BET Expanding Political Coverage And Launching New Talk Show

Politico:

Black Entertainment Television announced today that they would be adding a new weekly political talk show -- The Truth with Jeff Johnson -- starting August 15, a bit more than a week before the Democratic convention.

According to a statement, the show "will use a mix of investigative reporting and one-on-one interviews with leading experts to review the week's events and examine exactly what the top headlines mean for the Black community."

They're also planning to cover both the Democratic and Republican conventions -- with more emphasis on the Democratic one: They'll broadcast different specials each night, focusing on topics such as Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech" (whose 45th anniversary coincides with Obama's acceptance speech) and the disenfranchisement of ex-convicts.

The founder and former CEO of BET, Robert Johnson, was a prominent Clinton supporter in the primaries and made headlines for talking disparagingly about Obama.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[marymansour]

I wish they'd bring on that straight talking and fabulous John Ridley.

[HarlemFreeThought]

Jeff Johnson was one of three political analysts, all People or Color, who were on HardBall yesterday,with Mike Barnacle subbing for Mathews. Capehart of WasPost, and MSNBC"s own analysts Michelle Bernard. in fact Jeff was analysts throughout the day on MSNBC. I think we'll be seeing more of him here and at Viacom.

As for the Black news media ; "J.C. Watts, the former Republican Congressman from Oklahoma, has announced that he will launch a 24-hour Black television network with the aim of providing 24-hour news aimed at an African-American audience.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11806.html also http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=5ad0805ebd4c1f34de025ccbdb381860&from=rss

The voice of the Black Republicans? And where on the political spectrum is there message??

[Trogenhorse]

BET has gone down hill every since it was sold not another corporation. The channel now shows what people (non Blacks) think is important to African Americans. I have not watched it since. I have occasionally surfed the channel only to find: booty shaking videos!

There used to be nightly news about the Black community -gone
There used to be political coverage with Tavis Smiley- gone
There used to be documentaries about the community-gone

Now it's garbage in and garbage out. I will be watching TIV ONE

[Deeniwhoo]

Everybody needs to lighten up on BET a little. Bob Johnson started out with a good concept, then tried to compete with MTV and turned BET into a black version of the competition. Everyone expects too much from BET, it's somehow supposed to be the lone African-American voice and programming outlet out of almost countless "regular" channels. There's no way that BET can be all things Black, though they unsuccessfully try. I'm happy to see Jeff Johnson get some much deserved attention with a new show, and we should support him, as well as BET, for what it's worth.

[nyckingpin]

BET is a disgrace. However, I've seen some of Jeff Johnson's reporting and investigative specials. He's really good. Having said that, don't expect for this show to last more then a couple of weeks. Informative programming about politics doesn't fit the bill for BET's usual broadcast degrading music videos and sub par realitly tv shows. Another poster already said this, but it bears repeating. BET is nothing more but the black version of MTV with more booty. For shame.

[voting4BO]

It's about time. I too was tired of all of the booty shaking.

[gregk991]

The comments about Bob Johnson could have been left out of the article since he no longer owns BET. In fact Bob Johnson had a great idea with BET but it wasn't until he sold the network that it began to realize even a small portion of its potential to deliver meaningful programming. Johnson got real comfortable with the video programs and "booty shaking" that has been commented upon by other posters. Under his tenure the network picked up some black-oriented syndicated shows to fill in its programming time slots. However BET has been a big disappointment.

Now BET has an awards show that is the flagship of its relevancy. BET has the potential to spotlight issues of interest to the African American community and address issues of importance to African Americans such as healthcare, the economy, poverty, AIDS, homophobia in the black church, the black middle class, education in the Black community, and on and on. BET offers very little original programming that could give opportunities to artists that would like to present narratives concerning the African American community. The fact that CNN is producing a series on being Black in America should shame the programmers at BET. BET definitely has a long way to go but at least the new owners recognize the need for serious political coverage from an African American point of view.

[kentay305]

Bob Johnson doesnt own BET anymore so why make him significant in the article. This is a step in the right direction for Jeff Johnson in particular. Hes been spearheading political bits and pieces on BET for a few years now. and since Bev Johnson in the early 90s to ed gordon and tavis smiley on late night for BET this is Jeff's time to shine. Now watch how conviently this show will go against the TV One schedule coverage. THIS WILL BE THE ONLY REASON I WATCH BET.

[cmeans29]

Correct. He sold BET to Viacom for $3 billion years ago; then he purchased the NBA franchise in North Carolina.

[chrissy22]

bob johnson does not own bet anymore

[teemunney]

OK, why is it that I, as an African-American 21-year old, find this almost laughable?

I stopped watching BET regularly about 5 years ago...and from what I've seen, they're nothing more than the black MTV equivalent in many ways; that is, replace MTV shows with black people and a bit more booty here and there, and you have BET. The fact is that a significant amount of blacks will vote for Obama simply because he's black--yes, he's a Democrat and blacks tend to vote for Democrats blindly (I'm a liberal but I at least look at the other side). But one can argue that the divide will be even larger this year, if it can get any larger that is.

Then again, this just might turn out to be a good thing, because I think many blacks are actually starting to pay attention to politics this year....though it's sad that it took a black guy to run for President for this to happen. Hell, I would almost want them to give the GOP equal coverage even if it'd be pointless to actually be fair to both sides.

In the end, BET will make more money by arguing that Soulja Boy is "art", sadly, so this show probably won't last much longer once Obama (hopefully) wins the election.

[Makesense]

Bob "BIG MOUTH" Johnson can kiss my black ***.

[Ajegunle]

Ditto, my brother!

[brwnizofmine]

And you can add my A** to that!

[SeanGardner]

well said. He disappointed me as well.

[Chris]

HOw did he disappoitn you? Becuase he supported the white lady and not the black man?

[suppressed08news]

Dittto my whole entire A$$

[Mort]

Wasn't Robert Johnson the guy who met Satan at the crossroads and made that deal long ago? Ask him if he can still play the blues.

[Charmed]

I guess they figured they can make more money off of politics than booty shaking.

[cmeans29]

Not really. Every network features "news" but few feature "booty shaking." :)