Former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts was beaming like a proud parent as he talked about the launch of Black News Channel — a project he's worked on for years to create what's now the nation's only 24-hour news network aimed at African Americans.
He was sitting at the network's Tallahassee studio with Gary Wordlaw, head of news and programming, watching a countdown clock as the network prepared to go live.
“I was sitting there leaning forward looking at the screen, and Gary goes, ‘OK, in about two minutes we’re going to see if this baby comes out.’ And sure enough it did,” Watts said in an interview at the studio. “We birthed a child on Feb. 10 at 6 a.m. Eastern Standard Time -- a healthy child -- and now we have to nurture it on to adulthood.”
The goal of the network is to reach black audiences with stories that give a broader perspective about their community than what other networks provide. That could include health issues unique to African Americans, discussions about historically black colleges and universities, how federal housing policy proposal could affect them or just simply making people aware of positive accomplishments African-Americans are achieving, Watt said.
“We are more than athletes and entertainers, and on the hard news side, we’re more than crime,” said Watts, who was a star quarterback at the University of Oklahoma in the 1980s and later played in the Canadian Football League.
“For every 17-year-old African American male that you show me that's being carted off in handcuffs on the 10 o'clock news ... I can show you 50 17-year-old African American males that get up every morning trying to figure out, ‘How am I going to make my mother proud of me.’ That's the story doesn't get told enough.”
More here
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
14 comments:
Black on Black crime in 1 city could takes days to report.
Zero ratings. Will be soon off the air.
When do we get the all white channel?
Why is it always to make my mother proud? How about make my parents proud?
Will they be reporting black crimes?
Northwest Woodsman: Another brilliant race based idea that is doomed to failure. This will go nowhere and white privilege will be blamed for yet another black failure.
White news for white people?? I know, I'm racist...i am ok with it..
One more thing to add to the "black only" list. I find it hilarious how they are always segregating themselves from the rest of the population, come up with all these black only rules and then have the nerve to accuse everyone else of being a racist.
Isn't that racist?
They are perpetuating the racism they decry!
Stoopipo!
How is this not racist trying doing it for white people and imagine the cries of racism? Don't forget decades ago we had shows like Black Forum that aired here but they have been so mistreated--we're the ones being mistreated and it has lasted longer that what they claim. How about everyone is equal that's the way I have always lived and I'm a 72 year old white woman. I believe everyone should be treated the same not having to have one race set apart from all others? Quit the division and start living together and that is for everyone.
Northwest Woodsman: Hard to believe that 10:02 has lived for 72 yeas and still believes in the mantra that “we are all equal”. It is a nice thought but a fantasy that is obvious in every aspect of life. All that means is that in our country, you have equal opportunity for success or failure based upon your abilities. Pedomarxist democrats have placed their fingers on the scale, however, and added weight to members of our community who do not have the intellectual ability or motivation for success.
Stop using the word pedomarxist as it has no meaning
Yeah, the word means nothing to me anymore. Just don’t care.
Post a Comment