NAACP, National Hispanic Media Coalition,Asian Pacific America Media Coalition
have fought and won battles of :
    Eliminating Negative Stereotypes   
    Promoting Positive Images and Story Lines
    Increase Number of Writers, Directors, and Producers
    
Now these groups are continuing to push for a greater:  
    "Increase representation of minorities on series and in the executive 
ranks"

And if there is not Progress and Adherence to Previous Negotiations, there is 
the 
    Threat of :  "massive, targeted and sustained economic boycott" that 
would include that network's advertisers.

Why are we not able to have an Italian American Coalition of Major Organizations
holding similar type negotiations and meetings for even the most basic 
considerations ??? 

Who else besides Jack Valenti would be a good "door opener" to Studios and 
Networks for that Coalition?? 

Why??? Why??? Why???
=====================================================
Mfume Appears to Delay Boycott

Associates of the NAACP's president say plans to protest a lack of diversity 
at the major networks may be on hold but not derailed.

Los Angeles Times
By Greg Braxton
Staff Writer

October 17 2001

On the eve of the NAACP board meeting this week, President and Chief 
Executive Kweisi Mfume has apparently dropped--at least for now--plans to 
call for a boycott of one of the major TV networks, a threat he issued as 
recently as August.

Several factors are affecting the reversal, sources said. A flurry of 
behind-the-scenes activity at the networks is taking place while Mfume and 
board members are in Los Angeles for the NAACP state conference...

Still, associates of Mfume said any boycott initiative may be delayed but not 
derailed. Mfume is scheduled to meet with network executives this week, and 
no major announcements on TV are planned at the conference. "Mr. Mfume says 
he will bring the topic up during the meetings. That's all there is to say at 
this point," said an NAACP spokesman.

In August, Mfume outlined what he saw as a disappointing lack of progress 
among the major television networks in following through on the initiatives 
they signed in 1999 to increase representation of minorities on series and in 
the executive ranks. Those initiatives were negotiated by a coalition of 
minority entertainment activists, chaired by Mfume. As the chairmanship of 
the coalition rotated to other members, Mfume has increasingly taken 
independent stands on the diversity issue, as he did in August, saying he 
would probably propose to the NAACP board of directors in October that ABC, 
CBS, NBC or Fox be singled out for a "massive, targeted and sustained 
economic boycott" that would include that network's advertisers.

Although coalition members say there is no split with Mfume, others in the 
group are not as convinced that the dramatic action Mfume has pushed for is 
needed. Some say they are encouraged by recent meetings with network heads, 
especially those at ABC, which Mfume and others have repeatedly blasted for 
being particularly slow at addressing diversity issues.

The diversity chiefs at the major networks are compiling updated figures 
showing diversity in talent, writing and executive ranks to present to Mfume 
and a multiethnic coalition formed about two years ago. Those reports are due 
at the end of the month, and coalition leaders are expected to respond to the 
numbers in December.

Karen Narasaki of the Asian Pacific America Media Coalition, who is taking 
over the rotating chairmanship of the coalition, said: "I believe it would be 
premature to take any action at this point. Yes, many of us are frustrated 
and disappointed. But we're seeking significant improvements by midseason. 
And the networks seem to be hearing what we're saying."

Alex Nogales, head of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, said he was 
optimistic after discussions that several Latino groups had last week with 
ABC President Alex Wallau, who heads that network's diversity efforts.

Said Nogales: "We're on track. All the networks know that they have to be 
ahead of where they are by the end of the year. In terms of Latinos, I 
believe at this time they're making very fast progress."

More minorities have been added to the cast and guest slots of new dramas and 
comedies, said Anne-Marie Johnson, the national chairwoman of the equal 
employment opportunity branch of the Screen Actors Guild.

"I'm definitely seeing more people of color in prominent roles," said 
Johnson, who is running for the first vice-president position of SAG. "Time 
will tell whether that continues to hold true."

However, others in the creative community contend that the networks are still 
doing little to increase the number of minority writers on series and dramas.

"As far as minority writers, it's been the same, if not worse," said Sharon 
Johnson, head of the Black Writers Committee for the Writers Guild. "None of 
the networks are really that committed. Of course, you may see a few more 
people of color on series, but the producers hide behind the cast. Unless the 
networks lose something, they will not change."

Javier Szermann, the Writers Guild's head of the Latino Writers Committee, 
added: "It doesn't look as if it's improved. They could be doing much 
better."...

However, Mitzi Wilson, Fox's head of diversity, maintained that the 
commitment to diversity for her network is just as strong, if not stronger.

"We have been informed by [Fox Group Chairman and Chief Executive] Peter 
Chernin that diversity still has the highest priority," said Wilson. "Our 
commitment remains strong."...