Over the past eight months since its February launch, Black News Channel has had to navigate through an extraordinary news cycle that included a ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, the manifestation of social injustice protests and a contentious Presidential election. 

Currently heading the network charge is its President and CEO Princell Hair, former CNN general manager who knows the cable news business and has positioned the network to fill a void in delivering news and pertinent information targeted to an underserved African-American audience.

Hair recently sat down with Multichannel News for an extensive video interview in which he talks about the Black News Channel brand as well as the shifting cable news environment. Hair also weighs in on the television's diversity and inclusion efforts.

Looking to protect journalists from threats/attacks by members of law enforcement or others, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) has joined with other Democratic colleagues to introduce the Press Freedom Resolution, which praises their work in dangerous times, seeks government accountability for restrictions or attacks, and urges better protection for media. 

Such resolutions don't have the force of law, but do express the will of Congress, as it were, that something should or should not happen. 

The President has branded coverage of the protests fake news and attempts by the media to undercut his presidency yet again. In fact, as if on cue, early Monday (June 15), President Trump tweeted the following: 

[embed]https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1272529858501976065[/embed]

The resolution, among other things, "recognizes the bravery and courage of the journalists of the United States, foreign journalists, and members of the media who put their own safety at risk in order to cover the demonstrations associated with the death of George Floyd and bring information to the people of the United States and the world."

Also signing on to the resolution were Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). who caucuses with the Dems. 

Related: CPJ Board Demands Police Stand Down

Journalists have been harassed, pepper sprayed and injured in the line of duty during the current civil unrest. 

The Senate resolution at its heart "reaffirms its commitment to the freedom of the press and peaceful assembly as pillars of democracy." 

In buttressing the need for such a statement, the resolution cites, among other things, the 300-plus press freedom violations during coverage of the protests following the death of George Floyd in police custody and the letter from more than 100 media outlets demanding law enforcement stop attacking "credentialed and clearly identifiable journalists." 

The resolution condemns the violence against all those exercising their free speech rights, including members of the media, whether by police or others--some angry protesters have harassed and attacked journalists, including a CNN news crew over the weekend in Atlanta following the shooting of a Black man there by police. 

It also condemns any federal, state or local action to limit or restrict the media from their reporting, which "promotes government accountability, defends democratic activity, and strengthens civil society." 

It calls on authorities to better protect journalists and asks them to explicitly exempt them from curfews, something the journalists organizations have been calling for. It also calls for investigations into any government or police restrictions on media access and any violence against them. 

Related: News Outlets Ask Minnesota Governor to Protect Journalists

“We cannot protect our democracy if we do not protect our press,” said Markey in a statement. “Targeting the media and perpetrating violence against them or protesters is un-American and requires our full and vocal condemnation. This resolution is an unequivocal statement from the Senate that we support our journalists, recognize the critical value of their work, and will promote accountability for anyone interfering with their duties.” 

“This important resolution sends a strong message that targeted attacks on journalists covering protests across the United States are unacceptable and inconsistent with U.S. laws and values,” said Michael De Dora of the Committee to Protect Journalists. “The ability of journalists to work freely and safely is a fundamental component of democracy, and we welcome the Senate's urgent action to condemn these attacks, reaffirm the importance of the press, and call for the protection of journalists. It is critical that this resolution be accompanied by meaningful action to hold those responsible to account.” 

As the protests and unrest over the death of George Floyd continues to play out on television screens, a new report from Horowitz Research underscores a growing disconnect between young viewers and the traditional news media.

Viewers 18-34 years of age get 53% of their news consumption from the internet compared to 21% for traditional television, according to Horowitz’s State of Viewing & Streaming 2020 study.

Young people question whether broadcast networks and cable news services like Fox News, CNN and MSNBC are providing a complete picture of the stories that they cover, according to the survey. Only 33% of 18- to 34-year-olds surveyed believe that television is the best way to get in-depth news reporting and analysis, said Horowitz. In comparison, 56% of adults 25-54 and 64% of adults 35+ offer a more favorable view of traditional television news.

