Contributor

Hello!

I was watching BTP the other night and I was surprised to hear you say (essentially) that Native Americans are a large group and we should know their culture by now.

Native Americans / American Indians are not one big culture. The culture being discussed was specifically Navaho, and I wouldn't expect that the rules they follow when a person dies are the same as the rules used by the Wampanoag or Illini or Makah, etc.

I would expect that on the local level journalists/reporters ought to be aware of any local cultures they will most likely cover, but on the national level, being that familiar with all of the different cultures would be much more complicated.

Thanks,

Wendy.

Journalism but not Journalist,

I was struck by the fact that you had such a problem that an anonymous video won a journalism award. Your problem seemed to be eminating from the fact that it was taken by a participant of the event, or as you put it "Someone who just happens to be there" rather than someone who is in the club and paid to seek out and document these events.

Since the act of participating in that event was inherently dangerous and could mean one's life, as in the case of the young woman photographed, I don't believe that such a person should be reduced to "just happening to be there".

Shameless promotion or something that is very interesting and you might want to cover ... I am writing for artist Hank Kearsley who currently has an exhibit at the Gallery at the Piano Factory in Boston. Please take a look at the article written by Sandra Larson in last week's Bay State Banner:
http://www.baystatebanner.com/natl22-2010-02-11
for information about the artist and the show.
Would love to see you there ... let us know if there is a convenient time for us to meet you at the gallery.
~Bette

Steve,
Sorry for my delayed response. Been burning the candle at both ends with the new radio show.
Just want to be clear--I typically preface my remarks about Christianity by noting that I am a Christian. I feel that gives the viewers context for my remarks--I know of that which I speak. I also feel it gives me more leeway to speak to Christian arrogance when it is on display in cases like Brit Hume's.
As for playing the victim--I am not one to play the victim, though if you are reading it that way, I will endeavor to express my opinions in a way that disabuses you of that notion. What you my hear as my "playing the victim" is my effort--always--to make certain that all perspectives are brought to the table. You may not agree with those perspectives, but I believe it important that you hear them.
Thanks for your comments.

Congratulations on your new radio show. Finally some intelligent talk on the radio which I miss since Jim and Margery moved to the morning. I was so impressed by your comments regarding Tiger Woods and Buddhism last week. Even though I don't think he is the type of Buddhist I am, I was interested that you knew about the great diversity of American Buddhists which include folks like Herbie Hancock, my friend June Cross,
Wayne Shorter, Orlando Cepeda to name a few. The American media is quite uninformed about all the various types of Buddhism which are as diverse as the forms of Christianity. It is time that they paid attention to this. Thank you for always bringing up another angle!

Callie-

As a long time viewer of "Beat the Press", I have always enjoyed watching the members of the panel engage in debate on various issues. One thing does concern me -- why is it that you seem to have to continually frame your opinion in the context of being a victim?

Whether its playing the "Race" card when someone disagrees with a "Black" position (or Obama); and now tonite, characterizing a pro-Christian viewpoint as "Christian Arrogance" (the Christian card?).

Brit Hume may be the arrogant one, but just because he is, doesnt mean you have to label ALL Christians as such, with your generalized "Christian Arrogance" remark. How dare you belittle my faith by generalizing me into the remarks from one man

.You are a smart, well spoken woman and your opinions would be better served if you stopped "drawing fear cards" from the victim deck, and instead drew upon the intelligence God gave you.

Bob,
Boston has two NPR stations, and all the promo copy does is claim that status. I hope you are not so offended that you won't give the new format, and of course, my new show a listen.
Steve,
Thanks so much for your kind words. I plan to continue in my role as a regular contributor to Beat the Press, and I hope that you will become a regular listener of the radio show.
Callie

Callie, I'm surprised that you let the 'GBH promotion folks con you into making a promo for your new show that claims that WGBH is "Boston's NPR news and information station" As a newcomer to the field I think WGBH should be a little more respectful than that. I hope you re-tape the promo without that claim.

