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National Network News--

---BET Tonight with CEO Robert Johnson---
Black Entertainment Television (BET) Chairman and CEO Robert L. Johnson announced the immediate termination of the network's contract with Tavis Smiley, host of the talk show BET Tonight. The show will use guest hosts until a permanent host is selected for the Fall 2001 television season. "After a five-year relationship with Tavis Smiley, we have terminated the remainder of his contract effective immediately," Johnson said. "There are a number of public and private concerns which led to my decision. Recent actions by Mr. Smiley left us little recourse but to make this move." To address the issue for viewers, BET has scheduled a special one-hour edition of BET Tonight with guest host Cheryl Martin on Monday, March 26 at 11 p.m. ET/PT**, during which Johnson will take open line phone calls from viewers about Smiley and the network's decision. "There has been a public outcry driven by misinformation circulated around this issue, and fueled by the Tom Joyner Morning Show," said Johnson, who has offered -- to no avail -- to appear on the Joyner program to address the issue. "As the person responsible for this network and the individual who made this decision, it is important to offer my perspective on this matter which, until now, has been ignored." Public debate surfaced recently when syndicated radio host Tom Joyner openly criticized BET for an earlier decision not to renew Smiley's contract for the upcoming Fall season. Joyner and Smiley further inflamed the issue by accusing Viacom, parent company of BET, and its CEO Mel Karmazin, of being behind the decision. Johnson reiterated that "nothing could be further from the truth," and that the decision was made by him.

---On Tavis Smiley--
Black Entertainment Television (BET) released the following statement in response to media reports and public reaction to its decision regarding Tavis Smiley, host of the late-night talk show BET Tonight. The statement comes from Nina Henderson-Moore, senior vice president of news, public affairs and programming acquisitions: "We wish to confirm that BET has indeed chosen not to renew the contract of Tavis Smiley, host of BET Tonight, for next season. It was a creative decision made by BET as part of our regular planning process for the new season debuting in September. BET has consistently worked to evolve its programming to benefit our viewers. We're preparing to launch a new BET News division that will not only continue to talk about issues important to African Americans, but will provide the most comprehensive coverage of news from a Black perspective anywhere on television. In fact, the BET Tonight show will live on -- but in a new direction, complimented by public affairs programming which we are confident our audience will embrace. We thank Tavis for his service to BET, and look forward to working with him through the end of his current contract in September 2001."

---Market news---
A new Ariel Mutual Funds and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. survey shows that anxiety about market volatility is higher among African American investors than White investors of similar incomes. According to the soon-to-be-released national survey of 500 African Americans and 500 Whites earning over $50,000 annually, 32% of Black investors say their "confidence in the stock market has been shaken by recent volatility," compared to just 15% of White investors. The poll was conducted by Neuwirth Research in late January and early February. Moreover, just 67% of Black investors versus 82% of White investors agree, "the stock market continues to be the best place for long-term investing." Now in its fifth year, the annual survey shows that the percentage of Blacks who own stocks or stock mutual funds climbed from 57% in 1998 to 64% last year, while White stock ownership remained flat at about 81%. Ariel Capital Management Inc. is a Chicago-based investment firm managing over $5 billion in assets for institutions as well as individuals through the Ariel Mutual Funds.

----Black Leadership Forum reports---
The Black Leadership Forum, Inc. (BLF) strongly objects to the resegregation of the 4th circuit court of appeals, brought about by President Bush's withdrawal of the nomination of interim judge Roger Gregory. "Judge Gregory is a distinguished, qualified jurist who is the first African-American ever to sit on the 4th circuit bench in the shameful history of that circuit's segregation," said BLF Chairman Dr. Joseph E. Lowery. After centuries of waiting for the 4th circuit to finally be desegregated by the nomination of an African-American jurist, that process is being scuttled by the President, said Lowery. Judge Gregory's nomination was fully supported and his recent swearing-in was enthusiastically attended by members of the Black Leadership Forum. With great consternation Dr. Lowery called upon Virginia's Sen. John Warner, who previously committed to the support of Judge Gregory's nomination, and also upon members of the Congressional Black Caucus, friendly Senate Democrats and Republicans and President Bush to renominate Interim Judge Roger Gregory without delay.

---Recognizing Walls Communication---
Walls Communications, Inc., a Washington-based public relations and advertising firm, won a prestigious 2001 PR Week magazine award in the category of "Multicultural Campaign of the Year." The firm received the award for its work in support of the NAACP's massive "Get Out The Vote" effort last year. The awards competition was established last year by PR Week, the leading trade publication in the public relations industry. According to the weekly magazine's publishers, the intent of the awards is to "recognize and honor the outstanding achievements of public relations agencies and practitioners." The firm was recognized for the services it provided the NAACP as the organization mounted its historic "Get Out the Vote" campaign throughout the nation. Specifically, Walls Communications and its African American Public Relations Alliance partner, Circulation Experti, coordinated the public relations and advertising efforts for the NAACP in the states of Florida, Texas, Maryland, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana and Kentucky.

---Rensselaer President named Black Engineer of the Year---
Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, ushers in the new millennium of the Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference by becoming the first woman to win the top award. The selection was announced by Career Communications Group, Inc. (CCG), producer of the conference. "The gender gap in technical fields is abysmal," says Tyrone of CCG. "Women have never received more than 18 percent of the engineering bachelor's degrees awarded in the U.S. in any year. And the ethnic divide in engineering is worse: only 3,000 to 4,000 African Americans annually out of 64,000-plus graduates.

---Heart to Heart---
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) claims a staggering 2,600 Americans every day and remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. The incidence of high blood pressure is the most prevalent disease, affecting 50 million lives a year while coronary heart disease is number two with 12.2 million people suffering from heart attacks and chest pain each year. Although CVD is the number one killer in America for all races, there are higher CVD risk factors among women, particularly Black women. The alarming factor is the CVD risk factors among Black women are much higher than White women of comparable socioeconomic status. Compared with White women, Black women develop high blood pressure much earlier in life, physical inactivity is more prevalent among African Americans, and 68 percent of Black women are overweight.

---Job Opportunity of the Week: American Cancer Society---
Regional Executive for Cancer Control/Prevention & Detection
Region 5 in Natick, MA has an opening for a Regional Executive for Cancer Control/ Prevention & Detection covering Worcester County. The Executive will be responsible for volunteer management and building community collaborations to increase mammography utilization rates, support tobacco control initiatives and comprehensive school health education. Candidates must have proven skills building relationships with community members, diverse population groups, health communities and business partners. Interested candidates should contact Helen Boyle (508) 652-4350.
Breast Cancer Outreach Specialist
Region 5 has an opening for a Breast Cancer Outreach Specialist. This person will be involved in expanding the Tell a Friend program in the Metrowest/Greater Worcester area. The Specialist will form collaborations within identified target populations in order to increase mammography utilization rates by recruiting and training volunteer coordinators and callers. Strong project and volunteer management skills are required. Candidates must also demonstrate the ability to effectively work in a team environment and be proactive. This position is a 3 year grant funded opportunity. Contact Helen Boyle at (508) 652-4350.

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