CBS News executives have slammed reporter Tony Dokoupil for asking left-leaning author and social justice activist Ta-Nehisi Coates tough questions about his criticism of Israel in a recent interview.
Coates last week CBS Morning To promote his new book, messagecriticizing Israel's handling of the Palestinian conflict in Gaza and the West Bank. The author even went so far as to say that Israel practices a form of “apartheid” in the territories it occupied after the 1967 Six-Day War. The interview was amicable, but Dokoupil, who converted to Judaism and whose ex-wife lives in Israel with their two children, said: , asked Mr. Coates some tough questions.
“I have to say, when I read this book, if I were to remove your name from this book, take away your awards and accolades, take the cover off the book, and the publisher is gone, I would not be able to remove your name from that section. I imagined the contents would be gone. It would be out of place in an extremist's backpack,” Dokoupil told Coates.
The reporter then wondered if the words “talented and smart” didn't at least include an Israeli perspective.
“Why do we ignore that Israel is surrounded by countries that want to eliminate Israel? Why do we ignore that Israel is dealing with terrorist groups that want to eliminate Israel?” Dokoupil asked. .
“Is it because you don't believe that Israel has the right to exist under any circumstances?” Dokoupil asked.
Coates said he believes Israeli coverage receives fair consideration in U.S. news outlets and does not see a need to include it.
“I wrote a 260-page book,” Coates said. “This is not a paper about the entire conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.”
Dokoupil also said that Coates is “outlawing the pillars of Israel” with the aim of “bringing the whole Israeli edifice down.”
“What is particularly upsetting about the existence of a Jewish state, a safe place for Jews rather than some other state?” Dokoupil said.
Coates responded, “There's nothing about the Jewish state that makes me uncomfortable.” “I am offended by the idea that nations everywhere are built on nationalism.”
On Monday, CBS News chief Wendy McMahon and the news division's president of content development Adrian Roark said the interview questions did not meet editorial standards.
“We will continue to hold people accountable, but we will do it objectively, and that means checking our biases and opinions at the door,” Rourke said. said. “We are here to report the news without fear or favor.”
CBS News Chief Legal Correspondent Jan Crawford was quoted by Pac News as saying, “I don't even understand why Tony's interview didn't meet our editorial standards…We believe our commitments are true.'' '' he said.
“When someone appears on our broadcasts with a one-sided explanation of a very complex situation, which Coates himself acknowledges, as journalists we challenge that worldview and listen. “I understand that we have an obligation to give people access to that worldview so they can understand the truth and have a more balanced account,” Crawford added.
