Al Sharpton’s new gig on MSNBC ruffles some feathers

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Al Sharpton’s new gig on MSNBC ruffles some feathers

By Michaela L. Duckett – July 22, 2011

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Good Morning! Thank goodness it’s Friday. Today, the weatherman is calling for partly cloudy skies and a possible stray afternoon thunderstorm with a high of 98°. With the humidity it will feel more like 105° outside. On Saturday, expect intervals of clouds and sunshine with a possible stray thunderstorm in the afternoon. Saturday’s high will be around 99° with a heat index near 105°. Sunday’s forecast includes a mix of sun and clouds with highs in the upper 90’s.

Did you know that it was on this day in 1963 that Floyd Patterson, who was once the youngest heavyweight champ, lost his title? Which fighter did he lose to? Click here for the answer or watch the video for yourself.

Here’s what’s brewing this morning in the news:

Sources: Al Sharpton to be named host of MSNBC show

It looks like MSNBC is preparing to give its 6 p.m. timeslot to Rev. Al Sharpton. The contract has not been signed, but three people at the channel acknowledged the imminent hiring to New York Times reporter Brian Stelter.

The news comes just as MSNBC and other news channels have come under fire by some black journalists who say there is dearth of minority hosts in prominent time slots.

There has been uncertainty about who would be given the 6 p.m. time slot since the channel’s marquee anchor Keith Olbermann left the station in January. Sharpton has been guest hosting in the slot for the past three weeks.

Since Sharpton is black, some would think that black journalists would welcome him as an African American with a prominent time slot. Instead, some are saying the move reflects an unfortunate trend and this is just another example of a non-journalist media “celebrity” receiving a TV show based upon name recognition and not years of experience, training, ability or talent.

Other African American non-journalists who have had their own cable news shows include CNN's Jesse Jackson, Arthel Neville and D.L. Hughley, and MSNBC's Alan Keyes and Carlos Watson.

Read NABJ’s open letter about blacks in primetime.

QUESTION: Do the black journalist who take issue with MSNBC hiring Sharpton for primetime have a point or are they just “hating” on the brother?
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NY Times CEO endorses NABJ candidate

Speaking of black journalists, in a highly unusual move, Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr., the CEO of the New York Times Co. is endorsing Gregory Lee Jr., the senior assistant sports editor at the Boston Globe, which is a New York Times Co. property, to be elected president of the National Association of Black Journalists. On his campaign Facebook page, Lee touted the endorsement under the headline, "New York Times Company Endorses Greg Lee for NABJ President." He wrote, "The Times Co. support along with that of The Boston Globe means if elected I can effectively serve as NABJ President." Lee currently serves as NABJ's treasurer. (Read more here)
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Ebony Founder immortalized on Forever Stamp

Next year, the late John H. Johnson, an entrepreneur and pioneering publisher of Ebony, Jet and other magazines, will join a long line of distinguished leaders with their own stamp featured in the U.S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage series. Others who have been featured include Malcolm X, Roy Wilkins and Thurgood Marshall, “We are proud to immortalize John H. Johnson as our latest inductee in our Black Heritage stamp series,” Stephen Kearney, manager of stamp services, said in a prepared news release. "He was the trailblazing publisher of Ebony, Jet and other magazines as well as an entrepreneur." (Read more here)
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Tiger’s former caddy fires back

Tiger Woods announced earlier this week on his website that he is parting ways with his long-time caddy Steven Williams, who has been described as a friend and confidant that has protected Woods on and off the course. After weeks of denying the break up, an unhappy Williams fired back on his own personal website. http://www.kiwicaddy.co.nz/ He confirmed that Woods fired him three weeks ago after the AT&T National tournament. He wrote: “After 13 years of loyal service needless to say this came as a shock. Given the circumstances of the past 18 months working through Tiger’s scandal, a new coach and with it a major swing change and Tiger battling through injuries I am very disappointed to end our very successful partnership at this time.” When he took to the airwaves, Williams ratcheted up the rhetoric on 3 News in New Zealand. “You know, when I write my book, it’ll be the time I decide what I write,” Williams said. “It’ll just be one of those interesting chapters in the book.” (Read more here)