A CBS morning news anchor recently faced criticism following an interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates. The discussion centered on Coates’ new book, “The Message,” particularly a section addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
During the interview, Coates was questioned about his portrayal of the conflict.
“The content of that section would not be out of place in the backpack of an extremist,” anchor Tony Dokoupil said. “Why not detail anything of the first and second intifadas, the bombings, little kids blown to bits? Is it because you just don’t believe that Israel, in any condition, has a right to exist?”
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In response, Coates said, “There is no shortage of that perspective in American media.”
The interview lasted approximately seven minutes and featured challenging questions. CBS executives later stated that the interview prompted an internal investigation following viewer complaints, resulting in a reprimand for the anchor in a newsroom call. The executives indicated that the interview fell short of the network’s “editorial standards.”
However, Shari Redstone, chair of CBS parent company Paramount Global, has defended Dokoupil. She described the network’s open criticism of the longtime news anchor as a “bad mistake” and commended him for facilitating “civil discourse” on a sensitive and longstanding issue.
“If you were to read this book you would be left wondering why does any of Israel exist, what a horrific place. So I think the question is central and key, if Israel has a right to defend itself, and the answer is no, then why do the Palestinians have a right to exist? Why do 20 Muslim countries have a right to exist?” Dekoupil asked Coates.
“No country in this world establishes its ability to exist through rights; countries establish their ability to exist through force,” Coates responded.
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Redstone expressed her appreciation of having Coates on the program but stressed the importance of challenging his views.
“We have to also provide the opportunity to challenge him on what he says, just like we challenge everybody else,” she said. “We need to have better education about how to challenge people in the civil way, which, frankly, I think Tony did.”
Karah Rucker
A CBS MORNING NEWS ANCHOR RECENTLY CAME UNDER FIRE AFTER AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR TA-NEHISI (NA-HA-SEE) COATES.
THE INTERVIEW FOCUSED ON HIS NEW BOOK “THE MESSAGE” –
SPECIFICALLY – THE PORTION OF THE BOOK ABOUT THE ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN CONFLICT.
“the content of that section would not be out of place in the backpack of an extremist.
Why not detail anything of the first and second antifada bombings, the bus bombings, little kids blown to bits. And is it because you just don’t believe that israel in any condition has a right to exist?”
“Well i would say the perspective you just outlined, there is no shortage of that perspective in american media.
THE INTERVIEW IS ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES LONG.
CO-HOST TONY DOKOUPIL – ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS CBS EXECUTIVES SAY – SPARKED AN INVESTIGATION AT THE NETWORK AFTER INTERNAL COMPLAINTS.
REPRIMANDING THE ANCHOR –
SAYING ON A NEWSROOM-WIDE CALL THAT HIS INTERVIEW FELL SHORT OF EDITORIAL STANDARDS.
BUT NOW –
SHARI REDSTONE – THE CHAIR OF CBS PARENT COMPANY PARAMOUNT GLOBAL –
IS COMING TO DOKOUPIL’S DEFENSE.
SAYING THE NETWORK MADE A “BAD MISTAKE” IN THEIR OPEN CRITICISM OF THE LONG TIME NEWS ANCHOR.
APPLAUDING DOKOUPIL – FOR THE “CIVIL DISCOURSE” OVER SUCH A SENSITIVE – AND LONG STANDING – ISSUE.
I wrote a 260 page book, it is not a treatise in the entirety of the conflict between the palestinians and the israelis.”
“But if you were to read this book you would be left wondering why does any of israel exist, what a horrific place, committing horrific acts on a daily basis. So i think the question is central and key, if israel has a right to defend itself? And if the answer is no? Then i guess the question becomes why do the palestinians have a right to exist? Why do 20 muslim countries have the right to exist?
“No country in this world establishes its ability to exist through rights, countries establish their ability to exist through force.”
REDSTONE SAYS SHE WAS “VERY GLAD” THE NETWORK HAD COATES ON TO SHARE HIS BOOK.
BUT ADDED “We have to also provide the opportunity to challenge him on what he says, just like we challenge everybody else.”
“We need to have better education about how to challenge people in the civil way, which, frankly, I think Tony did.”
“They exist in your narrative as merely as victims of the israelis as though they were not offered peace at any juncture.”
“I have a very very very moral compass about this. And perhaps its because of my ancestry. Either apartheid is right or its wrong.”
ACCORDING TO A CBS NEWS EXECUTIVE WHO SPOKE WITH THE L-A TIMES –
DOKOUPIL WILL NOT FACE ANY FURTHER REPERCUSSIONS OVER THE INTERVIEW.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW IN ITS ENTIRETY –
PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.
THERE YOU’LL FIND A LINK TO THE FULL INTERVIEW OF DOKOUPIL AND TA-NAHESI.
THANKS FOR WATCHING OUR NEWS UPDATE.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – I’M KARAH RUCKER.
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