BET news program ‘The Truth’ starts Friday

BET starts a weekly news program on Friday described as a cross between Keith Olbermann and Bill Maher with a black perspective.

Called “The Truth with Jeff Johnson,” it stars a BET personality who has also been an activist for the NAACP and People for the American Way. It airs at 11 p.m. EST on Fridays (8 p.m. on Comcast cable channel 56 in Spokane).

BET, the most-watched network aimed at blacks, will also air Barack Obama’s speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination on Aug. 28 live.

Besides election coverage and commentary on the week’s news, Johnson said he wanted “The Truth” to address topics like the use of vouchers for private schools and health issues particularly relevant to African Americans.

BET has been criticized frequently in the black community for cutting back on news-oriented shows. But Johnson said much of the criticism comes from people who don’t watch BET, and don’t see how news has been incorporated into existing shows.

It was one of the few networks to cover Darfur in depth, he said.

“I have been encouraged by the direction we’ve been going in,” Johnson said.