Last month, an intense interview between “CBS Mornings” co-anchor Tony Dokoupil and author Ta-Nehisi Coates went viral after the two sparred over Coates’ perspective in his latest book “The Message.”
The recipient of the National Book Award stated in his work that Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is a moral crime that Americans have largely ignored. This led Dokoupil, who is Jewish, to compare Coates point of view to that of an “extremist.”
Though co-host Gayle King was present during the interview, she was mostly silent during its most heated moments. However, during a “CBS Mornings” panel Tuesday (Oct. 22) at PaleyFest New York moderated by Lisa Ling, King called what happened between Coates and Dokoupil a valuable learning experience.
Deadline reported King’s comments, which felt oddly vague considering the severity of the situation. “Life is hard,” she continued. “The news is hard. Sometimes, you have hard conversations on television.”
King also noted that journalism “comes with a great responsibility” and she is mindful of that.
“Certain topics you know are just hot-button issues,” she said. “You have to be very careful about how you ask the questions, how the questions are received. I think we don’t shy away from hard conversations either. So, I think it’s been a learning thing for everybody.”
CBS News execs told employees in a meeting following the interview that Dokoupil’s questioning did not satisfy the network’s “editorial standards.” However, not all staff agreed with this assessment.
Reporter Jan Crawford pushed back by stating: “It’s my understanding that as journalists we are obligated to challenge that worldview so that our viewers can have that access to the truth or a fuller account, a more balanced account. And, to me, that is what Tony did.”