April 30, 2004

Some areas won't see Nightline listing of war dead

From the Indy Star:

NEW YORK -- The "Nightline" roll call tribute to U.S. troops killed in Iraq will not be seen tonight in several cities because station owner Sinclair Broadcast Group called the broadcast "motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq."

Sinclair, which owns eight ABC stations, including those in St. Louis and Columbus, Ohio, and pursues what some critics have called a conservative agenda in its newscasts, said its stations wouldn't air the program.

"While (Sinclair) honors the memory of the brave members of the military who have sacrificed their lives in the service of our country, we do not believe such political statements should be disguised as news content," the Maryland company said in a statement. It owns or operates 62 stations reaching nearly one-fourth of all U.S. TV viewers.

ABC responded in a statement that "we respectfully disagree" with the decision, calling the listing not a political statement but "an expression of respect, which simply seeks to honor those who have laid down their lives for this country."

Political feuding over the broadcast started almost immediately after ABC on Tuesday announced plans to read the names and show the pictures of the more than 500 U.S. service members killed in Iraq hostilities. The program was expanded to 40 minutes so that host Ted Koppel can include more than 200 troops who died in noncombat situations.

Veterans on Thursday expressed mixed views.

"It's a shame that this is America, and we can't watch what we want to on American airways," said Ray Stallings, a Vietnam War veteran in Tallahassee, Fla., after it was reported, erroneously, that the ABC station there would not telecast "Nightline."

But Miles Epling, another Vietnam veteran and state adjutant for the American Legion in Charleston, W.Va., said: "I don't think it says anything against the country to do a show like that, but I don't really understand the purpose of why they're doing it. . . . I feel sorry for their families. They already went through the process of a funeral. They don't need to see this again."

Posted by thorswitch at April 30, 2004 04:28 AM | TrackBack


Comments

Well, I'm glad I don't work for WCHS anymore. I decided to go someplace with a little else ego -- so I went to work for the state.

I'm surprised that they're allowing it in Tallahassee, though. While the Sinclair website lists WTXL as operating under an "outsourcing agreement", they still count it as one of their 8 ABC affils.

Posted by: Brad at April 30, 2004 08:07 AM

Why criticise network owners for exercising freedom? Long live freedom of the press. Here's why: (1) If the network really is hiding the truth, the very nature of our system provides incentive for other networks to reveal it. One exposed cover-up can make a journalist's career. (2) If someone's views truly are bogus, then thank God that they are free to express their views in newspapers and broacasts, exposing their error so the rest of us can decide for ourselves.

Also, the comment from the the self-proclaimed vietnam vet from FL is misleading. Besides the fact that some falsely claim veteran status to add weight to their own views, the FL "veteran's" statement is simply false. In truth, we are absolutely free to watch whatever we want, and networks are free to show whatever they wish and withdraw whatever they choose. Should the network choose to break laws governing the press, they may pay fines--but they are still FREE to violate those same laws. Peace out. Amen.

Posted by: sean at May 5, 2004 10:32 AM

Hey Kriselda -- we miss you, everything okay? You've been waaayyy too quiet.

Posted by: Rayne at May 22, 2004 06:15 PM