Callie -
Congratulations on your new radio show! I can only hope this doesn't mean you won't continue to be a part of "Beat the Press" any more b/c you are really my favorite panelist and (very often!) the sole voice of reason on the panel!

Yea! You noticed! They were actually teasing me about the pin wearing a few months ago, and I think Joe said it would be great if everybody on the panel wore a pin like mine. So I set about getting the pins, and everybody wore them. I love the fact that my Santas were a part of the show. It was fun.

Callie,
I see that everyone was wearing the Black Santa pins that usually you are the only one wearing. I'm curious if you suggested it or someone else did. I liked it. Why should you always be the one to champion diversity. I do like how you just say it like it is. Well done.

Marjorie, Thank you for your support.
Patrick, I've complained about misyognistic lyrics for some time. However, our discussion was on the student newspaper, hence my comments. and Lyndney, certainly the editors should suffer some consequences. Unfortunately, the kind of sentiment the student expressed in this column masquerading "satire" is showing up in school newspapers across the country. I fail to see the humor, and in fact I happen to think it fosters an environment that is threatening to young women. Hence, my potent sentiments.

Re: 12/4/2009 Broadcast BTP
Callie,
Your comment to your fellow beats on how YOU couldn't get past the guards at the white house seemed to go over like a lead ballon. I, along with all of my family, shook our heads in agreement when you made this observation. Also, Emily's declaratiion that she knows for a fact that the # death threats against Obama are the same as other president's - of course they are higher....I doubt the Secret Service says that in their public statements to the press... Thanks for your input.

Ms. Crossley,

I would like to call your attention to two topics mentioned in your broadcast regarding the He Said column published in the Fairfield Mirror. Firstly, if you read the article in question, it is clearly written not as a personal account. No where does the author suggest any specific event or person so the idea that he should be prosecuted as you suggested seems quite off the mark.

Secondly, as the video clip introducing the story points out, the school recently hosted a concert by the rap/hip-hop artist Ludacris. This man's music is played on public radio across the country. He appears in magazines and newspapers frequently, and he is reveared by many (especially young people) as a superstar. These facts were conveniently ignored so that the BTP pannel could attack a young student who writes for a small, locally published newspaper. Perhaps a more appropriate discussion topic would be the affects of popular music, television, internet and other media on the youth of this country, not the opinion of some obscure college student writing for a small audience of a handfull of twenty-somethings.

While I may not agree with the opinion expressed by the author of the article, I do not think it is at all appropriate for you to suggest prosectution (if you read the article, he is legally appropriate). As one of your collegues mentioned, a college newspaper is a place for young writers to make mistakes.

Dear CC:

That student should be kicked off the paper and brought up on disciplinary charges at the school. Also, what about the editors of the paper? Why on earth wasn't it vetted?

Back in the stone age (1980s) I worked my college radio station. Any attempt to get the "boys" to tone it down (like stop playing bands names like Rape Man*) I was met with disdain at best or harassment at worst.

I think it's awful that after all these years, this kind of culture still exists.

(*To make matters worse, the promotional picture of the band was three men standing in front of a pool table in a darkened bar. It hung rather prominently in the reception area.)

Dear Callie,

I just go a Mailer Daemon return message from when I tried to send my comment (above) to Ms. Sweet. Her posted e-mail address is apparently not working. I would be grateful if you could pass my previous comment on to her if you have her e-mail address. Thank you.

Dear Callie,
I attended the Kennedy Forum on Tuesday evening and just want to point out one thing. During the audience question time, a gentleman from Belgium asked a very simple question. I was astounded that 3 news journalists were unable or unwilling to answer it. He asked, and I am paraphrasing, "If, God forbid, a successful attempt were made on the life of the President, would Fox Network and media vitriolics of that ilk say they were sorry or accept any responsibility for the nature of their incendiary and inflammatory coverage." Both Mr. Wolffe and Ms. Sweet responded by saying that the Secret Service is really very, very good. That was not the question. If it had been my question, I would have pointed out that it had not been addressed. I would appreciate it if you could pass this on to Mr. Wolffe. I have written to Ms. Sweet. Thank you.

