Weighing in on the NPR Juan Williams Firing

Being a PR professional who interacts with many members of the media on a regular basis, I feel compelled to weigh in on the recent firing of Juan Williams from NPR's news department for stating his "opinion" and "feeling" about traditionally dressed Muslims on aircraft.

At the outset, the fact that he worked for two very different news organizations simultaneously,  must be mentioned and this in itself was poor judgment on all sides, for two such diametrically opposed news outlets to be sharing a contributor. Also relevant to this is that he served NPR for 10 years and they were well aware that he was moonlighting for the Fox News Channel every so often, over the last few years.

I believe that when all is said and done, NPR will discover that it has made some serious errors in this unceremonious firing of someone who on the surface, seems to be a respectable, honorable and honest journalist, who holds his profession in high esteem and upholds its tenets more than most.

Regardless of what was said or how NPR chose to interpret the comment, the manner in which he was terminated was reprehensible. I have some experience in this area, when I was escorted from my office for a trifling reason, a few weeks AFTER I had submitted my resignation to an employer. So incensed was my new incumbent boss, that her only lifeline in the department who could help her complete her duties, was abandoning her and leaving her to fend for herself, that she was determined to get rid of me in the most embarrassing way possible. After much wrangling I got what was due to me, but I could have sued and walked away wealthy. I chose to be more dignified than that and I wasn't working in a country obsessed with litigation either.

Not quite the route taken by NPR. Being escorted from a building is one thing, but being fired by cellphone and email two days after the 'offensive' comment, is clearly cowardice. No exit interview, no discussion and certainly no direct apology from NPR has been forthcoming for Mr Williams for this treatment yet. Not only did the CEO openly discuss his firing at a public venue the very next day, but she slandered him in the process, by referring to his "personal opinion" as a matter between him and his therapist or publicist!

At this point, I have a confession to make. A week after 9/11, my husband and I were New York-bound, on a small plane and seated next to me was a very nervous, sweating and non-English speaking Muslim man aged about 30, clutching a large backpack on his lap, who refused anything to eat or drink and who would not let go of his bag. Under normal circumstances, I would not have paid him any mind, but after the carnage of the previous week, I was on high alert. I was also very aware that the country was still trying to process the horrific event in their minds and so were not paying him much attention either. People were in denial, mostly ignorant about the ramifications of what had actually happened to their country. I remember whispering to my husband, "If he moves and tries to do anything violent - get him!" It was a harrowing journey and something I would rather forget about. I now realize that this was over-reactionary, but the experience had a profound effect on me - and obviously I was not alone in this perception, whichever way I try to rationalize it now.

Juan only shared what millions of travelers the world over  think about when they travel by air these days. This is the reality of the situation. Any traumatic experience stays with one for years after the event, no matter how much we would want to forget it and move on. We all know that all Muslims are not terrorists, but that doesn't make the fear any easier to discard. I still have the fear of being almost killed by a driver hitting me from behind 26 years ago, every time a car comes up fast behind me. No drivers are out to kill me, but the memory and fear still persists. And 9/11 hasn't been a one-off event either. Muslim extremists have continued to sow terror all over the world since then and will no doubt continue to do so.

NPR argues that they cannot and will not accept their news staff, sharing their personal views on any level. It would be an interesting exercise to audit NPR programs and presenters to see if in fact, all concerned adhere to this so-called indifferent and non-partisan behavior.

This brings me to the issue of the right to an opinion. It is my understanding that the Constitution of the United States' Bill of Rights and Amendments, is very clear about Freedom of Speech for all its citizens: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..... (I guess that includes radio & TV as it hadn't been invented at that stage!)  and I wonder how this plays out in the contract that NPR had with Mr Williams. When are we going to be able to discuss all of the racial, religious, political issues facing us in a rational and non reactionary way. Its about being grown up. I recall reading once that the US could be regarded as the "teenagers" of the world. Maybe its time to put on our big-girl / big-boy panties and move forward. Enough with every single issue being a non-mentionable subject. Only when we are able to face our deep seated guilt and ignorance of the past, can we begin to grow up. No one dares make a political joke or comment about anything for fear of 'offending' someone's delicate sensibilities. This is the land of the free. Lets keep it that way. And be grown-up about it.

If the media is going to actively censure its news departments from sharing their "feelings", could this not be a slippery slope towards censorship in the future?