I fell in love with American politics and go
and go
and go ferment on November 22nd 1963 at the age
ferment on November 22nd 1963 at the age
ferment on November 22nd 1963 at the age of 10 I had no idea why the death of a
of 10 I had no idea why the death of a
of 10 I had no idea why the death of a stranger would have such an effect on my
stranger would have such an effect on my
stranger would have such an effect on my parents for the next four days my father
parents for the next four days my father
parents for the next four days my father sat me in front of CBS News and my
sat me in front of CBS News and my
sat me in front of CBS News and my father loved American history
father loved American history
father loved American history he sat me in front of CBS News and told
he sat me in front of CBS News and told
he sat me in front of CBS News and told me about the significance of John
me about the significance of John
me about the significance of John Fitzgerald Kennedy he told me about
Fitzgerald Kennedy he told me about
Fitzgerald Kennedy he told me about Congress and the Supreme Court and
Congress and the Supreme Court and
Congress and the Supreme Court and despite the wounds he suffered at the
despite the wounds he suffered at the
despite the wounds he suffered at the hands of racism my father was a real
hands of racism my father was a real
hands of racism my father was a real Patriot and that weekend he told me
Patriot and that weekend he told me
Patriot and that weekend he told me about America in glowing terms and also
about America in glowing terms and also
about America in glowing terms and also that weekend he introduced me to the
that weekend he introduced me to the
that weekend he introduced me to the world my career was set that weekend
world my career was set that weekend
world my career was set that weekend also as a sophomore in college my own
also as a sophomore in college my own
also as a sophomore in college my own love of merit of American history caused
love of merit of American history caused
love of merit of American history caused me to take a television production class
me to take a television production class
me to take a television production class I had the assignment of interviewing
I had the assignment of interviewing
I had the assignment of interviewing legendary anchorman Jim Vance after the
legendary anchorman Jim Vance after the
legendary anchorman Jim Vance after the interview Jim invited me to visit him at
interview Jim invited me to visit him at
interview Jim invited me to visit him at the NBC station where he worked
the NBC station where he worked
the NBC station where he worked I fell in love with television news the
I fell in love with television news the
I fell in love with television news the moment I stepped into that very exciting
moment I stepped into that very exciting
moment I stepped into that very exciting newsroom Jim took me around and
newsroom Jim took me around and
newsroom Jim took me around and introduced me to very busy producers and
introduced me to very busy producers and
introduced me to very busy producers and writers he told me that the journalists
writers he told me that the journalists
writers he told me that the journalists in the room has 30 minutes of airtime to
in the room has 30 minutes of airtime to
in the room has 30 minutes of airtime to get this right
get this right
get this right and that each and every one of them knew
and that each and every one of them knew
and that each and every one of them knew the responsibility and the magnitude of
the responsibility and the magnitude of
the responsibility and the magnitude of their job so what are the
their job so what are the
their job so what are the responsibilities of being a journalist
responsibilities of being a journalist
responsibilities of being a journalist in 1789 Thomas Jefferson wrote our
in 1789 Thomas Jefferson wrote our
in 1789 Thomas Jefferson wrote our Liberty cannot be protected but by the
Liberty cannot be protected but by the
Liberty cannot be protected but by the freedom of the press it is with those
freedom of the press it is with those
freedom of the press it is with those words that Thomas Jefferson charged the
words that Thomas Jefferson charged the
words that Thomas Jefferson charged the press or the Fourth Estate as he called
press or the Fourth Estate as he called
press or the Fourth Estate as he called it charge them with the duty of
it charge them with the duty of
it charge them with the duty of protecting our democracy by enabling an
protecting our democracy by enabling an
protecting our democracy by enabling an informed public so what does it take for
informed public so what does it take for
informed public so what does it take for us to be well informed
us to be well informed
us to be well informed the press must be truthful accurate and
the press must be truthful accurate and
the press must be truthful accurate and thorough you and I need them to dig down
thorough you and I need them to dig down
thorough you and I need them to dig down to the bedrock of the most sensational
to the bedrock of the most sensational
to the bedrock of the most sensational stories of corruption and wrongdoing
stories of corruption and wrongdoing
stories of corruption and wrongdoing yet still within 24 hours be able to
yet still within 24 hours be able to
yet still within 24 hours be able to shed light on the events the policies
shed light on the events the policies
shed light on the events the policies and the ideas that shaped the lives of
and the ideas that shaped the lives of
and the ideas that shaped the lives of everyday people do you know what I
everyday people do you know what I
everyday people do you know what I wouldn’t give to know the millions of
wouldn’t give to know the millions of
wouldn’t give to know the millions of time the airwaves are filled with the
time the airwaves are filled with the
time the airwaves are filled with the same story over and over again months
same story over and over again months
same story over and over again months and months on end if you and I were to
and months on end if you and I were to
and months on end if you and I were to agree or even believe the purveyors of
agree or even believe the purveyors of
agree or even believe the purveyors of 24-hour news then nothing else happened
