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BET planning for
the return of Ed Gordon in a news show and specials
 By
Richard PrinceJournal-isms (March 8, 2010) Ed Gordon, who came to national attention as the anchor-host of news and interview shows on Black Entertainment Television two decades ago, is returning to BET. Under the arrangement, Gordon will do news specials and a regular show that is "in development," Gordon told Journal-isms on Monday. The Detroit native, now 49, joined BET in 1988 and is perhaps best known for interviewing such celebrities as Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, then-president Bill Clinton, a chastened Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., the late Michael Jackson and R&B artist R. Kelly, who was then facing child pornography charges of which Kelly was later acquitted. In 1996, the mainstream media took notice when Gordon became the first reporter to sit down with O.J. Simpson after the former football giant's acquittal on double murder charges. After the hourlong interview, People magazine included Gordon among "The 50 Most Beautiful People in the World." The spotlight shifted when in 2002, BET bosses Robert L. Johnson and Debra L. Lee canceled Gordon's long-running interview program "BET Tonight With Ed Gordon," the reporters' roundtable show he hosted, "Lead Story," and the public affairs show "Teen Summit," saying they were money losers. Gordon protested publicly about the demise of "BET Tonight." However, times change. On Monday, Lee, who succeeded Johnson as CEO, said in a statement that, "As BET celebrates its 30th anniversary, it brings me great joy to welcome back one of America’s most prominent news personalities. Ed has always remained part of the BET family and I am sure viewers will share in our excitement to have him back." His post-BET career has been uneven, with stints at MSNBC and CBS-TV's "60 Minutes II," an acrimonious time hosting National Public Radio's "News and Notes," and most recently, as the host of the syndicated "Our World With Black Enterprise." Of his most recent job, hosting "Our World With Black Enterprise," Gordon said, "I won't be able to continue with that. I was thrilled with what we were able to do in three seasons. I wish more people had known about that show." Gordon said that viewers still come up to him and say, "We miss you on BET" or, "I watch you on BET all the time." Gordon told Journal-isms that his new show would encompass "everything that's in the headlines, from hard news to pop culture," although "everything under the umbrella of headlines, from the New York Times to the 'Today' show to '60 Minutes,' has taken a turn toward pop culture." But he said "serious issues will be covered and covered well." Click here to read entire column Go to Target Market News homepage RECENT STORIES Jamie Foxx, Ludacris team with CDC on black targeted effort against HIV Survey: Blacks' sleep patterns differ significantly from other ethnic groups REACH Media names Reggie Denson Vice President for ad sales in Midwest Paul Johnson to head Essence Midwest sales; Danielle Brown to account director Black Cable TV Ratings for Week of Feb. 22 - 28 TBS takes its Tyler Perry juggernaut and makes it mo' better Study from Joint Center shows higher broadband adoption rates among blacks Don Butler returns to GM as Cadillac's Marketing VP in management shakeup Black TV Ratings for Week of February 22 - 28 NBC can't shake black viewers' loyalty to CBS, Fox with Olympics Flowers Comm names Tony Balasandiran new media specialist, debuts weekly blog TV One marks sixth year by passing the 50 million households benchmark |
15th Annual Edition 'Buying Power of Black America' report breaks down billions in expenditures  (January
19, 2010) Black consumers are responding to tighter economic
condition by focusing more of their spending on items and services
that improve their homes and lifestyle. That's one of the trends
revealed in the 15th annual report, "The Buying Power of Black
America," published by Target Market News. The report analyzes
spending for black households in 2008 and finds that
African-Americans...Story continued...  _________________________________________________________________________________________ |