MANY,
Nice to meet you, too. I am soo very pleased that the Boston Book Fest was a great success. We Boston BookFest Board members worked hard (along with a FANTASTIC staff) to make this debut effort the wonderful civic event we knew it could be.

SPUDRI,
I only wear dual time watches so I am always on the look out for them. I have one really good one, but the ones I wear around town and on air are really cheap:) Sometimes I can spot one in a kiosk or at budget accessory store. I love them!
Callie

BTW Callie,

It was nice meeting you for only a handshake at the BPLibrary's Book Fest on Saturday. I know another crazy and you were then looking for alcohol hand wipes. Yet I did let you go fast and went on to talk to another author for quite some time. The one gal with the big hat won the costume award.

Hi Callie,
I work in television, so I don't miss a week of BTP!
But my question is completely off topic. Where did you get that funky yin-yang watch?

Thanks, Karen. I loved the colors, too. Needed a pick me up to help me make the transition to fall.

I'm watching the show today on my new HD TV and want to say that you look amazing tonight -- love the colors and everything about your outfit. Not to mention, of course, the always thoughtful comments.

Joanie,
Oh, goodness! I was trying to make the point that programming new voices would be a good idea for the proposed news/talk format on WGBH Radio. Can I help agreeing with Emily who suggested that I might be one of them?:)
Seriously, I think WGBH radio has a great opportunity to tap into some of the great talent available in Greater Boston. I can't wait to see what happens.

Your feeling that WGBH would be best served if they tapped into a new audience by putting you on the air was as usual right on point. I admire your combination of practicality and political leanings.

hello callie,

i love when you are on beat the press! sometimes i disagree with one of the beat the press folks, and i think, "wait until callie sets him straight!". and, usually you do. i wished you had been there the night of the erin andrews "peeping tom" story. am i wrong or was emily being a bit of a parochial grade school girl when she could not imagine someone walking around nude in their hotel room. why is that a consideration? good grief...who cares? thanks for listening! judith

Callie
dont know if this will get to you before tonights tapping about the Prof Gates issue - but the question I would like to hear you all discuss - what responsibility do the press (including columnists) have for making this a more inflamed discussion that it should be - I know that columnists are not 'reporters' but do they - or at least do their editors have any responsibility for getting the 'facts' of this - or any story correct. Did Prof Gates take a cab home or was it a private car service (if its a cab,,,, I mean how many burglers take a cab to a brake in....'keep the meter running I'll be right back"?) did he forget his keys or was the door swollen shut due to all the rain? or was the door damaged because of an earlier atempted break in?
the list goes one.... small details perhaps... but bad reporting just continues to inflame this into a "he said" vrs "he said" playground fight rather then illuminating discussion about race and police

Also - do public comment blogs (even on nytimes.com) where anyone can seemingly post any random thought with no editing for fact after certian stories - like this one Help the cause of Journalism?

Thanks

- David

Hi Callie:
First, I want to say how much I appreciate your presence on Beat the Press. Second - with the continuing firestorm about Prof. Gates/Cambridge Police - One thing has been completely missing from the discussion. I am waiting for the racism of the woman who called the police. We always hear the 911 calls of all sorts of other incidents, why not this one - what was her tone? What did she tell police? What effect if any did her call have on the police response. And if anyone was exhibiting racist behavior, it seems to me to be she, but there has been not mention of her or her call since the story first broke.
Will be watching tonight
jeff

I love your thoughtful, unique perspective, Callie. When are you going to host/moderate another event at the Old South Meeting House? You and Gwen were delightful.