24-hour news then nothing else happened
24-hour news then nothing else happened in our 50 states the 16 territories or
in our 50 states the 16 territories or
in our 50 states the 16 territories or anywhere around the world as I said
anywhere around the world as I said
anywhere around the world as I said earlier there was a time when the media
earlier there was a time when the media
earlier there was a time when the media has 30 minutes a day to get it right it
has 30 minutes a day to get it right it
has 30 minutes a day to get it right it was a time when journalists and hosts
was a time when journalists and hosts
was a time when journalists and hosts would not share their opinions and a
would not share their opinions and a
would not share their opinions and a television networks prided themselves on
television networks prided themselves on
television networks prided themselves on being politically neutral now of course
being politically neutral now of course
being politically neutral now of course I know that the potential of treason and
I know that the potential of treason and
I know that the potential of treason and espionage these are really big issues
espionage these are really big issues
espionage these are really big issues but what have you and I missed while
but what have you and I missed while
but what have you and I missed while they drill down on only one story I’m
they drill down on only one story I’m
they drill down on only one story I’m gonna give you a few examples in this
gonna give you a few examples in this
gonna give you a few examples in this country already there are 7 million
country already there are 7 million
country already there are 7 million people in the criminal justice system
people in the criminal justice system
people in the criminal justice system yet the Justice Department is toughening
yet the Justice Department is toughening
yet the Justice Department is toughening sentencing the federal budget
sentencing the federal budget
sentencing the federal budget potentially will cut 10 billion dollars
potentially will cut 10 billion dollars
potentially will cut 10 billion dollars out of public schools the Federal
out of public schools the Federal
out of public schools the Federal Communications Commission has said that
Communications Commission has said that
Communications Commission has said that the digital divide still exists which
the digital divide still exists which
the digital divide still exists which means that millions of our citizens who
means that millions of our citizens who
means that millions of our citizens who live in rural areas do not have access
live in rural areas do not have access
live in rural areas do not have access to high-speed Internet which means they
to high-speed Internet which means they
to high-speed Internet which means they have been cut off from most of the world
have been cut off from most of the world
have been cut off from most of the world and eventually it will affect their
and eventually it will affect their
and eventually it will affect their income and this may be a surprise
income and this may be a surprise
income and this may be a surprise gay marriage is legal in Taiwan has the
gay marriage is legal in Taiwan has the
gay marriage is legal in Taiwan has the advent of social media
advent of social media
advent of social media 24 hour news the threat of fake news and
24 hour news the threat of fake news and
24 hour news the threat of fake news and some sort of alternative reality caused
some sort of alternative reality caused
some sort of alternative reality caused us to lose our way the media our elected
us to lose our way the media our elected
us to lose our way the media our elected officials and we the people are in a
officials and we the people are in a
officials and we the people are in a dangerous food fight and we’re battering
dangerous food fight and we’re battering
dangerous food fight and we’re battering and slamming our democracy we have the
and slamming our democracy we have the
and slamming our democracy we have the potential to have a problem for
potential to have a problem for
potential to have a problem for generations to come if we are not
generations to come if we are not
generations to come if we are not vigilant not long after my private tour
vigilant not long after my private tour
vigilant not long after my private tour with Jim Vance at MBC Washington I was
with Jim Vance at MBC Washington I was
with Jim Vance at MBC Washington I was able to take on a job as the one of the
able to take on a job as the one of the
able to take on a job as the one of the first women to be the technical to be a
first women to be the technical to be a
first women to be the technical to be a technician at NBC Washington this was a
technician at NBC Washington this was a
technician at NBC Washington this was a rare position for women in general in
rare position for women in general in
rare position for women in general in broadcasting it was a very exciting time
broadcasting it was a very exciting time
broadcasting it was a very exciting time the Watergate hearings were in full
the Watergate hearings were in full
the Watergate hearings were in full throttle and I got to work with David
throttle and I got to work with David
throttle and I got to work with David Brinkley and Tom Brokaw every single
Brinkley and Tom Brokaw every single
Brinkley and Tom Brokaw every single week I worked on local news network news
week I worked on local news network news
week I worked on local news network news and Meet the Press it became more
and Meet the Press it became more
and Meet the Press it became more exciting for me as I moved to CBS News
exciting for me as I moved to CBS News
exciting for me as I moved to CBS News where I became the first African
where I became the first African
where I became the first African American woman to ever be the technical
American woman to ever be the technical
American woman to ever be the technical director of CBS Evening News and Meet
director of CBS Evening News and Meet
director of CBS Evening News and Meet the Press throughout the years I went on
the Press throughout the years I went on
the Press throughout the years I went on to become a reporter writer anchor as
to become a reporter writer anchor as
to become a reporter writer anchor as senior producer at c-span throughout my
