CNN’s new chief Jeff Zucker has made radical and sweeping changes since becoming president of CNN Worldwide in January 2013. His latest move,removing Soledad O’Brien as host of CNN’s morning news program Starting Point, and replacing her with former ABC award-winning anchor Chris Cuomo, hassurprised and angered many people.

O’Brien will maintain a relationship with CNN, however in a much different capacity. She has created a production company called Starfish Mediathat will produce long-form programming specials for CNN. O’Brien told the Huffington Post that the deal was a “win-win” for her. “I think it has worked out best for everyone.”

It has been reported that CNN veteran contributors, Roland Martin and Donna Brazile could be next on Zucker’s chopping block. While on the red carpet at the 44th NAACP Image Awards, Martin spoke candidly about his current role at CNN and his future relationship with the network. Martin appeared unperturbed by the uncertainty of his pending employment with CNN. In fact, he said, “I’m excited about other opportunities.” Martin, who was scheduled to meet with Zucker in days following the interview, continued, “It’s up to them if they want me to stay around.”

People appreciate me for being unapologetically black, unapologetically truthful and unapologetically Christian.

Zucker is set to meet with the National Association of Black Journalists on Monday to address CNN’s commitment to diversity. It has been notedthat Zucker has made numerous key hires since taking over, yet none of the new high-profile faces are African-American.

Los Angeles is known around the world as home to the rich and famous. Professional sports fans have no shortage of local teams to cheer on and shoppers enjoy one of the most famous streets in the world, Rodeo Drive, to flex their credit card muscle. The beaches are filled with beautiful people with beautiful bodies and eclectic characters strolling the boardwalks. Los Angeles has become a must stop for presidential candidates looking to raise millions while rubbing elbows with A-List celebrities and deep pocket supporters. In fact, over 27 million visitors stop through Los Angeles annually. Very often, on the list of “things to do” is the name “West Angeles Church of God is Christ.”

West Angeles Church of God in Christ (West Angeles) is one of the countries largest mega churchesand boasts a membership of over 25,000. Its cathedral is a Sixty-Five Million Dollar ($65,000,000.00) architectural masterpiece with a 5,000 seat sanctuary. It’s sometimes called “the church to the stars” because members Denzel and Pauletta Washington, Samuel and LaTanya Jackson, Magic Erving and Cookie Johnson, Courtney Vance & wife, Angela Bassett and Stevie Wonder, are just a few of the famous faces that regularly fill the pews. On Sundays, a Grammy Award winning choir, consisting of over 100 voices, uplifts the congregation with hymns, old popular Gospel songs and new contemporary spiritual hits. The worship is lively and energetic — typical of a Pentecostal church West Angeles staffs more than 200 paid employees and operates a Community Development Corporation (CDC) that the University of Southern California “designated the #1 CDC Organization in Los Angeles County. Since 1969, West Angeles has been led by Bishop Charles Blake and his wife of 47 years, Mae Lawrence Blake.

In light of the fact that a mega church is typically a congregational body of over 2,000 members, West Angeles would be considered a mega church on steroids — a Super Mega Church. The burning debate is whether the mega and Super Mega churches are properly using their power and prestige for the good of their community, or abusing that power and prestige for selfish, personal gains. Bishop Blake professes an agreement with the scripture to ” whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” Blake states, “The capacity of a mega church, if it is committed to the good and advancement of people, and to its true mandate, it can serve and provide resources and exert positive influence at a level that it could not, if it were not a mega church with a strong structure, and organizational strength.”

Charles Blake is one of the most influential people in Los Angeles; one of the most prominent pastors in America; and now, the Presiding Bishop of the entire Church of God in Christ (COGIC) denomination, which is estimated at having overseven million members worldwide. He is a very powerful man who appears somewhat oblivious to his domestic and international stature. Blake is a Super Mega pastor with name recognition comparable to recent Oprah Winfrey interviewees, Joel Osteen and T.D. Jakes. Yet, he purposely limits his media exposure except to further a church-based initiative. Denzel Washington once said, “Bishop Charles Blake is my pastor, mentor and a man of great integrity.” Having spoken to members, community residents and other pastors, Washington’s sentiments are shared by many.