“Can the major broadcast and cable outlets rise to the challenge of providing truth and perspective and less sensationalism?,” said Howard Horowitz, president of Horowitz Research. “Just like social media has provided new ways of exposing discrimination and misconduct, so too has it given young people a new way to view and understand the world around them, providing validation of what is really happening and holding major news outlets more accountable.”

Horowitz also reported that 58% of TV content viewers believe that the media plays a very big role in reinforcing stereotypes, and 68% say that they feel it is important that the media represent diverse people and communities in the U.S. in ways that challenge and break stereotypes.

“Poignantly, we are hearing from staff, family members, and social media that young people feel that their parents and older family members, who rely heavily on TV news, are not getting a well-rounded picture of the protests and why they are happening,” said Horowitz senior VP of insights and strategy Adriana Waterston. “Showing looting and sensationalizing violence creates more fear and obscures the issues of police brutality and persistent systemic racism that these young people are seeing, experiencing, and feeling.”

Viamedia said it is offering free TV commercials as part of a grassroots campaign to help end racism using the hashtag #ChangeStartsRightHere.

The local-ad-sales provider is asking local business owners, minorities and law enforcement to create 15- and 30-second on-camera spots about how they are working together in their communities.

Viamedia will run approved messages as local public service announcements across cable TV channels in their local communities free of charge.

“Today, a long-overdue conversation is taking place across America, and the world. We should no longer sit idly by and wait for politicians to enact change,” said Mark Lieberman, president & CEO of Viamedia. “Viamedia’s goal is to create a nationwide grassroots campaign that engenders civil discourse, reminding all that change begins with each of us, at home around the dining room, and within our local communities. We cannot be afraid to use our voices to stand up and have a conversation. Change starts right here.”

Viamedia will share the call to action spots and the www.changestartsrighthere.com portal with other interested TV providers for free, whether they are Viamedia affiliates or not.

The campaign comes amid more than a week of demonstrations about race and police violence after George Floyd died at the hands of police in Minneapolis. It is compounded because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has cost more than 100,000 lives in the U.S., left millions unemployed, closed businesses and depressed the TV ad market.

“Another senseless moment of violence toward the African American community has taken place in our country. This moment calls for all of us to do more. This is about human rights, about our towns, our businesses. And I’m inviting other video service providers to similarly use their platforms to provide a voice to those who feel threatened, unsafe and marginalized to join the conversation.”

The Board of Governors of the Committee to Protect Journalists has sent a letter to governors, mayors and police chiefs across the country demanding that they stop assaults on journalists covering the protests. 

Related: News Outlets Ask to Minnesota Governor to Protect Journalists

The number of documented incidents of journalists attacked or arrested has topped 300 in 33 states, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. CPJ has collected clips of just some of the confrontations into a YouTube video it posted Friday (June 5). 

"They were attacked or arrested even after clearly identifying themselves as press and offering to move as asked. What is the point of press credentials issued by your agencies if armed officers can ignore them and treat journalists as criminals?," they wrote. 

Related: CPJ Calls for Media Safety

"The journalists covering those demonstrations do so on behalf of the public. Every effort to impede their coverage is an effort to deny information to that public—the same public that you and your departments serve," they said. 

Dorothy Tucker, president of the National Association of Black Journalists, said Friday on a Society of Professional Journalists' webinar about protest coverage and the police that newsroom managers need to reach out to police departments to let them know what is happening to their reporters and to ask them to talk to their officers and penalize officers who violate journalists' rights. She also called for training so police know what journalists are doing and that they have a First Amendment right to do it. 

The Board of Governors of the Committee to Protect Journalists has sent a letter to governors, mayors and police chiefs across the country demanding that they stop assaults on journalists covering the protests. 

Related: News Outlets Ask to Minnesota Governor to Protect Journalists

The number of documented incidents of journalists attacked or arrested has topped 300 in 33 states, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. CPJ has collected clips of just some of the confrontations into a YouTube video it posted Friday (June 5). 

"They were attacked or arrested even after clearly identifying themselves as press and offering to move as asked. What is the point of press credentials issued by your agencies if armed officers can ignore them and treat journalists as criminals?," they wrote. 

