"Did He just Say ‘Nigger’?--PBS KIds Sprout Responds
This is Jenni Glenn, posting on behalf of Sprout. Our quotes have been taken out of context in the above post by Dr. Dunn, and we feel it is important for you and your readers to see our complete response to her:
"Dear Dr. Dunn and Mr. Muhammad,
We have taken your concern very seriously, reviewed the episode in question, and thoroughly researched the issue. Included below is a direct response from Jocelyn Stevenson, the producer of What’s Your News?. Ms. Stevenson is a respected professional who has worked in children’s television for over thirty years as a writer, producer and creator of programming for young children. Her credits include Sesame Street, Barney & Friends, Bob the Builder, The Magic Schoolbus and many more.
As you will see below, the word in question that the child used in this episode is “never.” However, we do acknowledge that it is sometimes difficult to understand children’s speech patterns. Therefore, in an effort to prevent any potential for future misinterpretation of the word “never” in this episode, we will edit this segment accordingly.
Following is the response from Ms. Stevenson:
“In response to the query from the viewer who says that she heard one of the children in the “Broken Ankle” episode of What's Your News? use an offensive, racially-charged word, the word the child used was "never." The exchange, which happened during a behind-the-sofa puppet show that the boy Michael was putting on with his friend Liam in order to cheer up his sister Claire (who has a broken ankle), went like this:
(Michael is playing the part of Mad Snake and Liam is Monster Moose. We don't see the boys because they're behind the sofa, but do see the stuffed toys - a snake and a moose with home-made fangs - they are using as puppets.)
LIAM (OS): Don't you hiss at me, Mad Snake!
MICHAEL (OS): I can if I want to! Hssssssss!
LIAM (OS): This is your last chance to give up!
MICHAEL (OS): Never!
LIAM (OS): Roar!
Michael clearly says the word "never." What's Your News? is designed to connect young children around the world with their stories, their news. Four to six year old children are emerging from the family environment into the big, wide world. And that world can feel scary and overwhelming. What's Your News? was created to help children make the home-to-world transition with a feeling of connection – an understanding that there are other children out there who are doing what they do, feeling what they feel. It celebrates and honors a child’s experience of just being a kid.
Not only is the misinterpretation of the word used in this episode a complete antithesis of our vision, but it is also impossible that such repellant and offensive language would get past all the experienced professionals who watch the footage and listen to the sound for each and every episode of the series we make for children, including and especially Sprout’s Standards and Practices Department. " --Jocelyn Stevenson
We hope that you can now rest assured knowing that such an offensive word would never be uttered on any of Sprout’s respected, gold-standard programming. We thank you for being a loyal and engaged Sprout viewer and hope that we have answered all of your concerns.
Sincerely,
Jenni Glenn
VP, Communications and Marketing
Sprout
This is Jenni Glenn, posting on behalf of Sprout. Our quotes have been taken out of context in the above post by Dr. Dunn, and we feel it is important for you and your readers to see our complete response to her:
"Dear Dr. Dunn and Mr. Muhammad,
We have taken your concern very seriously, reviewed the episode in question, and thoroughly researched the issue. Included below is a direct response from Jocelyn Stevenson, the producer of What’s Your News?. Ms. Stevenson is a respected professional who has worked in children’s television for over thirty years as a writer, producer and creator of programming for young children. Her credits include Sesame Street, Barney & Friends, Bob the Builder, The Magic Schoolbus and many more.
As you will see below, the word in question that the child used in this episode is “never.” However, we do acknowledge that it is sometimes difficult to understand children’s speech patterns. Therefore, in an effort to prevent any potential for future misinterpretation of the word “never” in this episode, we will edit this segment accordingly.
Following is the response from Ms. Stevenson:
“In response to the query from the viewer who says that she heard one of the children in the “Broken Ankle” episode of What's Your News? use an offensive, racially-charged word, the word the child used was "never." The exchange, which happened during a behind-the-sofa puppet show that the boy Michael was putting on with his friend Liam in order to cheer up his sister Claire (who has a broken ankle), went like this:
(Michael is playing the part of Mad Snake and Liam is Monster Moose. We don't see the boys because they're behind the sofa, but do see the stuffed toys - a snake and a moose with home-made fangs - they are using as puppets.)
LIAM (OS): Don't you hiss at me, Mad Snake!
MICHAEL (OS): I can if I want to! Hssssssss!
LIAM (OS): This is your last chance to give up!
MICHAEL (OS): Never!
LIAM (OS): Roar!
Michael clearly says the word "never." What's Your News? is designed to connect young children around the world with their stories, their news. Four to six year old children are emerging from the family environment into the big, wide world. And that world can feel scary and overwhelming. What's Your News? was created to help children make the home-to-world transition with a feeling of connection – an understanding that there are other children out there who are doing what they do, feeling what they feel. It celebrates and honors a child’s experience of just being a kid.
Not only is the misinterpretation of the word used in this episode a complete antithesis of our vision, but it is also impossible that such repellant and offensive language would get past all the experienced professionals who watch the footage and listen to the sound for each and every episode of the series we make for children, including and especially Sprout’s Standards and Practices Department. " --Jocelyn Stevenson
We hope that you can now rest assured knowing that such an offensive word would never be uttered on any of Sprout’s respected, gold-standard programming. We thank you for being a loyal and engaged Sprout viewer and hope that we have answered all of your concerns.
Sincerely,
Jenni Glenn
VP, Communications and Marketing
Sprout
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