WaPo dives into 'study' finding that Shark Week features way too many white men named Mike

Sarah D | 1:32 PM on December 06, 2022

Having solved all other problems, the Washington Post can now turn its attention to the things that really matter. Like, the inherent pro-white-male, anti-shark bias in Discovery’s annual “Shark Week” tradition:

Researchers say Discovery’s programming overwhelmingly featured White men as experts while emphasizing negative messages about sharks.https://t.co/Fs71Qov5WG

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 6, 2022

Alrighty then.

https://t.co/2PpLxvhkJd pic.twitter.com/sa0YMpoZ7t

— Chad Felix Greene (@chadfelixg) December 6, 2022

Did a shark write this https://t.co/GBxs1n377e

— jimtreacher.substack.com (@jtLOL) December 6, 2022

Please. A shark wouldn’t be caught dead writing something so stupid.

No, this was written — as is way too often the case — by a woke busybody. Read it and weep (or at least slam your head against your desk):

[Allegheny College biology professor Lisa] Whitenack led a team of researchers to examine hundreds of “Shark Week” episodes that aired between 1988 and 2020. In a study published last month by the Public Library of Science, their research claims that Discovery’s programming emphasized negative messages about sharks, lacked useful messaging about shark conservation and overwhelmingly featured White men as experts — including several with the same name.

The programming featured more White experts and commentators named “Mike” than women, said David Shiffman, a conservationist at Arizona State University who was a co-author of the study.

…

Discovery did not respond to a request for comment on the study’s findings. The company told NBC Boston that it wouldn’t comment on a study “that has yet to pass any scientific approvals” after a preliminary version was presented 2021. It has since undergone a scientific review, Whitenack said.

Well, good for Discovery. They’re absolute right not to dignify WaPo with a comment on the “study’s” findings. Imagine giving the tine of day to a “study” concluding that there are too many people named “Mike” involved and not enough positive affirmation for the shark community.