CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil has come under fire after a contentious interview with author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, in which he pressed Coates on whether he believed Israel had a right to exist. The interview reportedly prompted a group of CBS employees to complain, leading to a meeting between Dokoupil and the network's in-house Race and Culture Unit.
CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil has faced criticism and scrutiny after a confrontational interview with author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, in which he questioned Coates' views on Israel's right to exist.
CBS News Host Tony Dokoupil Slammed for "Extremist" Interview with Pro-Palestinian Author
The interview, which aired on Monday, centered around Coates' new book, "The Message," which explores his travels to Palestine and his experiences witnessing the consequences of nationalist narratives. During the conversation, Dokoupil bluntly stated that parts of Coates' book read like something you "would find in the backpack of an extremist."
Dokoupil's intense questioning angered a group of CBS News employees, who approached executives with concerns about his handling of the interview. Consequently, Dokoupil was required to meet with both the CBS News standards and practices team and the Race and Culture Unit.
CBS News Host Tony Dokoupil Slammed for "Extremist" Interview with Pro-Palestinian Author
The New York Times reported that the conversation focused on Dokoupil's tone, phrasing, and body language during his interview with Coates.
CBS News and Dokoupil have not yet responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
CBS News Host Tony Dokoupil Slammed for "Extremist" Interview with Pro-Palestinian Author
The CBS News Race and Culture Unit, according to the CBS website, plays a crucial role as a reviewer, incubator, producer, and library. Its primary focus as a reviewer is to ensure that stories are presented with the appropriate context, tone, and intention.
Following a review, CBS leadership assured offended staff members that the interview did not meet the company's "editorial standards," as reported by the Free Press, which obtained audio of the staff meeting.
During the meeting, CBS News news-gathering chief Adrienne Roark emphasized that while tough questions will still be asked and accountability will be held, it will be done objectively, requiring everyone to check their biases and opinions at the door.
Dokoupil, a convert to Judaism, has previously written about his experiences and beliefs in a 2014 piece for the New Republic.
The interview has sparked controversy within the media and beyond, raising questions about the appropriate boundaries of questioning in interviews and the role of bias in media coverage.
