WHAT'S NEXT

  1. Signatures
    473 out of 4,000
    Petitioning
    1. Vice President of MSNBC Primetime Programming (+ 5 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Vice President of MSNBC Primetime Programming (Bill Wolff)
      • Program Manager, MSNBC (Vern Thompson)
      • President, MSNBC (Steve Capus)
      • Director of Communications, MSNBC (Lauren Skowronski)
      • Vice President of Production and Programming (Debbie Finan)
      • Director of Media Relations (Tanya Hayre)
  2. Created By
    Women's Media Center
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

May 25, 2011

MSNBC has suspended Ed Schultz for a week without pay, stating "remarks of this nature are unacceptable and will not be tolerated." The network and Schultz have agreed to a meeting with The Women's Media Center to discuss how to make sure his inappropriate and degrading language will not be used again. Schultz also apologized for his remarks on air. Thank you to everyone who took a stand - this sends a clear message that sexism can not and will not be tolerated in the media.

It's no secret that several of MSNBC's commentators and anchors have espoused some moderately sexist to severely misogynist views over the years. In 2008, we went after Chris Matthews' derogatory coverage of Hilary Clinton's presidential race, resulting in MSNBC's decision to demote him from the anchor chair of election coverage to become a strictly political commentator. One thing was clear: Matthews crossed the line too many times. 

Then, that same year, David Shuster was suspended by the network for comments about Chelsea Clinton being "pimped out" by the Clinton campaign, using a prostitution metaphor. 

Yet, the networks' "progressive" male anchors and commentators aren't learning their lessons. Just yesterday, Ed Schulz called incindiary right-wing talk show host Laura Ingraham, a "right-wing slut" and a "talk slut" on the air. 

While conservative bloggers and watchdog organizations are highlighting Schultz's remark,  the Women's Media Center also calls on MSNBC to suspend Schultz for his comments, since they not only attack Ingraham, but all women. Ms. Ingraham is no friend to the Women's Media Center, but a sexist and misogynist attack based on her gender and not her political views or comments is harmful to women in media, politics, and beyond.

Ingraham provides enough fodder for progressive criticism that such base attacks have no place in coverage. As a new generation of women enter media and politics, such comments dissuade women from exposing themselves to vile attacks, and perpetuate inequality in newsrooms and in congress. Join us in telling MSNBC that Schultz's comments are just as worthy of suspension as Shuster's, and to send a message to their on-air personalities that sexism is harmful and unacceptable!

 

 

 

 

 

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Women's Media Center calls for Ed Schultz's suspension for sexist "slut" comments on air

Greetings,

As a supporter of the Women's Media Center, I was saddened to hear MSNBC host Ed Schultz's misogynist comment about extreme right-wing radio host Laura Ingraham. While Ingraham's views are also detrimental to women, she provides enough fodder for progressive criticism that such base attacks, such as Shultz's have no place in news coverage or commentary.

Unfortunately, several other of MSNBC's male hosts and commentators from Chris Matthews to David Shuster have used their on-air platforms to also espouse sexist views and speech. MSNBC has taken steps to remedy past gaffes, such as demoting Matthews and suspending Shuster, so we ask that this incident also not be taken lightly.

As a new generation of women enter media and politics, such comments dissuade women from exposing themselves to vile attacks, and perpetuate inequality in newsrooms and in congress. Schultz's comments are just as worthy of suspension as Shuster's, so we ask that you send the message to your on-air personalities that sexism is harmful and unacceptable by suspending Ed Schultz.

[Your name]

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