Wondering whether we need more women in media? Listen to this….
Frank Deford’s sexist, tone-deaf commentary on today’s Morning Edition on NPR really pushed me over the top this morning. The commentary just aired a half hour ago so it’s not posted online yet, but it should be tomorrow. The you can listen in to Deford’s incredulous pondering of why people are so worked up by the misdeeds of Ben Roethlisberger and other millionaire celebrity athletes who have been accused of violence and misogyny. Deford basically said, so the guy was accused of sexual assault…at least it wasn’t a gun charge. He wondered why do we hold athletes to such an unrealistically high standard of behavior? I hope you’ll listen to the segment when it becomes available and then send an email to NPR if you agree that this commentary was offensive. Deford is entitled to his opinion and we’re entitled to tell him we think he’s an idiot. The question is whether NPR is serving its listeners with a fair menu of commentators representing a spectrum of opinions–and so far the research shows they are not.
Here is the letter I whipped off to NPR in response to Deford’s commentary. For once I just sat down and wrote out my response rather than “waiting to get it perfect” and then not getting it done:
Dear Morning Edition,
I’ve put up with Frank Deford’s patronizing commentary for years but today’s defense of Ben Roethlisberger was beyond the pale. I could not believe my ears as his jokey, offhand commentary unspooled. Why should athletes be held to a standard of behavior? Because they are paid millions of dollars and worshipped as celebrities, “warriors” and “heroes.” They can’t have it both ways, expecting their image to sell products but at the same time have their reprehensible behavior not count.
Since when did rape become part of “taking in the night air?” Should women really feel grateful that Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault rather than a gun charge? Deford seems to think we are holding athletes to a higher standard of behavior when we are holding them accountable for violence against women and other crimes.
Why is Deford given such a prominent spot for all these years? Where are your female commentators who would have a very different point of view? Listen to On the Media from April 16 [the story examining "NPR's woman problem"]. Not only is Frank Deford a sexist jerk, but NPR has a real problem in representing commentator voices other than the same old white men we’ve been hearing from for decades.
I have been listening to NPR for 20 years, often for 6-10 hours a day in my workplace, and I have not been this angry since I sat through live coverage of the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings. At least then NPR was not responsible for the content.
You really need to get a clue if you are going to bring along the next generation of listeners.
Sincerely,
Amy Tiemann, Ph.D.
Chapel Hill, NC
WUNC listener and volunteer
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Update, 4/29/10
Here is the link to Deford’s commentary, “Not All Role Models Need be Positive.”
Be sure to read the comment section which contains many articulate rants written in opposition to Deford’s point of view.
You can add your voice to the backlash by posting a comment, or emailing your feedback to Morning Edition via the NPR Contact Form.
I am really glad to know that other listeners were upset by Frank Deford’s tunnel-vision insensitivity, and shared their alternative points of view with Morning Edition!
FYI,
I wrote to NPR this morning on their website, echoing the sentiments. I was absolutely shocked and appalled at his sexist drivel and, for a progressive radio station, was surprised they would even air such an insensitive piece. I normally can’t stand his meaningless pieces anyway. They’re so worthless I can’t even understand why NPR inserts his commentary into their shows. But this morning’s commentary really pushed me to the limit. To defend a felonious violent rapist as just “not one of the good role models” and that “at least he wasn’t carrying a gun”, and “just let ‘em play”, demonstrates that he’s one of the “good ole boys” that still doesn’t get it. I’m sure he’d feel differently if it were his daughter. So thank you for your comments and support ladies. NPR should just get rid of him
This is a good letter and I appreciate you standing up for the better moral good of humanity by discrediting such an opinion as this. How could he imply any citizen doesn’t have to “live up to” our expectations and standards and be accountable?
Thanks for sharing.
Great letter, Amy! I didn’t hear the spot when it aired, but I plan to seek out the audio once it’s online — Deford is a regular contributor on Morning Edition during the week and sometimes on Saturday. At the very least, NPR needs to give an equal spot to a commentator providing the alternative point of view as a rebuttal.
Thanks for your support, Margaret. Yes, Deford has been on Morning Edition for as long as I can remember. He is on there so much and I have put up with a lot of rambling or lukewarm opinion pieces from him. And this one really pushed me over the tipping point of wondering why this guy gets so much airtime on an important outlet like Morning Edition. Daniel Schorr, Daniel Pinkwater, Frank Deford…the regular commentators I hear on NPR all seem to be older men who have been around a long time. The one younger female commentator who springs to mind is Lori Gottleib, whom I have not heard in a while.
And the funny thing is when I say “bringing along the next generation of listeners,” I am conscious of the fact that for an NPR listener I am still pretty young, so I feel like in the NPR universe I am looked upon as representing a younger listener, but to a college student I am about a half generation older then they are.