In contrast, some mega pastors egos have grown larger than their congregations. In the ’80s, a few Super Mega pastors found themselves in Super Mega trouble. Jimmy Swaggart had a penchant for prostitutes and Jim Bakker was convicted of fraud and spent five years in jail. More recently, Creflo Dollar found himself posing for a mug shot for allegedly abusing his teenage daughter while beating her with a shoe. Even worse, Eddie Long made headlines for allegedly participating in sexual relationships with several young men. Yet, when I sat with Bishop Blake to discuss the power a Super Mega church yields, the upcoming election and the state of religion in American, it was glaringly obvious that he is a man consumed, if not obsessed, with serving his church, denomination and community with intelligence and integrity. I think Hell would freeze over before Bishop Blake was the subject of a salacious headline for doing something unethical, indecent and “unclegy-like.”

Blake preached his first sermon while a junior in high school. He’s the son of a pastor and therefore, he has been insulated with religious doctrine all of his life. Consequently, his path to pastor a church was almost predestined. However, no one, except the God Blake has preached about for over 50 years, could have known that he would grow the West Angeles congregation from 50 people, with annual revenue of $12,000.00, into a Super Mega Church and the largest COGIC church within the denomination. “A mega church pastor was not always a mega church pastor. But possibly the reason that he became so is because he effectively utilized all resources available to further his community and people and thus, people were drawn to his ministry and vision,” said Blake.

West Angeles has developed over 400 units of housing and commercial property in the inner city of Los Angeles. It has initiated and implemented scores of civic, social, financial and educational programs that have assisted thousands of congregants and Los Angeles County residents. Bishop Blake founded an international outreach ministry called Save Africa’s Children, wherein, he is the Chief Executive Officer. Save Africa’s Children, with assistance from West Angeles, has provided financial resources, food and housing to over 200,000 children in 400 foster care programs in Africa and Haiti. “The primary benefit of a mega church is that is has resources to initiate programs that are conceived for the work for the advancement of the church.”

Every four years, leading up to our country’s hotly contested presidential elections, Super Mega pastors could theoretically exert their influence on millions of worshipers. However, due to a 1954 tax reform act, commonly termed the “Johnson amendment,” all tax-exempt organizations are banned from supporting or opposing political candidates. This amendment has been challenged as unconstitutional because many argue that it infringes upon a pastor’s First Amendment rights of free speech. However, Blake is very comfortable, and agrees with the limited political influence pastors should have.

Legally, constitutionally, the church cannot and should not exert influence over the outcome of elections and individuals involved in elections. Morally and from a humane perspective, the church should take positions on issues the impact people; the poor, disfranchised, those who can not speak loudly for themselves either because of lack of resources or lack of access. We don’t take partisan or political positions nor do we endorse individuals. I agree with such a philosophy of operation, in terms of our nation. However, the church can educate people and encourage people, to participate in the electoral process.

In 2009, Blake was asked to serve on President Obama’s 25-person White House Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. He explained his appointment was “to advise and implement programs that had to do with the ecumenical community regarding churches of every denomination in their relationship with service of our nation as it relates to the White House.” He was quick to assert, that despite his being a registered democrat who is pro-life, he would be pleased to serve in a future ecumenical capacity no matter who is in the white house. “If my schedule permitted it, and I felt that it was an opportunity to be of service, I would be overjoyed to serve no matter who was in the white house because I think we should serve” he stated.

With the 25 thousand members and up to 50,000 online weekly participants, it is no surprise that lobbyists, activists, political talking heads and mainstream corporate executives vie for Blake’s endorsement of their cause, candidate, initiative or product. However, he does not condone the use of the pulpit as a mega pastor’s personal “soapbox.” He rarely uses his weekly platform to side with, or oppose stories that race the ticker, lead the evening news or trend on Twitter.

I don’t think that the pastor or the church is obligated or responsible for taking a position and articulating a position on every issue. We represent, to the best of our capacity, what we feel that our God would require us to do and say in the context of our community. Yet, every once in awhile an issue rises to the level of potentially contributing to the good or ill of our society; or an issue rises in relationship to, and connection with, those things that are most sacred to us and to what we conceive to be the Will of God. Consequently, on occasion, it is mandatory for the church to speak out and articulate its position on an issue that is before society and before our nation.

