Disgusted with TMZ!

The reporting that TMZ does is one of the reasons I left television.  While the network I worked for wasn't nothing like this tabloid news station, at times did feel like the work I did forced me to compromise my own ethical stance.  Today's post regarding the former Mayor of DC is unacceptable.

I'm almost certain that no one on the TMZ staff has ever been positively impacted by Mayor Marion Barry.  I remember growing up as a Maryland resident  trying to figure out how we could use someone's address in DC so that we could benefit not just from the summer youth program but from all of the programs that the Mayor set up for young people in the city. Was he a perfect man, no but none of us are. At the time of someone's death it would be nice to know that a tabloid-driven network program would take a moment to reflect on the good that someone has contributed to society. For those writers and producers who put together the headline think about yourself!

Cole Hansberry (@colehansberry) has called for a petition of TMZ and while many of his Facebook and Twitter followers believe that petitioners would be giving TMZ exactly what they want...more publicity/free publicity, my feeling is that at the minimum an apology is owed.  There is a fine line between the sensationalism associated with this type of media and reporting the news at face value.  Even major news networks spoke of Mayor Barry's accomplishments as a four-term mayor.

The outpouring of love an admiration for this flawed but powerful leader has been jaded by this headline.  Despite all of imperfections, trials and tribulations, he doesn't deserve this.

Dear TMZ producers/writers: at the end of your life would you want someone chronicling how you whored around, how to use drugs and use people or abuse the system or would you want them to really give you the peace that you deserve? Sure I know this is your job to "report the news" (I'm a former television producer so I know) but this man is survived by a wife and son and deserves respects. We all reap what we sow whether it's in our social lives or in the workplace. Hopefully  your epitaph won't be a negative reflection of the tawdry work that is done as a TMZ producer.