Rather on CBS and Couric

Women’s Media Center President Carol Jenkins on former CBS anchor Dan Rather’s remarks that CBS is “dumbing it down and tarting it up,” referring to the current CBS Evening News with Katie Couric:

We would expect Dan Rather, who also endured scathing criticism for his performance at CBS through the years, to be more sensitive to the issue of giving anchors time to settle in—he was given 24 years.

But more than concentrating on Rather’s provocative remarks, intended to wound a former boss more than his replacement, we would like executives and the public to take note and action on two recent blatant displays of failure of diversity in the media: a full page ad showcasing a network’s debate coverage anchors, which includes all white men; and the recent elevation of top management at a cable outlet—a quartet of white men. We cast no judgment on the qualifications of the chosen, but the under-representation of women is industry-wide and shockingly tolerated. The question we ask is: where are the women, where are the women and men of color in our media?

That is the subject we should be addressing, instead of over-dissecting the lone woman who's been allowed into the rarified gentlemen's club. Have we yet stoned Brian Williams for letting the winning trophy slip from his hands? Or are members enjoying special privilege? It is the networks, newspapers and magazines that should be getting close scrutiny—and a makeover—until our media reflects our society.