Statistics suggest that the American society is moving away from structured religion, yet Blake is optimistic. He states, “As society proceeds — I can’t always say ‘progresses’ — there is at many levels, less of a focus on spiritual development, values morals relating towards God. But for those of us who know and feel that God is an unavoidable reality that we cannot conceive or explain life on earth without referencing to a higher being with out reference to God. We feel that it is not a hopeless battle.” Many people who believe in God don’t believe in attending Church. They opine that churches are filled with hypocrites as members and judgmental leaders who ostracize non-conforming visitors. Blake believes that a mega church, because of its vast outreach, has a responsibility to open its doors and expand its level of acceptance to everyone.

At West Angeles, we love everybody and God loves everybody and to approach anyone from a perspective other than that of love, compassion, concern, desire to lift and desire to help would be an inappropriate approach. Jesus shared wisdom, truth and knowledge. He shared His power, His good influence with everyone He met so the church should do so also…The church joins with all who seek to do good and to help and lift humanity. We are strong in our conviction that Jesus Christ was a unique person on the Earth and because of that we are very faithful and committed to our convictions regarding Him and feel that we found truth within. Nevertheless, that does not mean that we deprive others of what they would think or feel is their truth. That is their privilege.

Mega pastors have become easy targets for opponents who question their financial worth in leading and managing multimillion dollar corporations, albeit, a church. Some Super Mega pastors have personal annual incomes that exceed a million dollars ($1,000,000). Bishop Blake’s salary is approximated at $227,750, which is below his corporate counterparts. As the leader of West Angeles, Presiding Bishop of COGIC and CEO of Save Africas Children, Blake works over 80 hours most weeks, including preaching two to three services every Sunday. He receives no compensation for his work with Save Africa’s Children.

Blake explained that for many years he was grossly underpaid, nevertheless, he and “Lady Mae” worked tirelessly because of their love for God, the church and the community. “More than once I’ve contributed an entire salary back to the church. As one expected to lead in the giving, whatever the pastor receives, sometimes, a greater portion of it goes back into the church” he declared. In fact, it was only after a bank’stipulation that required Blake to remain as pastor of West Angles during the life of the loan, did Blake receive a significant raise. A CPA firm was retained to valuate an equitable compensation package for an executive with Blake attributes and responsibilities. Consequently, in 2001, Blake accepted a package that was still 1/3 less than was recommended. According to his son, Elder Charles Blake Jr., most years, despite the enormous wealth and generous spirit of some of the members, Bishop Blake is the leading financial contributor to West Angeles. “In order to be credible, the pastor needs to lead the congregation in contributing and thus, must himself be on the frontline and cutting edge in giving.”

The jury is still out as to whether mega churches are good for our society or not. As a culture, we have learned that bigger isn’t always better and sometimes less is more. Mega churches do have responsibilities to their communities, state and nation. Few would disagree about the super mega work that West Angeles Church of God in Christ has done in the Los Angeles community. Consequently, when mega churches are fulfilling their social responsibilities, Thomas Jefferson’s “wall of separation between church and state” should always remained blurred.

Correction: A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that Bishop Blake’s salary is approximated at $900,000. It is actually approximated at at $227,750.

ABC’s new hit series Scandalintroduces the world to a career very few people ever knew existed: Crisis Management. Olivia Pope, played by Kerry Washington, is a crisis management guru who, throughout the episodes, will help politicians, celebrities, and corporate executives navigate through troubled times. Each week, with Washington, D.C. as the backdrop, Scandal’s supporting cast of smart, driven and sharp-tongued executives work together to tackle a high-profile crisis on the verge of destroying someone’s life or career. It’s great TV (the reviews have been mostly positive), a new profession is highlighted (a rarity in television programming) and it’s filled with intelligent dialogue and plots. The only lingering disappointment is that real life problems can’t be solved in less than an hour. As millions of viewers suspend disbelief while watching Scandal, many also dream of the possibility that someone — an Olivia Pope of sorts — would enter their lives and solve their problems. I gather that most people, me included, don’t require that our problems are solved in an hour; we just need to know that there is a plan — an exit strategy out of the crisis that is controlling our lives.

