8:15 A.M. FRIDAY UPDATE:
An annual “Babe Bracket” that ranks female journalists in Little Rock will return to 103.7 The Buzz, despite criticism from some local broadcasters who say it objectifies women.
RJ Hawk, co-host of the radio station’s The Show With No Name, said in a tweet Friday morning that the “people have spoken.”
The promotion, now in its 21st year, is set to coincide with March Madness.
In a blog post Thursday, Austin Kellerman, news director at NBC affiliate KARK-TV and Fox affiliate KLRT-TV, had called for the end of the “Babe Bracket,” an annual contest that pits female broadcasters against each other in the market.
“The days of referring to educated women who serve as role models to our children as “babes” are over. It’s time to evolve with the times,” Kellerman wrote.
The women are not nominated themselves but rather chosen by 103.7 The Buzz. Some have opted out in the past, and direct participation isn’t required.
After news of the promotion's return, Kellerman tweeted: "It's not over. I'm confident they'll still do the right thing. #RIPBabeBracket"
Among others at KARK and KLRT critical of the contest were meteorologist Natalie Walters, executive producer Mark Moseley and morning show co-host D.J. Williams.
"It would nice not to have my colleagues and friends voted on as if it were like which piece of meat looks better. Don’t make it a pride thing Buzz friends," Williams wrote on social media.
Alyse Eady, a former morning show host on CBS affiliate KTHV-TV who now works for Fox 5 in Atlanta, said in a tweet that she was “sending hugs” to 103.7 The Buzz.
Eady won in the “Babe Bracket” contest in 2016.
Laura Monteverdi, who now co-anchors KTHV's morning show, said on Facebook that she is not offended by the radio promotion.
"Any strong, empowered and talented woman is a babe in my opinion. You rock ladies," Monteverdi said.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A TV news director in Arkansas’ capital city is calling for the end of the “Babe Bracket,” a radio station's annual contest that ranks female broadcasters in the market.
Austin Kellerman, who leads the news coverage at NBC affiliate KARK-TV and Fox affiliate KLRT-TV, wrote in a blog post that while seemingly harmless to some, the 103.7 The Buzz promotion is “blatant objectification.”
“The days of referring to educated women who serve as role models to our children as ‘babes’ are over. It’s time to evolve with the times,” Kellerman wrote.
The “Babe Bracket,” which pits female broadcast journalists against each other in four rounds and gives listeners the opportunity to vote, coincides with March Madness.
The women are not nominated themselves but rather chosen by 103.7 The Buzz. Some have opted out in the past, and direct participation isn’t required.
Kellerman told Arkansas Online that his blog post Thursday was spurred from remarks by 103.7 The Buzz show host Tommy Smith, who had at one point discussed ending the contest.
"With everything that's happened over the last year to empower women, I felt the need to speak up and lend my voice," Kellerman said.
Radio personalities on “The Show With No Name” contended on-air Thursday morning, with Kellerman as a guest, that their station’s “Babe Bracket” isn’t solely based on appearance.
“The right thing to do is give the listeners what they want,” show co-host RJ Hawk said on Twitter, asking people to call in and express their opinions.
Hawk said Kellerman was using his remarks for “self-promotion” and called him “misinformed” on the annual contest.
Natalie Walters, a meteorologist at KARK and KLRT, said she appreciated her news director speaking out.
"It honestly makes me upset thinking that a group of men sat around and voted professionals into a bracket based on their looks," Walters said.
Last year’s “Babe Bracket” winner was Janelle Lilley, a weekend anchor at Little Rock ABC affiliate KATV-TV.
“They deserve to be celebrated — just not like this,” Kellerman concluded in his blog post.
Kellerman said broadcasters at KARK and KLRT are still allowed to participate, adding that he wants to "empower them to make the decision they're comfortable with."
Attempts to reach KATV were not immediately returned. CBS affiliate KTHV-TV declined to comment.