest question it raised.
Why does Williams still have a job. Williams burned his bridges big time at the Washington Post. Do you think you would have two major paid gigs in your line of work if 116 of your fellow employees protested against you? For that matter why is Bill O'Reilly still working at Fox News after his highly-publicized sexual harassment of his producer. The standards of journalism have sank so low that former Morning Zoo shock jock Glenn Beck can get on the television airwaves.
I think that something outside of the personal lives of reporters is going on. I do not like that they fired him over his remarks. I would have had him fired over the allegations of harassment. Choosing this message, his feelings in regard to this topic is out of bounds and if they are willing to fire him over this than the sexual harassment then I think they're telling me that feelings on the air are more important than harassment.
ReplyDeleteThe media is more concerned with public perception then during what is right for their institutions. Having Williams on NPR and Fox News was bound to make a conflict of interest. I'm just surprised it's taken this long.
ReplyDeleteWilliams is admitting he is xenophobic towards Muslims. It's honest and ignorant. Most networks would not encourage that sort of commentary. Fox News thrives on it and it is starting to bite them in the ass. The Bill O'Reilly disaster on The View is a perfect example and Fox News didn't fire him over his well documented sexual harassment. It makes me wonder what kind of workplace Fox News is for women.
He not only still works in media, Fox extended his contract, expanded his role, and is paying him $2 million.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/1010/Fox_hands_Williams_2_million_contract.html
Good for NPR, Juan Williams slant belongs to “Fake News” with the rest of the failed political candidstes Palin, Huckabee, or should I say the 2012 GOP Presidential contenders. They are not racist they are just the good old boys. They are the bunch that keep tellin us to be scared of BLACKS, scared of ASIANS, sacred of LATINOS, scared of WOMEN, scared of GAYS and now its be scared of Muslims. So long Johnny,don’t let the door hit you. I love that you went crying to “Fake News” and played the victim card, I guess its another “it is a high-tech lynching”.
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