Series: The Ten O'Clock News
Date: 1990-09-12
Duration: 00:04:12

Subject: Mass media; Race relations; Newspapers; Television
People: Barnacle, Mike; Celester, William; Dukakis, Michael; Henning, John; Jacobson, Natalie; Jones, Marcus; Lally, Joe; O'Connor, Brian Wright; Sahl, R.D.; Silber, John;
Geography: Roxbury (Boston, Mass.)|

Clip Description
Marcus Jones interviews Brian Wright O'Connor (Managing Editor, The Bay State Banner) about the negative portrayal in the media of the Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan area. Jones notes that O'Connor believes that the media focus only on images of violence, drugs, and murder. Jones interviews O'Connor. O'Connor talks about the effects of the negative media coverage. Jones' report includes footage from an interview with William Celester (Deputy Superintendent, Boston Police Department) about negative media coverage of the community. Jones notes that John Silber (Democratic candidate for governor of Massachusetts) was recently criticized for making negative comments about the Roxbury community. Jones notes that Silber has accused Mike Barnacle (columnist) of giving a biased representation of life in many neighborhoods. Jones' report is accompanied by footage from a news story with Barnacle, by footage from Justice on Trial (WCVB-TV) and by footage from Street Cop (WGBH/Frontline documentary). Jones notes that politicians and community leaders have spoken out against media bias in the wake of the Carol Stuart murder case. Jones' report is accompanied by footage of Michael Dukakis (Governor of Massachusetts) talking about media bias at a press conference.This tape includes additional footage of Jones's interview with O'Connor.

This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item:
John Silber speaks to the media and Roxbury residents
John Silber holds a press conference in Roxbury

Series Description
A local program aimed at the Boston audience, The Ten O'Clock News debuted on January 15, 1976. Its two immediate predecessors were The Reporters and Evening Compass. A news and public affairs show focusing on neighborhood, local and state issues, The Reporters was produced and broadcast on WGBH from 1970 to 1973. The Reporters was then replaced by Evening Compass, which expanded into a twice-nightly news broadcast during the tense moments of Boston's busing crisis. On the air from 1973 to 1975, Evening Compass found an audience through its in-depth coverage of school desegregation in Boston, which began in 1974. The Ten O'Clock News stood out as an in-depth news program. It strove for a balance between local and national stories, between politics and the Arts. The last The Ten O'Clock News program was broadcast on May 30, 1991.

See also: http://main.wgbh.org/ton/programs/7519_01