日本の先を行く?と思われるアメリカのメディアでも、政治的圧力による検閲や情報操作と戦っている人たちがいます。
アメリカ時間の今晩4月30日金曜夜、ABCの報道テレビ番組、Nightlineで、イラクで亡くなった500人を越える兵士たちの名前が、その遺影と共に読まれる予定になっています。
ところが4月29日、親会社のSinclair Broadcast Group は、今回の番組が "アメリカのイラクにおける努力を非難・攻撃しようとする政治的企図によるものである" として、8つのABC系列会社に番組を差し替えるよう命じました。
ABCニュースは、Nightlineの今回の放送は "国家のために命を捧げたこれらの人たちを讃えるため" のものであると、このSinclairの見解に反論しています。
Sinclair Broadcast Groupの会社役員たちは共和党を強く支持しており、2004年に政治献金をした主要テレビ・ラジオ局20局の中でも、最も保守的なもののひとつとして知られています。
2004年にはその政治献金65,434ドル中、98%が共和党立候補者に流れています。
SinclairのCEO及び社長であるDavid Smithは、個人献金として許される最高額の2000ドルを、ブッシュの2004年の再選キャンペーンのために献金しています。
以下はMedia for Democracy 2004から送られてきたメールの転載です。
(以下、英語に自信の無い方はコチラ;単語の意味がポップアップします)
ところで、Media for Democracy 2004って?
Media for Democracy 2004 is a non-partisan citizens' initiative to monitor mainstream news coverage of the 2004 elections and advocate standards of reporting that are more democratic and issues-oriented. Media for Democracy educates and activates a growing base of concerned citizens by delivering alerts -- breaking news and analysis of mainstream media election coverage. Join Media for Democracy as we build a constituency of people across the political spectrum that can put news executives on notice when their reporting strays from best practices for fair coverage of elections.
The project is run by MediaChannel.org, a media issues supersite, featuring criticism, breaking news, and investigative reporting from hundreds of organizations worldwide. Media for Democracy taps the expertise of MediaChannel's 100 U.S. affiliates and more than 125,000 users in a targeted campaign to prevent the types of media mistakes -- such as early, erroneous and politically biased projections -- that plagued the 2000 elections.
(以下メールの転載です)
Sinclair Broadcast Group Halts Honoring of War Dead
On April 29, Sinclair Broadcast Group ordered its eight ABC affiliates to pre-empt the April 30 "Nightline" broadcast of the reading of the names of US military personnel killed in Iraq, saying the program is "motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq."
If the Sinclair Broadcast Group's track record of political contributions is any indication, executives at the media group have allowed their own "political agenda" to dictate the decision to censor Nightline. Sinclair executives give overwhelmingly to Republican causes and candidates. Of the top twenty TV and Radio companies to make political contributions in 2004, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, is among the most conservative, giving 98 percent of its $65,434 in political contributions to GOP candidates. Sinclair CEO and President David Smith personally gave $2,000, the maximum individual contribution, to President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign.
In a fax to press Thursday, the Baltimore-based media company, whose holdings include 62 local TV stations, said that by airing Friday's Nightline program, "ABC is disguising political statements as news content."
During the ABC News broadcast, anchorman Ted Koppel will read aloud the names of more than 500 U.S. service men or women who have lost their lives in the war, as a corresponding photo appears on the screen along with that person's name, military branch, rank and age. In an emailed statement, ABC News "respectfully disagreed" with Sinclair's view of the program, saying that the Nightline broadcast is intended "to honor those who have laid down their lives for this country."
It's clear to Media for Democracy that the only "political agenda" in play is that of the Sinclair executives, who decided to blackout a television report intended to honor war dead.
Demand that Sinclair reverse its decision and air the program. Their snub of Nightline -- and their disingenuous rationale for the action -- smacks of censorship and political manipulation.
In an election year, we expect our media to report on all facets of the war in Iraq in a manner consistent with the standards of balance and accuracy that they themselves espouse.
Thank you,
Timothy Karr
Media for Democracy 2004
You can take action on this alert either via email (please see directions below) or via the web at:
http://www.mediafordemocracy.us/campaign/nightline/w8issu7rqmw5bk
Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this important election-year effort.
http://www.mediafordemocracy.us/campaign/nightline/forward/
w8issu7rqmw5bk
We encourage you to take action by November 2, 2004
Broadcaster 'Agenda' Darkens the Screen
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this alert by going to the following URL:
http://www.mediafordemocracy.us/campaign/nightline/w8issu7rqmw5bk
Just choose the "reply to sender" option on your email program.
(このオプションはこれがメール転載のため取れません。
websiteを利用して下さい)
Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
Sinclair CEO David Smith
WCHS News Director Terry Cole
WEAR General Manager Carl Leahy
WGGB Station Manager Kevin Leroux
WLOS Station Manager Les Vann
WSYX Station Manager John Quigley
WTXL General Manager Chris Butterick
WXLV Station Manager Jim Hanning
----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME----
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],
Media for Democracy and its affiliated members demand that Sinclair broadcasters reverse the decision to block the airing of "The Fallen".
It has become clear that the only "political agenda" behind this decision is that of Sinclair executives. ABC's Nightline has staked its reputation upon balanced and accurate reporting. Sinclair Broadcast Group, on the other hand, has demonstrated itself to be biased in favor of one political party at the expense of a fair airing of other views and perspectives.
Sinclair's claims that ABC has "a political agenda" and that Nightline "is disguising political statements as news content" strike of hypocrisy given the groups own clear political bias.
Sinclair Broadcast Group owes it to the viewers that they serve to reverse their disingenuous decision to block the airing of Nightline.
----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT----
Sincerely,
Phila Hoopes
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http://www.mediafordemocracy.us/mfd/join.html?r=ld_DslY16pPIE
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