January 16, 2002

by Lisa Bennett, Communications Director

After a break for the holidays, we're back with NOW's take on the good, the bad and the ugly in the media:

The Good

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (NBC, originally aired on Jan. 6, scheduled to reair Saturday, Jan. 19 at 11 p.m. on the USA Network)

The latest addition to the "Law & Order" franchise, "L&O: Criminal Intent," has proven to be as compelling and timely as the original. Last Sunday, "Criminal Intent" offered an excellent episode focusing on anti-abortion violence. A "pro-lifer" shoots and kills an abortion provider in his own home in front of his little daughter. The shooting is eerily reminiscent of the 1998 killing of Dr. Barnett Slepian in upstate New York. Through this case, "Criminal Intent" addresses the network of anti-abortion activists in the U.S. and their implicit support of terrorist tactics. Detective Eames (Kathryn Erbe), the only female lead in the cast, has not been given much to do in previous episodes, but she shines in this one as she champions women's reproductive rights to her male co-workers.

Please send an email to let NBC know what a good job they did on this issue, because word has it that anti-abortion complaints have already been flooding the network. The episode will air again on the USA Network on cable Saturday, Jan. 19 at 11 p.m. — check it out.

The Bad

CNN Promotion for Paula Zahn (aired Jan. 5-6)

Much has already been said about CNN's airing of an ad promoting news anchor Paula Zahn as "provocative, super-smart and, oh yeah, just a little sexy." First there was the backlash from CNN's top executives who admitted the ad was a "blunder," claiming the promotions department ran the spot without any authorization. Then media pundits advanced a backlash to the backlash, which goes something like this: of course the news media hire anchors based on their looks — the ad was just being honest. Those quoted in follow-up articles took the opportunity to further comment on Zahn's appearance, calling her "hot," "fetching," "nicely put together" and one of the "tele-bimboes." Many critics, and even "60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl, have argued that both women and men are held to a high beauty standard on TV news. Oh, please. Without bringing up any names, TV news has far more men than women who are older and less "attractive." Most visual media continue to be biased against women who are aging and not "easy on the eyes." Still, many newswomen hired in part because they are great looking have paid their dues to rise above labels like "infobabe" and be taken seriously. So when their own employer turns around and markets them as "sexy," it strikes at years of earned dignity. Send an email and tell CNN what you think.

This spring, NOW's Watch Out, Listen Up! campaign will review local newscasts across the country to take note of any imbalance between women and men's roles. If you know of any high school or college classes that might be interested in participating in this project, please email communications@now.org

The Ugly

"Fear Factor" (NBC, scheduled to air on Feb. 3)

It seems for every step forward NBC takes, there's a step back. During this year's Super Bowl halftime, NBC will try to lure viewers away from Fox, the network airing the event, with a special episode of "Fear Factor." The NBC primetime show is already bad enough, what with contestants signing up to eat buffalo testicles and have live rats dumped on them in order to win cash. But for all those football fans glued to their TVs on Feb. 3, "Fear Factor" will offer an all-Playboy Bunnies edition. That's right, Playboy Playmates will perform the show's outrageous stunts and dares, while, no doubt, showing off their physical attributes. NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker has proudly promised that at least one of the stunts will involve the centerfolds getting wet "under water." What can we say, except, here goes another parade of female flesh across broadcast television, courtesy of a corporate empire (Playboy) that is sure to get lots of publicity for its magazine, videos and other products that trade on women's bodies.

Click here to write a letter to the media and tell them what you think. And if have your own media praises and gripes — about TV, movies, radio, magazines, newspapers or the web — send them to communications@now.org and you just might find your suggestions and thoughts in future columns.

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