Related: CPJ Calls for Media Safety

"The journalists covering those demonstrations do so on behalf of the public. Every effort to impede their coverage is an effort to deny information to that public—the same public that you and your departments serve," they said. 

Dorothy Tucker, president of the National Association of Black Journalists, said Friday on a Society of Professional Journalists' webinar about protest coverage and the police that newsroom managers need to reach out to police departments to let them know what is happening to their reporters and to ask them to talk to their officers and penalize officers who violate journalists' rights. She also called for training so police know what journalists are doing and that they have a First Amendment right to do it. 

News coverage this past weekend of protests around the country responding to the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody provided huge viewership numbers for cable news networks, according to research by Samba TV.

About 16.6 million households watched cable news this weekend (May 30-31) compared to the less than 10 million households CNN, Fox News and MSNBC drew during the weekends of May 23 and May 16 according to Samba.

Overall household viewership for the news networks was up 116% this past weekend compared to the previous weekend, according to Samba. CNN and MSNBC both increased its reach by 126%, while Fox News increased by 99%. 

African-American audiences more than doubled over the weekend, with household tune-in numbers up 115% compared to the previous weekend. Also, younger audiences constituted the majority of viewers, with households with a member between the ages of 20 to 35 saw a 100% spike in viewership during this weekend as compared to last.  

Samba TV also reported that Minneapolis, where the protests began, was the only top 25 DMA to track an increase in reach greater than 200% based on weekend-over-weekend viewership (+229%). Several other top DMAs saw increases over 100%, with Chicago (+136%), Atlanta (+121%), and Pittsburgh (116%) following Minneapolis, said the company. 

The Committee to Protect Journalists Monday (June 1) pointed to as many as 90 separate incidents of journalists assaulted, pepper-sprayed, shot with rubber bullets and arrested and said the scale of such "abuses" is "unprecedented in recent American history."

CPJ said it is investigating all of those incidents, which stem from coverage of the protests of the death of George Floyd in police custody. It argues that covering protests has been made more dangerous by "the adoption of aggressive, military-style policing, and the mounting hostility of protesters towards journalists," both of which have been going on for some time.

"CPJ is working with our press freedom partners to engage police departments, mayors, and other local officials across the country to improve practices, ensure accountability, and launch investigations into police misconduct when necessary," the group said.

In the face of those attacks, many on Local TV and radio journalists, the National Association of Broadcasters reiterated its support for those news crews as they cover the ongoing protests over racial inequality and called for greater protection.

“NAB has enormous respect for law enforcement and for the rights of Americans to protest peacefully to make their voices heard. However, I am gravely concerned about recent violence against journalists who are legally covering protests across the nation in the wake of the unconscionable death of George Floyd," said NAB President Gordon Smith.

"We implore both police and protesters to respect the difficult job of journalists and recognize their essential role in democracy. Dedicated broadcast journalists are putting themselves in harm’s way to cover the news and to shine a light on civic unrest. These reporters must be afforded appropriate First Amendment protections as they cover the news, hold officials accountable and shine a spotlight on the challenges facing our society.”

FCC chairman Ajit Pai issued a statement Sunday as broadcasters continued to put themselves in harm's way to cover the protests, violence and looting that has broken out in the wake of the death of George Floyd six days ago.

“I commend the extraordinary efforts of local broadcasters to keep Americans informed about the protests and violence taking place in our nation’s cities following the awful killing of George Floyd," he said.  

Related: CPJ to Journalists: Be Careful Out There

He did not cite any particular incident, but a law enforcement officer in Louisville, Kentucky, appeared to fire what were described as pepper bullets directly at a WAVE-TV Louisville news crew, an incident that drew the condemnation of the National Association of Broadcasters and the SAG-AFTRA union. 

Louisville Police later apologized for the incident, according to the station, and a spokesperson said the video would be reviewed "for potential discipline." 

WLKY-TV Louisville also tweeted that its chief photojournalist was attacked:

At WIS-TV Columbia, S.C., reporter Miranda Parnell, was hit by a rock, tweeting video as she left the scene, bloodied but still reporting: 

In Pittsburgh, KDKA-TV photojournalist Ian Smith said that he was both threatened and attacked by protesters and saved by protesters, tweeting a picture of himself inside an ambulance.

