News Watch Interviews Tavis Smiley

Tavis Smiley is a political commentator and host of "BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley." He can be heard regularly on the "Tom Joyner Morning Show" and "The Smiley Report." Smiley has also written five books, including his latest, "How to Make Black America Better: Leading African-Americans Speak Out," which challenges African-Americans to make a difference in the world. What do you think is the biggest problem in news coverage today?
News coverage is still unbalanced. Someone told the joke, "You can see black men on television, but only in two positions: either the handcuffs in the front or the handcuffs in the back." We have to change that. It is not fair and balanced coverage. Television programs today do not show the complexity, the breadth and depth of black life. Some of that is Hollywood's fault; some of it is our fault. Hollywood does not do a good enough job of giving us the kind of black drama that we can appreciate. On the other hand, when they do ("City of Angels"), we don't watch and it gets cancelled. We need to put our money where our mouth is. What are your ideas on how to diversify news coverage and/or newsrooms?
We have to continue as I do to tell young people who are majoring in Journalism or Communications that there are a lot of jobs, a lot more important and better paying jobs behind the camera. We need more people of color in decision-making positions. We need to make newsrooms look like America. At the same time, we have to encourage young people to get in this business and become executives and help run the business, to help shape the business and to challenge this ridiculous notion that only white males can run the newsroom. Beyond that, we have to recognize and value and appreciate the importance of black media outlets. I believe black media is more necessary now than ever before. Even in 2001, there are some stories that don't get told unless we tell them. There are some issues that don't get investigated or raised unless we raise them. The existence of black media is more relevant that ever before and I hope those who are in this business understand this and take it seriously. We need to be on the vanguard and on the cutting edge of our struggle no matter who we work for. We need to do everything we can to shore up (black media) those outlets that are suffering or teetering on bankruptcy. In your opinion, which news story was overplayed in the past year?
I was sick of the Eli·n Gonzalez story. Let the boy go home with his father. The story was fascinating and riveting from the beginning, but then it went on and on. In your opinion, which news story was underreported in the past year?
The story in Illinois where they had to put a moratorium on the death penalty. Then you have a conservative Republican governor who calls for a moratorium on the death penalty because there are too many innocent people being found on death row. That is a huge story. ... I think that story was so provocative. What is your favorite source of news and why?
This will surprise you. I do television every day and I do radio every day, I still prefer print. You get the background, which you can't get in the broadcast news. The back story often times for me is the best part of the story and in print, you get to delve into the story a little bit more. It is more informative on a deeper level. Why do you feel African-Americans need to take control of their own destiny?
Because if we don't, we surrender our destiny to someone else. We have always had control of our own destiny as a people, but the key is if whether or not we want to involve ourselves in the process. Politics is not a spectator sport; you have to get off of the sidelines and get into the game. We all can't be on television, on radio or play sports, but we can take control of our own destiny. With President Bush promising "civility" and "one nation," give me your take on Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell's positions in his cabinet. Do you think President Bush is promising diversity in a "united" America?
President Bush says he's a uniter and not a divider, but his actions do not necessarily peak to that. I respect them both, know them both and have interviewed them numerous times. The problem is they are operating on an international page, having nothing to do with the domestic issues that affect the everyday issues of blacks who turned out in record numbers last November. We turned out because there's a long list of domestic issues that mean a lot to us. It is great to have firsts like that. I don't see anyone in the Bush administration addressing the issues important to blacks. He might talk a good game about diversity. In the end, it's not what you say, but what you do. You have to match the rhetoric with the record. Can he deliver on the diversity issue? I would like to think so, I am hoping that he can, but I am not convinced as yet. You conducted a Census 2000 drive with radio personality Tom Joyner as well as your voter registration drive, which saw African-Americans turn out to vote at an overwhelming rate. Give us the origin of the massive effort.
I could have not been more proud to have been a black person in America than I was on Election Day. Blacks turned out at a 60 percent higher rate to vote. I don't think anyone understands in the body politic how unheard of that is. That is significant, and for Tom and I to have played some small role in that, you start to feel that maybe what you are has a small impact. That re-energizes you to do more. When you have a spare moment out of your hectic schedule, what do you do to relax?
I like to go to the movies, I love to play in my intramural basketball league when I am home. I love intimate dinner party settings, I love to play Scrabble, and when I can convince myself to get on a plane, I love to go on vacation. What are your future plans?
There are a few things in the works. The Tavis Smiley Foundation is geared toward young people developing their leadership skills. We are doing something every weekend. I have a large youth following because I am on BET (Black Entertainment Television). Every two years I write a book. This one is a compilation of my commentaries and it is due now. The new home for the Tavis Smiley Foundation is under renovation in Los Angeles and we're proud of it. I have signed a development deal with Tribune Television to do a syndicated talk show and the talks are currently in the works.