senior producer at c-span throughout my
senior producer at c-span throughout my career in broadcasting I broke very
career in broadcasting I broke very
career in broadcasting I broke very tough color and gender barriers because
tough color and gender barriers because
tough color and gender barriers because the media at the time was being called
the media at the time was being called
the media at the time was being called upon to actually participate in the
upon to actually participate in the
upon to actually participate in the cultural stories it it reported in 1966
cultural stories it it reported in 1966
cultural stories it it reported in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson impaneled a
President Lyndon Johnson impaneled a
President Lyndon Johnson impaneled a commission to take a look at why the
commission to take a look at why the
commission to take a look at why the American cities were burning to the
American cities were burning to the
American cities were burning to the ground the Kerner commission concluded
ground the Kerner commission concluded
ground the Kerner commission concluded around the media that if they were going
around the media that if they were going
around the media that if they were going to accurately report on what was
to accurately report on what was
to accurately report on what was happening in the cities what was
happening in the cities what was
happening in the cities what was happening to black people it had to hire
happening to black people it had to hire
happening to black people it had to hire listen to and promote Black Voices
listen to and promote Black Voices
listen to and promote Black Voices throughout the decade the media has
throughout the decade the media has
throughout the decade the media has shifted itself in so many ways to
shifted itself in so many ways to
shifted itself in so many ways to accommodate race and gender language and
accommodate race and gender language and
accommodate race and gender language and sexual orientation
sexual orientation
sexual orientation I call upon all of us today if you agree
I call upon all of us today if you agree
I call upon all of us today if you agree with me to ask the media to take a new
with me to ask the media to take a new
with me to ask the media to take a new shape again it is time for them to see
shape again it is time for them to see
shape again it is time for them to see we want more on a network level call a
we want more on a network level call a
we want more on a network level call a bureau chief on a local level call a
bureau chief on a local level call a
bureau chief on a local level call a news director and tell them what else we
news director and tell them what else we
news director and tell them what else we want to see them report in our lives
want to see them report in our lives
want to see them report in our lives just imagine you turn on the news
just imagine you turn on the news
just imagine you turn on the news whether it is on your phone your tablet
whether it is on your phone your tablet
whether it is on your phone your tablet or a television and you see something
or a television and you see something
or a television and you see something different just imagine that you see
different just imagine that you see
different just imagine that you see facts not gossip or opinion just imagine
facts not gossip or opinion just imagine
facts not gossip or opinion just imagine you see daily reports on a wide variety
you see daily reports on a wide variety
you see daily reports on a wide variety of policies that reports come from about
of policies that reports come from about
of policies that reports come from about a wide range of events and there is a
a wide range of events and there is a
a wide range of events and there is a rotation of 30 stories a day not 30 ways
rotation of 30 stories a day not 30 ways
rotation of 30 stories a day not 30 ways to tell the same story
to tell the same story
to tell the same story debates beyond the left-right divide
debates beyond the left-right divide
debates beyond the left-right divide viewpoints from the affected people you
viewpoints from the affected people you
viewpoints from the affected people you know We the People
know We the People
know We the People anchors without opinions and an end to
anchors without opinions and an end to
anchors without opinions and an end to OneNote networks the owner of the
OneNote networks the owner of the
OneNote networks the owner of the Washington Post Jeff Bezos is quoted as
Washington Post Jeff Bezos is quoted as
Washington Post Jeff Bezos is quoted as saying democracy dies in darkness left
saying democracy dies in darkness left
saying democracy dies in darkness left you and I turn on the lights and our
you and I turn on the lights and our
you and I turn on the lights and our newsrooms
newsrooms
newsrooms lest you and I be at the voice of change
lest you and I be at the voice of change
lest you and I be at the voice of change let’s pick up the phone and call them
let’s pick up the phone and call them
let’s pick up the phone and call them the media are the eyes and ears of our
the media are the eyes and ears of our
the media are the eyes and ears of our democracy we need their vision to be
democracy we need their vision to be
democracy we need their vision to be sharp they’re hearing acute and they’re
sharp they’re hearing acute and they’re
sharp they’re hearing acute and they’re reporting unassailable if indeed we can
reporting unassailable if indeed we can
reporting unassailable if indeed we can reimagine the Fourth Estate that gives
reimagine the Fourth Estate that gives
reimagine the Fourth Estate that gives them the opportunity to live up to their
them the opportunity to live up to their
them the opportunity to live up to their constitutional mission
constitutional mission
constitutional mission which allows us we the people to
which allows us we the people to
which allows us we the people to fiercely protect and defend them and in
fiercely protect and defend them and in
fiercely protect and defend them and in return they fiercely protect and defend
return they fiercely protect and defend
return they fiercely protect and defend our Constitution thank you
our Constitution thank you
our Constitution thank you [Applause]
”
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