Bev,
In answer to your questions about former panelists:
John Carroll is at Boston's WBUR and has just started his own blog. Mark Jurkowitz is in Washington, DC as Associate Director of the Pew Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism. He and I will unite again professionally this fall when he joins me on the judging Jury for the Dupont-Columbia Awards (considered the Pulitizer Prize of Broadcast Journalism).
And, please notice that frequent guest panelist Adam Reilly has been breaking the suit and tie tradition to do a little funky open collar fashion statement:)
We need devoted viewers like you, so keep watching!
Callie

Dear Callie,
I join your other fans in thanking you for your presence on BTP. I also particularly enjoyed the 2 times I've caught you as subbing for Emily - you make a great and cheerful leader.

I also enjoy your defense of relishing some of the less la-di-da entertainment (in other words, non-snobbishness), and your brainy additions to your groups discussions. Have to admit that I also appreciate your fashion statements -- can't you get the guys to loosen up a bit on that suit-and-tie thing?

Wish you could tell us what happened to John Carroll, Even though gossip is clearly one of the more enjoyable parts of your program, I suppose we'll never know. Also, one of my former favorites, Jurkowski of BU.
My TV viewing is now whittled down to the first few in the Friday night lineup (Jim Lehrer, BTP, McLaughlin, Week in Review).

Hi Marilyn,
I'm disappointed too when I can't be on the show. And I'm so pleased to know that you enjoy the give and take between me and my fellow panelists as much as I do.
Thanks for watching.
Callie

I try very hard to never miss BTP, and am always disappointed when you have other commitments and are not there. I like your sense of humor, and most often find that you have added just the right comment which adds light to the subject.

Thanks everyone for the kind comments. I've actually tried to respond before but I was having technical problems. (wrong browser) Peter, gender identity and press coverage is an ongoing issue, so I'm sure we'll tackle it again sometime in the future on BTP. And Robert, I would hope that, if nothing else, the crisis at the Boston Globe inspires others to be passionate about news resources. And these days, all any of us has to do is look at how hard the protestors in Iran are working to get out the story on the ground to appreciate a free press.
I've always gotten thoughtful feedback via snail mail from Beat the Press viewers. Now I look forward to this ongoing cyber dialogue.
Callie

Hi Callie!
You rock!
I always enjoy the insightful contributions you make to BTP! The show would not be the same without you. You are a breath of fresh air, with wisdom and humor that I find refreshing. I appreciate your viewpoints and the depth of experience you bring to the show!
Thank you!!!

Hi Callie;
I enjoy your passion when it comes to advocating for more resources for news coverage. If we allocated a small percentage that goes to sports coverage, we would all be better off. And I enjoys sports of all kinds.

I recently saw the segment of Beat the Press that dealt with the public disclosure of individuals' transgender and gay identities in the media, and am particularly concerned with how the press has treated Aiden Quinn. I feel you were the only person in that discussion who really understood how sensitive this type of information can be and how much beyond the bounds of decency and appropriateness the media stepped in its outing of Aiden.

Not that I don't respect the other panelist's opinions, but I do think that members of the press, in general, need to understand more about the issues around identifying members of sexual and gender minority groups in a news story. I recently posted a suggestion on Emily Rooney's White Board that Beat the Press air a discussion on the ethics involved in the wide dissemination of a public record, particularly when that record is not otherwise well known and the person who holds it could easily be harmed by such a disclosure. I hope she seriously considers this idea.

Thank you for your unequivocal language on this issue. I hope you keep speaking out about it in the future.

Hi Callie,

For the longest time I thought the spelling of your name was something like Kallie. Oh Well

I really like when you bring in journalistic professionalism into your arguments. Even though white, I have watched you on Basic Black and I have been impressed. In that one show where they were all expressing their surprise and emotions at a black skinned person being president I felt like shouting "Yet he was the best" . Now I know that is cruel considering USA history yet that was my thought.

So anyway, continue your battle on Journalistic Excellence.

Hi Callie;
I love hearing your input on BTP! We need more local quality programing like Greater Boston.