St. Louis TV Station Under Fire After Anchor Uses Outdated Racial Term
Published March 6, 2024, 12:08 a.m. ET
Television station KMOV is receiving backlash after one of its anchors referred to minority homeowners using an “outdated, offensive, and racist” term. The incident occurred on February 26 during a live segment about racial bias on home appraisals. The anchor, Cory Stark, who is white, said, “Tonight, colored homeowners are sounding the alarm when it comes to undervalued home appraisals,” immediately drawing criticism.
Station’s Apology and Explanation
KMOV, realizing the mistake, issued an apology and explanation, stating that the term “colored homeowners” was mistakenly read on air after it was inadvertently changed in the original script. JD Sosnoff, the KMOV vice president and general manager, expressed regret over the incident and emphasized that the comment does not reflect the values of the station. Stark also issued an apology, stating that the word should have never been said and does not represent him or the station.
Reaction and Call for Action
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) strongly criticized the station for using the offensive term, considering it as outdated, offensive, and racist, particularly in a city where 43% of the population is black. NABJ demanded that the station retrain its employees and work on recruiting and retaining black staff members. NABJ President Ken Lemon and Vice President-Broadcast Walter Smith Randolph expressed hope for fruitful discussions with KMOV’s management and meaningful results.
St. Louis County NAACP President John Bowman condemned the incident but believed there was no offensive intent behind it. Bowman stated that he has interacted with Cory Stark and has never felt discriminatory behavior from him.
Moving Towards Equal Treatment and Fair Coverage
This incident highlights the ongoing fight for equal treatment and fair coverage. While KMOV’s apologies have been acknowledged, the NABJ and other organizations continue to emphasize the need for inclusivity, diversity, and sensitivity in media organizations. It is important that such discussions lead to actionable changes that ensure respect, equal treatment, and fair representation in the media landscape.
