News Release April 10, 2007
NLGJA News > News Releases > April 10, 2007

NLGJA Open Letter to the News Industry: Don Imus Suspension

WASHINGTON, DC - The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) would like to commend the management of NBC News and CBS Radio for their decisions to suspend host Don Imus—and both organizations' subsequent decisions to cease broadcast of his program—following the derogatory remarks made on his program in reference to the Rutgers University women's basketball team members. This is an important recognition of the fact that while we believe in free speech, which is critical to a democratic society, media organizations that give amplitude and credibility to speech have a duty to ensure that it is fair, accurate and free of discrimination and bias. Speech which is hateful and discriminatory should not be tolerated, particularly when done in a forum as powerful as today's broadcast media.

However, as an organization whose mission centers on the coverage and portrayal of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals (LGBT) by the news media, we must also ask that this action not be viewed as the end of this very important discussion. Following the incident MSNBC issued a statement that said in part, “While simulcast by MSNBC, ‘Imus in the Morning’ is not a production of the cable network and is produced by WFAN Radio. As Imus makes clear every day, his views are not those of MSNBC.”

NLGJA would encourage all media outlets and companies to take a careful and thoughtful look at the content included on their air, in their pages and on their Web sites. As the conflicts and issues facing the citizenry of both the United States and the world become increasingly complex, it falls to the news media to help individuals make sense of the decisions they must make. The ability of the media to be a strong and credible voice in the public forum is compromised when news outlets and organizations allow hateful, discriminatory and harmful speech to go out under their banner. Whether produced by the organization or not, the ultimate responsibility rests on the decision makers who allow them to be broadcast or printed. This responsibility extends to those members of the media who are guests on programs that fail to see that there is a line between free speech and hate speech.

In the past, MSNBC has shown leadership in this area. In 2003 the cable network fired Michael Savage for making anti-gay comments on the air. MSNBC recognized their responsibility and took action. As most know, however, Mr. Savage continues to have a public forum with his radio program.

NLGJA would also like to applaud Rutgers’ women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer for reminding everyone that the members of her team are “valedictorians, future doctors, musical prodigies… They are young ladies of class, distinction. They are articulate, they are gifted.” The Rutgers players have carried themselves with distinction, grace and dignity throughout this incident and its aftermath. They deserve the highest commendation.

NLGJA encourages members of the news media to keep constantly and consistently in mind the power and the trust that the contemporary media landscape offers. We must never lose sight of the fact that we are depended on to offer information, knowledge and clarity. We diminish and devalue that responsibility when we allow discriminatory speech to compromise the public forum.

NLGJA is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students who work within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues. NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace bias and provides professional development to its members.

Media Contacts:

Eric Hegedus
National President
Cell: 215-840-3909
eric@nlgjaleaders.org

Tom Avila
Acting Executive Director
Office Phone: 202-588-9888, ext. 17
Cell: 202-906-9885
tavila@nlgja.org