Deggans - Race-baiter : how the media wields dangerous words to divide a nation

RACE
BAITER

HOW THE MEDIA WIELDS DANGEROUS WORDS TO DIVIDE A NATION

ERIC DEGGANS

RACE-BAITER
Copyright Eric Deggans, 2012.
All rights reserved.

First published in 2012 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN in the U.S.a division of St. Martins Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS.

Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world.

Palgrave and Macmillan are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries.

ISBN: 9780230341821

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Deggans, Eric.

Race-baiter : how the media wields dangerous words to divide a nation / Eric Deggans.

pages cm

Includes index.

ISBN 9780230341821

1. JournalismSocial aspectsUnited States. 2. Prejudices in the pressUnited States. 3. Television broadcasting of newsObjectivityUnited States. 4. Television and politicsUnited States. 5. JournalismObjectivityUnited States. 6. Prejudices in mass mediaUnited States. I. Title.
PN4888.S6D44 2012
302.230973dc23

2012016687

A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library.

Design by Letra Libre

First edition: October 2012

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America.

To Barb, Zoe, Jessica, Sophia, and Marcus
Your love and support makes it all worthwhile

IT TOOK A VILLAGE TO MAKE THIS BOOK A REALITY, AND I WANT to use this space to thank everyone who helped out, inspired, or otherwise contributed to making my first outing as an author come to fruition. I will apologize in advance to anyone I inadvertently omitted or lumped in with a group; blame my omnipresent absent-mindedness (theres a reason my nickname growing up in Gary was Absent-Minded Professor) and the distraction of actually completing this project.

Many thanks to Bob Andelman and Julie Buckner Armstrong, two authors whose early encouragement was crucial in convincing me that I could pull this off. My Los Angeles pal Janice Rhoshalle Littlejohn was also amazing in this regard, as was Jennifer L. Pozner, who offered sage advice and editorial suggestions early on. Thanks also to Russ Crumley, who suggested the books early title, and the folks in our little writers group who looked over the early proposal, including Jon Wilson, Anda Peterson, and Tom Hallock.

My agent Uwe Stender has been an amazing, supportive (and accessible!) advocate; his advice and encouragement has been invaluable. Many thanks also to former boss and ex-colleague Dave Scheiber, who joined Bob in highly recommending Uwe.

Palgrave editor Emily Carleton has been a friendly, enthusiastic advocate as well as an amazing creative partner. Thanks also to Christine Catarino, Victoria Wallis, and the other wonderful folks at Palgrave Macmillan who provided excellent work in finishing and marketing the book you now hold.

Special thanks to all my homies at the Tampa Bay Times (the newspaper formerly known as the St. Petersburg Times), which has been my creative and professional home for 16 years and counting. My most amazing editor Jeanne Grinstead has been impossibly supportive and was beyond understanding when this project took over my life. Her advocacy and support cannot be overstated.

More kudos to my colleagues at the newspaper, especially those in the Entertainment and Features departments who put up with my distraction during the writing process: Steve Spears, Kelly Smith, Colette Bancroft, Janet Keeler, Mike Wilson, Steve Persall, Sean Daly, John Fleming, Lennie Bennett, Sharon Wynne, Laura Reiley, Lane DeGregory, Jeff Klinkenberg, Michael Kruse, Ben Montgomery, Leonora LaPeter Anton, Jim Verhulst, Bill Duryea, Kelly Stefani, Michelle Stark, Peggy Anders, Maggie Duffy, Patti Ewald, Lyra Solochek, Craig Pittman, Angie Holan, Carrie Pratt, Paul Jerome, Barbara Moch, and everyone else in the newsroom who offered an encouraging word.

Extra special thanks to Tampa Bay Times editor Neil Brown and Times Publishing Company Chairman/CEO Paul Tash for hiring me so many years ago, championing my career, and allowing me to use so much of my newspaper work as the backbone for this book.

My colleagues at NPR have been invaluable in expanding my critical voice and providing enthusiastic support for my ideasmost especially, my amazing editor and tireless champion Sara Sarasohn (Im working on that sitcom script, lady!). Thanks also to Felix Contreras, Steve Drummond, Keith Woods, Neda Ulaby, Laura Bertran, Margaret Low Smith, David Folkenflik, Audie Cornish, Steve Inskeep, Michele Norris, Michel Martin, Scott Simon, and all the cool folks there who help make my commentaries so fun and engaging.

Many thanks to other friends who encouraged me and offered book-writing advice, including Roland Martin, Andy Borowitz, Connie May Fowler, Byron Pitts, Jeff Jarvis, Kelly McBride, Adam and Tanya Coovadia, Sam and Laura Henderson, Mike Stoici, Ray Arsenault, James Schnur, Sylvia Martinez Mullenix, Linda Tropp, and Amy Alexander.

Thanks also to everyone who allowed me to interview them for this book, especially those who knew how much I disagreed with them and yet talked to me anyway.

My parents have been an amazing source of inspiration and nurturance. So many thanks to my mother, Carolyn Williams, my dad, Chuck Deggans, and my stepmom, Hue Deggans. You guys have no idea how much your dedication to my education and well-being have helped me succeed in life and how much your love continues to motivate me (shout out as well to my aunt Cynthia Somerville, who housed me during my first newspaper internship and made my career as a journalist possible).

And the biggest thanks here goes to my wife, Barb, and my own children, Zoe, Jessica, Sophia, and Marcus. You all tolerated many months when I was little more than a shadow around our home, spending every spare moment in the office hammering at this manuscript. That you allowed me the space to finish this work says so much about how supportive you all have been.

I love you all more than I can express.

THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME I MET FOX NEWS CHANNEL STAR BILL OReilly, he looked at me like I owed him money.

The situation was, I will admit, an uncomfortable one. He and a publicity executive at Fox News had already turned down an interview request for this very book, despite the fact that he inspired the title. And though he planned several stops around my St. Petersburg, Florida, home base to tout his own new book in early 2012, sharing a cup of joe with me was not particularly high on his to-do list.

Thats because we have, as a therapist might say, a bit of history.

At various times on his top-rated evening cablecast, OReilly has called me dishonest, racially motivated, and one of the biggest race-baiters in the country for criticizing the way he talks about race on his program.

So as I planned this tome on how race issues and prejudice play out in media, I wanted to talk with OReilly. And he didnt want to talk with me.