Over the past 5 years unemployment rates have consistently teetered at all-time highs andincomes tragically low; home foreclosures have depressed entire neighborhoods; personal debts have ballooned while personal wealth has dissipated; and rising gas prices serve as a daily reminder that times are tough. Millions of people have been in a state of personal crisis like never before. The truth is that some of us live our lives in perpetual crisis and are looking for ways to avoid the constant chaos. Others may think that blue skies are ahead and don’t even realize that they are in the danger zone until it’s too late. People are killing each other, killing their children and killing themselves because they are unable to cope with the crises in their lives. There could be no better time for a book to hit the market that will actually help me, and many others, manage our personal crises with the advice from a crisis management superstar — just like Olivia Pope of ABC’sScandal.

Last week, Simon and Schuster released, Good Self, Bad Self: Transforming Your Worst Qualities into Your Biggest Assets by Judy Smith. Smith, the inspiration behind Scandal and a co-executive producer of the series, is regarded as the leading expert in the field of Crisis Management Communications. She is also known as “The Fixer” for her unparallelled ability to fix the high-profile crises she has managed over the past 20 years. The Washington Post has called her the (almost) Invisible Woman — an apt moniker because while she has traditionally shied away from the public spotlight for herself, she has been a key player behind some of the biggest headliners in recent history including Monica Lewinsky, Chandra Levy, Michael Vick and Senator Larry Craig among others.

Good Self, Bad Self: Transforming Your Worst Qualities into Your Biggest Assets is a must-read for anyone who needs to see their way out of a catastrophe; has a problem that seems to rear its ugly head time after time; or is in the midst of a crisis that seems all-consuming. As I discovered from reading Good Self/Bad Self, most of us don’t understand how certain traits can be part of our good self, as well as, part of our bad self. The book explains that understanding this dichotomy is key to living a fulfilling and peace-filled life.

Smith is using her long, stellar career in crisis communication to offer insight and practical advice to the reader. “Good Self/Bad Self is a book about some of the lessons I have learned from my 25 years experience as a crisis manager from the White House, to NBC, and working on some of the most high profile news stories of the last couple of decades. My hope is that it will provide everyday people with the tools to navigate their lives when they have crises, issues or problems that may arise,” said Smith. Good Self/Bad Self methodically explains how to regain control of any crisis affecting your life and how to avoid future crisis situations. It walks the reader through different scenarios (scenarios that will be very familiar) and illustrates how to use Smith’s “POWER” model to navigate difficult life-problems.

Smith’s book focuses on seven key traits of our behaviors: Ego, Denial, Fear, Patience, Ambition, Accommodation and Indulgence. She makes the point that although we may associate positive or negative qualities with these characteristics, none are inherently good or bad. Rather, each one is a spectrum that is most effective when in balance; not when the weight shifts to one end or the other. Smith says, “problems arise when we go through life relying too much or too little on particular traits, which in turn can lead to a crisis.” Good Self/Bad Self beautifully intertwines practical self-help tools with riveting insight into some of Smith’s high-profile cases. As the crisis manager for the rich, famous and oftentimes, foolish; she has seen first-hand, the role that each of these traits play in crisis situations — for the better and for the worse. “These traits are universal and are not restricted to only those individuals we view in the media,” Smith says. “The best way to keep the drama out of your life is to use your ‘Power’ to recognize and balance these traits,” she continued.

Good Self/Bad Self defines POWER as it relates managing our character traits as:

Pinpoint the core trait: identify which one is in play.
Own it: acknowledged that it can be both good and bad.
Work it through: process the role it’s played in your life.
Explore it: consider how it could play out in the future.
Rein it in: establish how to re-achieve balance and control.

As an author of a self-help workbook, I know that the rewards promised in any book can only be reaped if the reader applies the suggested techniques. “The misuse of ‘POWER’ causes your life to spiral out of control and may cause you to crash and burn. However, If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll actually learn to see disaster looming so that you can take steps to minimize or prevent the crisis in the first place and keep of your life on track,” concludes Smith. Good Self/Bad Self: Transforming your Worst Qualities into your Best Assets has the makings of a best-seller: the celebrity crisis stories are intriguing; the self-improvement strategies are understandable; and most importantly, we all need an expert crisis manager like Judy Smith to help us navigate through these very tough times.