Brianna Whitney, who reports for KTVK and KPHO TV Phoenix, was accosted on air and a security guard protecting station crews was attacked during a live shot.

"Those who work for local television and radio stations are often putting themselves at personal risk to serve the public interest, and they must be allowed to do their jobs without being threatened or attacked," Pai said. "I hope that they and all Americans stay safe.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists has collected some resources for journalists now on the front lines of increasingly violent and confrontational protests across the country, sparked by the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody. 

It expressed its thanks, first, for all journalists are going through, "the dangers you are facing, the sleepless nights and stress you are undergoing as you work to document these historic events." 

It also cautioned journalists not to push the envelope. "No story is worth being injured or worse, so please do not take unnecessary risks as you are covering these volatile stories," it said. 

CPJ also cited some incidents, including the arrest of a CNN crew in Minneapolis, police firing pepper bullets at a local TV news crew in Louisville, Kentucky, and protesters attacking a Fox news crew in Washington D.C. 

Among the resources CPJ pointed to was its own standing tips for covering civil disorder, as well as the Society of Professional Journalists' ethical hotline and the National Press Photographers Association's help for dealing with the stress of critical incidents.

Streaming services and cable networks used social media Saturday night and early Sunday morning to support the African-American community as protests continue to take place around the country over the death of George Floyd earlier this week in Minneapolis while in police custody.  

Netflix in a tweet said, “we have a platform and we have a duty to our Black members, employees, creators and talent to speak up.” The streaming service added, “To be silent is complicit. Black lives matter.”

[embed]https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1266829242353893376[/embed]

Amazon Prime Video also tweeted that it stands by the black community. "Together we stand with the Black community — colleagues, artists, writers, storytellers, producers, our viewers — and all allies in the fight against racism and injustice." 

[embed]https://twitter.com/PrimeVideo/status/1266942044800344065[/embed]

Hulu also tweeted: "We support Black lives. Today, and every day. You are seen. You are heard. And we are with you."

[embed]https://twitter.com/hulu/status/1266913549512658946[/embed]

Cable networks TV One and Starz also tweeted its support for Black Lives Matter as well as organizations such as the NAACP and ColorofChange.org.

[embed]https://twitter.com/tvonetv/status/1267093474303606784[/embed][embed]https://twitter.com/STARZ/status/1266927031876325381[/embed]

Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on Friday was charged with third degree murder after being filmed on May 25 kneeling on Floyd’s neck while trying to arrest him. The incident has sparked days of protests and unrest around the country. 

RELATED: CNN Crew Arrested in Minneapolis 

FCC chair Ajit Pai has told Fox & Friends that net-neutrality protesters have "crossed a line" with hateful signs that target his children.

Fox News Channel reported Monday (Nov. 27) that demonstrators had been gathering outside Pai's home after last week's release of the order to reclassify ISPs as information services not subject to mandatory access regulations and to eliminate most of the bright-line network-neutrality rules.

Signs posted on the street outside the FCC chair's home included some naming his children and asking how his kids could look him in the eye as he was "murdering Democracy in cold blood," according to a tweet by one of Pai's neighbors that was cited in the Fox & Friends story.

I have a friend that lives near @AjitPaiFCC. Net neutrality "activists" posted these signs, featuring his children's names, outside his house. Pizzas also reportedly sent to his house every half-hour last night. pic.twitter.com/jWI4gV6Hvc

— Brendan Bordelon (@BrendanBordelon) November 25, 2017

“It certainly crosses a line with me,” Pai said on the show. “Families … should remain out of it, and [protesters should] stop harassing us at our homes. ... It was a little nerve-racking, especially for my wife, who’s not involved in this space.”

Former FCC chair Tom Wheeler also had protesters outside his home before he switched to a Title II approach to net-neutrality rules -- the approach Pai is now moving to roll back -- but the demonstrators were not threatening, and Wheeler even spoke with them and posed for a photo at one point.

