BET To Air Interview With President Obama

BET and Centric will air a news special featuring a one-one-one White House interview with President Barack Obama on Sept. 26.

The special, A BET News Exclusive: The President Answers Black America, President Obama will address the current unemployment crisis and economy specifically to an African-American audience with former KTLA anchor Emmett Miller, network officials said.

Miller talk to the President about the increase of unemployment among African-Americans since taking office, the current economic crisis, The American Jobs Act, the political landscape around the 2012 Presidential Election and a personal account of his biggest challenges and achievements.

The special will premiere on BET at 7:30 p.m. and on Centric at 8 p.m.

"We are thrilled to be the platform where the President will exclusively address our community," said Loretha Jones, President of Original Programming at BET Networks in a statement. "This conversation is particularly important given the impact the economic environment is having on African-Americans."

The special is the first in a series of BET News specials the Network will produce bringing an African-American perspective to the 2012 Presidential Election cycle.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.