Media face test in rush to judgment

NEW YORK — Talk-show host Tavis Smiley isn’t just upset with PBS for firing him on sexual misconduct charges. He’s upset about his depiction in the news media.

Smiley said he believes that if he hadn’t talked publicly about romantic relationships with subordinates at his company, the behavior that led to his downfall, the public would make little distinction between him and those who have been accused of sexual assault or rape.

Conflation of different forms of misbehavior is one of the issues facing news media organizations covering the fastmoving story of sexual misconduct that went into overdrive with investigations into Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein’s behavior.

“We have lost all sense of nuance and proportionality in how we cover these stories,” Smiley said.

Actor Matt Damon recently told ABC News that all accused men shouldn’t be lumped together because there’s a spectrum of behavior. There’s a difference between a pat on the rear and child molestation, he said.

Actress Alyssa Milano tweeted in reply that victims are hurt by all forms of misconduct.

Still, as the rush of stories about misbehavior slows down, the point Damon raises will loom larger. Debate over the consequences of Sen. Al Franken’s groping continues despite his resignation. The New York Times noted the difficulties in deciding whether to fire reporter Glenn Thrush following his unwanted drunken advances on women. Thrush was suspended and stripped of his White House beat.