BET Awards 2009: Ciara cries over death of Michael Jackson, Black media cry foul over access

BREAKING NEWS: Ciara breaks down over Michael Jackson's death, Black media outlets cry foul at BET Awards 09

(BlackPress.org) - To be sure, this year's BET Awards was an emotional night for all who attended but for some celebrities and Black media outlets, June 28, 2009 was more emotional than ever.

Many Black-owned media outlets complained that Black Entertainment Television's owner Viacom, Inc. either blacked them out of the opportunity to cover the historic tribute to Michael Jackson or didn't give them fair treatment at the event.

Outlets like Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, People and Billboard magazine all had access to rehearsals, celebrities, special events, after parties and more, claim the Black media outlets. The Chicago Defender, which is 5 minutes away from Jackson's hometown of Gary, IN, did not have a representative at the event.

This isn't the first time that BET was accused of playing racial favorites at the awards show. At the inaugural BET Hip Hop Awards show in Atlanta, GA, Black journalists were so enraged with BET's alleged treatment toward White-owned and mainstream media outlets that some actually packed up their gear and left before the event was over.

"As managing editor for the Historical Black Press Foundation and the host of BlackPressRadio's podcast series, I'm often caught in the middle," said DC Livers who regularly covers events hosted by Black-owned or oriented media outlets like the BET Awards. "Once it was announced that BET was reformatting its show to acomodate the Jackson tragedy, my phone blew up with text messages, calls and Tweets asking why members of the traditional Black Press weren't being allowed to cover the event."

During the first week of May 2009, BlackPressRadio contacted the media department for BET and was told that the company was "making some changes" and that the media credentialing process for this year's event would done "by invitation only."

"I knew that would mean trouble for our membership, but BET pays millions to pull this event off. It's their party and they can kinda invite who they want. But, if the company can rip apart an entire stage, revamp an entire awards show and pull off the music industry's first tribute to Michael Jackson in 48 hours, it ought to be able to find a way to make sure Black-owned media outlets have a seat at the table," Livers said. "Black journalists repping White-owned and mainstream media outlets is not the same as making sure that America's Black Press has equal access to that historic event."

Category:

Entertainment

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• demand media equality

[croberts752]

I don't think ciara faked cried at all. Those were real tears to the person who inspired her to dance and sing. However I am tired of ppl putting Michael down. Mj was a wonderful human being who never looked at the colour of your skin. Onmy your heart. He was proud to be black. And i also agree that there were not alot black media press at the BET awards and I am ashame that they did not did a good tribute. The soul train awards did a much better job than BET!

[LiLi0ftheValley]

EVERYDAY is GOD'S DAY!

[blessedbrotha]

@SiisiiLovESMJ mj is the only artist that can sale out 50 concerts in less then a hr

[TheWingking66]

man im gonna regret saying this but dj kaled is wack

[09jamster]

that was cute. doing rocking robin!

[Ben87MJTP]

"Rockin' Robin, how does that go?" - PLEASE tell me you're joking! How have you not heard that song???

[qkizzxj]

wow i waited all this time for a picture????????

[SiisiiLovESMJ]

i cant fucking stand DJ KHALED "we The best" man shut your fat ass up , doesnt he see that the world was in the middle of mourning the terrible loss of a fuckinq ICONIC legend like Mike Jackson , all he repeats is the same shit "we the best" stfu, MJ was the best he has the record sales, achievements to back it up. these so called rappers are the reasons music is TRASH today

[MrGuph]

FUCK dj kalehd

[TheFade34]

DJ KHALED IS SO FUCKIN ANNOYING

I BET HE KNOWS WHERE BINLADEN IS AT THAT FUCKIN TERRORIST !!!!!

[KatarraParson]

@SiisiiLovESMJ I agree with the first part. Chris Brown ADORED MJ and it sucked that he didn't get to do a tribute until later on. People do need to forgive him, but him and rihanna's story should be a lesson to everyonne about abuse in a relationship (that many ppl are going through this).

[DeishaGuy]

@KatarraParson lol Yea who doesn't know that song...LOL Khaled is SOO arrogant to the point were its annoyng!