Good Self, Bad Self: Transforming Your Worst Qualities into Your Biggest Assets, is currently on sale wherever books are sold and on Amazon.com.

Nancy Grace owes Whitney Houston’s family a huge apology. Whitney Houston’s death will be ruled an accident; not a homicide, not a suicide, but an accident. The country has been accustomed to Nancy’s ofttimes senseless yelling and screaming about every topic she covers. If fact, the only time Nancy Grace was graceful and gracious was when she was on Dancing With the Stars and needed the votes to advance. This time, Grace went too far with her initial speculations that Whitney Houston might have been murdered. Her ranting statements were without any proof and spewed forth in a frail attempt to create drama and controversy. She desperately wanted to be part of the biggest story in the world and went on CNN to spark an uproar. Grace said, “I’d like to know who was around her, who if anyone gave her drugs — following alcohol and drugs — and who let her slip or pushed her underneath that water. Apparently no signs of force or trauma to the body.” She continued, “who let Whitney go under her water?” These outlandish comments were without merit and in complete disregard to the feelings of the family and people who loved Whitney Houston. There was an instant backlash and CNN later distanced itself from Grace’s comments, as anchor Don Lemon said: “That is not CNN’s reporting. We don’t know that to be true.”
Grace remained defiant even after learning that the death would not be considered a homicide. Shestated, “It is not a homicide and I’m thankful for that, but I still want the truth.” Grace was aware that Los Angeles assistant chief coroner Ed Winter confirmed to ABC that officials found prescription bottles, but said there wasn’t anything “alarming” or “out of the ordinary” about them. Yet, she continued to lead her one-woman attack against Whitney Houston. She even went so low as to interview singer, Darlene Lane (a very close friend of the family and a “godmother” to Houston) and suggested foul-play. Her first question was quite insidious. She asked, “A lot of people are attacking Whitney Houston and the morning after claiming her own lifestyle was the cause of death. I disagree with that Ms. Love. I wonder about all the people around her using her and why she ended up under water, Darlene Love.”

The truth is, “a lot of people” were not attacking Whitney Houston. Grace, for the first time, in a long time, wasn’t gaining momentum, nor any followers. She was traveling a long, dark, mean-spirited road to villanize Whitney Houston alone. Those who chose to malign Ms. Houston found out the hard way that there would be repercussions for assaulting the legacy of an American Icon like Whitney Houston. John & Ken, a popular duo of KFI-AM (640), a Los Angeles-based radio talk show, were suspended by the station for comments they made about Houston. On the show, they talked about Houston’s past drug problems, and said that she was “cracked out for 20 years.” Appropriately, KFI management released a statement admonishing the actions of their star radio personalities. “John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou have been suspended for making insensitive and inappropriate comments about the late Whitney Houston,” KFI said in a statement. “Management does not condone, support or tolerate statements of this kind.” Soon thereafter, Kobylt, speaking on behalf of the duo, said, “We made a mistake, and we accept the station’s decision. We used language that was inappropriate, and we sincerely apologize to our listeners and to the family of Ms. Houston.”

Nancy Grace, too, should have already offered an apology. She knows personally that creating drama for the sake of ratings can be emotionally harmful and sometimes deadly to her targeted family. In 2006, Grace came under fire when the mother of a missing toddler, Melinda Duckett, killed herself the day after an attacking interview with Grace, wherein she berated Duckett. Duckett’s death prompted her family to file a wrongful death suit against CNN and Grace claiming that the intense media interest, and the interview with Grace, particularly, was the reason for her suicide. The case was settled by setting up a $200,000 trust fund devoted to finding her son Trenton.

Whitney Houston’s journey to success, her voice, her music and her graciousness are what made her great. Her tumultuous private life, her problems and her weaknesses are what made her human. Whitney Houston will be missed by her family, her fans and her colleagues who continue to share stories of how Whitney Houston changed their lives. Come on Nancy, do the right thing — say “I’m sorry.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tanya-young-williams/nancy-grace-whitney-houston_b_1311158.html