by Fred Willis | Dec 9, 2017 | Politics, Press, Television
TV One has announced that after four years of award-winning programming and distinguished service to viewers as the only Black daily newscast on television, the network has decided to suspend the production of NewsOne Now as a daily morning news show. The final live show is scheduled on Thursday, December 21, at 7 a.m. ET.
TV One premiered NewsOne Now in 2013, to provide a daily voice to Black America on important political and social issues impacting our community. The foray into daily news was the idea of TV One CEO Alfred Liggins.
“Providing a platform for Black voices is in the DNA of our entire company,” said Liggins. “As a Black-owned multi-media company, Urban One (parent company of TV One) engages Black America daily, not just on television, but radio and also online via NewsOne.com and on 77 digital platforms. We know there is a void in mainstream media and we plan to continue to be an outlet for Black news. Roland Martin will be a part of that plan.”
TV One Interim General Manager Michelle L. Rice added, “We had to make a tough decision to suspend a show we all love. Despite the best efforts of the many talented people who work on this amazing show day to day, NewsOne Now struggled to attract a wide audience. Like any other network, we had to make a difficult choice.”
The network invested in the production of NewsOne Now for the past four years. In an effort to save the program, adjustments were made to the format this quarter. Despite the network’s commitment and investment, NewsOne Now did not gain traction with advertisers and viewers.TV One is working to restructure NewsOne Now in 2018 under a new format that will better serve its audience and advertisers.
Although some staff cuts resulted from the show’s suspension. Roland Martin, NewsOne Now Host and Managing Editor will continue to be heard across all Urban One platforms examining issues of importance to the Black community. No other TV One staff will be impacted.
“I’d be remiss not to express my immense gratitude to Roland, executive producer Susan Henry, and the entire NewsOne Now production team for their fierce dedication and tireless commitment to representing journalistic excellence every day,” said Rice. “I’m extremely proud of all that we’ve accomplished together.”
“I am undoubtedly saddened by NewsOne Now ending daily production,” said Martin. “We set out to give America, specifically Black America, a show that spoke to our issues, concerns and unique perspective. And we did just that.”
Roland also shared appreciation for his staff, viewers and network, stating, “I am immensely proud of this staff, and thank you to TV One CEO Alfred Liggins for launching this show in 2013. I cannot express how humbling it has been to have African Americans of all ages show me their appreciation for our work. I promise to ‘keep giving them hell,’ so stay tuned.”
by Fred Willis | Dec 9, 2017 | Press, Television
Members of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) are expressing their dismay that NewsOne Now will go off the air on Dec. 21. TV One executives made the announcement earlier this week.
TJ Holmes, Stephen A. Smith, Jemele Hill, Cari Champion, and industry professionals such as Lawrence O’Donnell and Greta Van Sustern are among the many NABJ members who expressed their sadness, displeasure or outrage at seeing the demise of the program.
“The show didn’t just have an impact on the community, the show made an impact on developing black journalists,” said host Roland Martin. “NewsOne Now was a breeding ground and development opportunity for African-Americans who are lawyers and political commentators and the show helped other networks too. Without a doubt there’s no national television show that boasts the number of working black journalists as NewsOne Now.”
Since its inception, NewsOne Now has been must-watch morning TV for many viewers, as well as listeners to the syndicated radio show, the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Martin gave a platform to commentators Angela Rye, Paris Dennard and Shermichael Michael Singleton, David Swerdlick, Laura Coates, and numerous subject matter experts, before the other networks came calling.
“Roland Martin’s show has served as the only television broadcast to provide daily coverage of black people and issues,” said NABJ President Sarah Glover. “NABJ applauded TV One executive Johnathan Rodgers for tapping Roland, an “NABJ Baby,” to work for the network 12 years ago and CEO Alfred Liggins for selecting Roland as the host of NewsOne Now.
“Today, we understand the importance of making sound business decisions, however, NewsOne Now had recently grown from one-to-two hours and to think the news program will cease is disheartening. I call upon the news and broadcast industry to develop programming that serves black communities. The void is like a gaping wound.”
In a year where journalists have faced daily assaults and attempts to discredit their work with the onslaught of claims of “fake news,” NABJ is concerned by TV One’s decision to halt its signature news program, one of the most credible news sources, especially for black and disenfranchised communities.
A past NABJ Journalist of the Year, Martin’s work has garnered numerous awards and is currently a contender for two NAACP Image Awards. His show employs nearly 30 journalists, who face the reality of unemployment going into the new year.
“When anything is happening that impacts African Americans, you can turn to TV One for perspectives you won’t see on other programs,” said Dorothy Tucker, NABJ’s Vice President of Broadcast. “The demise of Roland’s show leaves a huge void that we simply can’t afford now.”
Noting that Martin has been instrumental in increasing contributions to HBCUs, while also tackling international issues and holding elected officials accountable, even the President of the United States, NABJ is deeply concerned about the future of journalism when a show of NewsOne Now’s caliber is taken off the air.
Highlights of NewsOne Now’s coverage include:
- Only national show focused on the daily trial of the white Oklahoma police officer, Daniel Holtzclaw, who was found guilty of raping several Black women;
- Roland Marin’s interview with Black physicist Dr. Hadiyah Nicole-Green and her ground breaking cancer research is his most viewed segment ever on Facebook with more than 14 million views;
- Martin’s hard- hitting commentaries on Bill O’Reilly for his Colin Kaepernick critique, Paula White and Wendy Williams are still some of the most talked about pieces in Black America today;
- Consistently focused on the lack of black opportunities in the Democratic Party and Hollywood, which led to blacks getting hired;
- Live streamed the 7-1/2 hour funeral coverage of activist, comedian and health nutritionist, Dick Gregory;
- Reported extensively on the issue of voter suppression;
- The only national media outlet focused on the death of #GemmelMoore, a black gay man in LA;
- Provided consistent coverage of police shootings of black men across the country, and was often the go-to broadcast for civil rights attorneys representing families.
“TV One has outstanding programming, like UnSung and other tributes to fallen giants,” said President Glover. “But NewsOne Now brought us scholars, activists, health and financial literacy gurus and other thought agents that helped viewers grow mentally, physically, socially and financially.”
TV One’s significant strides in the industry are noteworthy and deserving of much more support than it receives, according to Glover. The two-term NABJ president said that in addition to asking TV One to reconsider its decision to cancel NewsOne Now, she would like to see the station receive more support so that it can expand and provide more excellent programming. Glover also calls upon other networks to develop news programming that serves black audiences and consumers.
NABJ would like to see the cable industry increase the subscription base of TV One, which currently reaches 59 million homes. Other networks like BET, CNN, HLN, MSNBC and Fox News exceed 90 million homes. Such an increase of distribution will aid TV One in offering expanded news and other programming.
SOURCE:
National Association of Black Journalists
TV One has announced that after four years of award-winning programming and distinguished service to viewers as the only Black daily newscast on television, the network has decided to suspend the production of NewsOne Now as a daily morning news show. The final live show is scheduled on Thursday, December 21, at 7 a.m. ET.