OVERVIEW
MANAGEMENT
PERFORMANCE
POSSIBILITIES
CAPITALS
ACTIVITIES
ACTORS
BURGESS
|
MEDIA
PROBLEMATIC MANAGEMENT WP Opinion MSNBC’s cancellation of Tiffany Cross sends a chilling signal 
Tiffany Cross at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York on Sept. 19.(Leigh Vogel/Getty Images) Original article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/12/02/msnbc-tiffany-cross-connection-cancellation/ Peter Burgess COMMENTARY Peter Burgess | ||
|
Opinion MSNBC’s cancellation of Tiffany Cross sends a chilling signal
December 2, 2022 at 3:10 p.m. EST
About a month ago, I was having a chat with a Black editor. We got around to talking about our experiences. As the conversation went on, we agreed that we definitely shared one thing as Black people doing public discourse work: precariousness.
Sign up for a weekly roundup of thought-provoking ideas and debates
To be a Black public figure who chooses to be honest about white supremacy in this country is dangerous business. And there is no starker example of that than Tiffany Cross — whose show, “The Cross Connection,” was canceled last month by MSNBC, and whose contract with the network wasn’t renewed.
Cross, a former D.C. bureau chief for BET Networks and an associate producer for CNN, was named host of “The Cross Connection” in late 2020. The show aired Saturday mornings and was one of the higher-rated weekend political shows for the network. It was also one of the few shows left on a major news network that centered the voices of Black people and others of color. Cross focused on matters domestic and international, doing shows, for instance, on global diaspora movements.
She was unapologetic about discussing white supremacy and did not hold back on matters of race. This, of course, drew the ire of the right-wing chattering class, who increasingly singled her out. In October, after Cross (rightly) noted how White men dominate the NFL’s coaching and ownership ranks, Megyn Kelly called her a “dumbass” and “the most racist person on television.” Later that month, Fox News’s Tucker Carlson went on a 10-minute tirade against Cross and MSNBC, accusing Cross of stoking hatred against White people, and comparing her show to the radio broadcasts that led to the Rwandan genocide.
I’m not making this up.
Shortly after that, on Nov. 4, news broke that MSNBC was parting ways with Cross, just days before the midterm elections. It was a stunning announcement — and, particularly for Black journalists, a reminder that the rug could be pulled out from under us at any time. She was not even given the dignity of a final, sign-off show.
It’s all a bad look, sending the message that we can be abruptly de-platformed for stirring up the right-wing media pot. Two years after the supposed “global reckoning” on race, we are still disposable.
The symbolism of Cross’s de-platforming is all the more concerning considering the political times we live in, when attacks against Black educators, authors and journalists are increasing across the country. In a letter to MSNBC, more than 40 Black leaders protested: “This season is too grave a moment in American history to silence the voices of Black Women who, time and again, save America from itself.” (So far, the National Association of Black Journalists has been quiet.)
NBC has lost a number of prominent Black voices over the years, especially Black women. Melissa Harris-Perry’s popular MSNBC weekend show was canceled in 2016. In 2017, Tamron Hall was pushed out. MSNBC’s Peacock hub canceled Zerlina Maxwell’s and Joshua Johnson’s shows, and both left the network.
The situation is all the more disheartening considering that MSNBC’s current president is a Black woman, Rashida Jones. We are made to hope and believe that representation at the upper ranks will understand and support our voices. Sadly, this is not always the case.
I am surprised, but not shocked, that this isn’t a bigger story for U.S. media journalists. Cross has retained a lawyer, and is reportedly looking to challenge her firing. Her case is an important one to watch. We should be glad she’s fighting for her voice, and the voices of so many of the other communities she featured — but it’s awful that a star such as her even has to. If this can happen to Cross, all Black journalists are on shaky ground.
From the Los Angeles Times MSNBC parts ways with weekend host Tiffany Cross BY STEPHEN BATTAGLIO STAFF WRITER for the Los Angelles Times NOV. 4, 2022 8:51 AM PT MSNBC has cut ties with Tiffany Cross, an outspoken weekend host who provided a forum for issues important to the Black community. A person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity said the NBCUniversal-owned channel decided not to renew the contract of the host of “The Cross Connection.” The production staff for the program was told it will be retained and work on the replacement for the Saturday morning hour. An MSNBC representative declined to comment. Cross’ Saturday time slot is expected to go to Jonathan Capehart, who currently hosts “The Sunday Show” on MSNBC. The network may also be creating space for former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who was hired earlier this year. Cross is a political analyst and author who started in television as a producer for CNN and BET. Her appearances as a commentator on Joy Reid‘s MSNBC program led to her getting a weekend slot on MSNBC in late 2020. Cross was drawing more than 500,000 viewers a week, according to Nielsen data, making it one of the higher-rated weekend shows on MSNBC. Black viewers accounted for 35% of her audience. The host created a stir last month with a gaffe she made during a commentary on Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s recent concussions. Cross said the treatment of Tagovailoa showed how white NFL coaches do not protect “Black bodies.” The Dolphins’ head coach, Mike McDaniel, is biracial. An MSNBC representative declined to comment on whether the mistake played a role in the decision not to retain Cross.
| The text being discussed is available at | https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/12/02/msnbc-tiffany-cross-connection-cancellation/ and |