Protesters had taken to Pai's street back in May, as well, after the FCC voted to propose the Title II rollback, but the tone of the newest protest had an uglier edge.

Pai chief of staff Matthew Berry also condemned -- by way of retweets -- some of the hateful and even racist messages aimed at Pai and his family by opponents of his proposal, including one that said he should get cancer and his family should be executed so they could not pass his genes on.

Former FCC chair Michael Copps, now a special advisor to Common Cause, is one of the strongest critics of Pai's proposal, but he told B&C that, as he tweeted over the Thanksgiving Day weekend, there is not a place for such hateful speech in the net-neutrality discussion, and anyone who directs it toward the current chair is no ally of his.

Copps added that when he was on the commission, he was concerned about hate speech and would like to see more done to rein it in, adding that given how much uncivil dialog is going on these days, the problem should be a little more obvious.

Fred Campbell, president of Tech Knowledge, which backs Pai's Title II rollback, stood up for the chair and against the protests.

“The repeated racist attacks against FCC chairman Ajit Pai and his family in their own home during the holiday weekend are horrific," he said. "The perpetrators of this villainy should be ashamed. These attacks aren’t net-neutrality advocacy. They are terrorism.”

Free Press president Craig Aaron distanced his group, which is strongly opposed to the Title II rollback, from the attacks on Pai and condemned the tenor and tactics.

Should go without saying, but we'll say it again and again. #NetNeutralitypic.twitter.com/LiiYCgDC3e

— Free Press Action (@freepressaction) November 27, 2017

"We don't condone this type of harassment. We believe in rigorous public debate," said Evan Greer, campaign director at Fight for the Future, which called for protests of the pending vote to roll back Title II. "People who care about this issue should be channeling their anger productively and calling on their lawmakers to take action to stop the FCC vote."

Cable shares managed to weather Monday’s stock market storm in the wake of the president’s controversial immigration policies, with most shares showing slight gains as other sectors swooned.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell as much as 200 points Monday before closing down 123 points to 19,971, as the market feared increasing instability in the U.S. political system, stemming from worldwide reaction to President Donald Trump’s ban on immigrants from seven countries.

Trump’s executive order Friday, which barred refugees from Syria indefinitely and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries ( Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, Syria and Yemen) for 90 days and suspending the admission of all refugees for 120 days, touched off protests across the country over the weekend. Thousands of protesters marched in airports in cities like New York, Washington and Boston as 109 immigrants were detained under the order.

Several legislators expressed their outrage at the ban, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo; U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.)

Trump blamed the airport delays on a computer glitch that grounded Delta Airlines flights (which happened on Sunday), protesters and “the tears of [New York’s U.S.] Senator [Charles] Schumer.”

While Trump’s administration called his actions another example of his decisiveness and action, the market and the world community feared it was a signal of increasing instability, sending the Dow plunging.

Cable shares were relatively unscathed. On the distribution side, Charter Communications gained 0.4% and Comcast and Cable One were down about 1%. Programmers fared even better, with The Walt Disney Co. (1.5%); Viacom (1.2%); AMC Networks (0.5%); Time Warner (0.25%); Scrips Networks (0.04%); 21st Century Fox (0.3%); and QVC Group (0.8%) all showing gains. Discovery Communications lost 0.3% and CBS was down 0.5%.

Airline stocks were hit hard -- American Airlines stock fell 4.4%; Delta Airlines was down 4.1% and United Continental Holdings dipped 3.6% on Monday. Tech stocks also took some hits – Google parent Alphabet Inc. fell 2.6% -- after several technology chiefs spoke out against the Muslim ban.

The decline – the biggest drop in the market since Oct. 11 – mars what had been a strong run-up since Trump won the election, when investors were encouraged by promises of more jobs, tax cuts and regulatory reform. Still, even with today’s decline, the index is up about 9% since Trump won the electorate.

But according to reports, the immigration moves are forcing investors to consider whether some of the President’s policies will create and deepen negative images of the U.S. on the world stage.  

On Monday, Trump signed another executive order, this one requiring all federal agencies to remove two regulations for every new one they enact.