A CBS morning news anchor recently faced criticism following an interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates. The discussion centered on Coates’ new book, “The Message,” particularly a section addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
During the interview, Coates was questioned about his portrayal of the conflict.
“The content of that section would not be out of place in the backpack of an extremist,” anchor Tony Dokoupil said. “Why not detail anything of the first and second intifadas, the bombings, little kids blown to bits? Is it because you just don’t believe that Israel, in any condition, has a right to exist?”
In response, Coates said, “There is no shortage of that perspective in American media.”
The interview lasted approximately seven minutes and featured challenging questions. CBS executives later stated that the interview prompted an internal investigation following viewer complaints, resulting in a reprimand for the anchor in a newsroom call. The executives indicated that the interview fell short of the network’s “editorial standards.”
However, Shari Redstone, chair of CBS parent company Paramount Global, has defended Dokoupil. She described the network’s open criticism of the longtime news anchor as a “bad mistake” and commended him for facilitating “civil discourse” on a sensitive and longstanding issue.
“If you were to read this book you would be left wondering why does any of Israel exist, what a horrific place. So I think the question is central and key, if Israel has a right to defend itself, and the answer is no, then why do the Palestinians have a right to exist? Why do 20 Muslim countries have a right to exist?” Dekoupil asked Coates.
“No country in this world establishes its ability to exist through rights; countries establish their ability to exist through force,” Coates responded.
Redstone expressed her appreciation of having Coates on the program but stressed the importance of challenging his views.
“We have to also provide the opportunity to challenge him on what he says, just like we challenge everybody else,” she said. “We need to have better education about how to challenge people in the civil way, which, frankly, I think Tony did.”
