Eye on CBS: The living and the dead

The Oregonian ^ | September 19, 2004 | David Reinhard

[connectthedots]

Reinhard is the token conservative columnist at the Oregonian.

[tvn]

MEDIA ETHICS PROJECT SEEKS FCC RULING AGAINST CBS NEWS FOR RATHERGATE


Media Ethics Project (“MEP”) of New York today petitioned the FCC to sanction CBS News and its parent organization, Viacom, Inc., for its recent broadcast of news reports based on forged documents.

In announcing the FCC filing, MEP Chairman William L. Whitely stated: “Most people familiar with Dan Rather’s reports have seen solid evidence from various credible sources showing the documents to be forged. Yet, day in and day out, CBS has stubbornly continued to maintain that the memos are authentic. This supremely arrogant conduct violates the public trust and FCC rules and policies. Viacom cannot be allowed to flaunt the Commission’s rules in this manner. ”

MEP seeks a ruling by the FCC finding that the deliberate actions of CBS and Viacom maintaining the authenticity of the documents, constitute broadcasting of falsified, faked, distorted or staged news reports in violation of Commission policies. MEP is asking the FCC to sanction Viacom including imposing fines and ordering forfeiture of one or more broadcast licenses .

Mr. Whitely added that, “This whole episode must be regarded as a remarkable failure of management. It is truly sad that the proud traditions of professionalism of CBS News, the division built by the likes of Morrow, Severeid, Reasoner, Mudd and Cronkite, have been allowed to slowly fade away. In their place is an organization where unprincipled ego, bias, negligence, partisanship and vindictiveness apparently determine the setting of management policy. Such changes are not in the best interest of CBS, the CBS affiliates and CBS shareholders, nor, most certainly, are they in the public interest as well. Staying to this course, the House that Paley Built will likely become the Network that Rather Wrecked.”

MEP has asked that the FCC expedite its consideration of the group’s Petition for Declaratory Ruling against CBS News.

See a full copy of the MEP Petition for Declaratory Ruling at http://mediaethicsproject.blogspot.com/ or www.mediaethics.8k.com

With MEP's filing, the FCC now has a formal Petition to review requesting that CBS be found guilty for violating Commission policy prohibiting the broadcasting of falsified, faked, distorted or staged news reports as contrary to the public interest.

All interested parties will now be able to contact the FCC to request that it take immediate action on the MEDIA ETHICS PROJECT Petition For Declaratory Ruling Against CBS News.

FCC Contact Information:

Chairman Michael K. Powell: Michael.Powell@fcc.gov ---
Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy: Kathleen.Abernathy@fcc.gov --- Commissioner Michael J. Copps: Michael.Copps@fcc.gov ---
Commissioner Kevin J. Martin: KJMWEB@fcc.gov ---
Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein: Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov

[small voice in the wilderness]

What turns this from "impossible" to very possible indeed is one very telling item: Where is CBS' outrage over being had??? They are not behaving in a way that would be expected if they were completely duped.

For this reason alone, they look VERY complicit. IMO

[CGVet58]

correct on everything except your choice of verb. The left doesn't want us to make the same "mistake"; they want us to recreate their greatest "victory" over their enemy, the United States of America.

[Gator113]

I am amazed that this came from the Oregonian!!! Just one more indication that the left has decided to eat their own.

[dalight]

Agreed.

Still their new strategy is laid bare. And a counter message that resonates needs to be shared.

From the Sunday Morning Talk Show thread:

Bill ristol states that Kerry is focusing on Message of Iraq = Vietnam. Brit Hume stipulated that we should get out.. argg

[Plutarch]

It's more likely that a "Get Bush" newsroom culture compromised professional checks and standards and allowed the network to be had.

And this is being charitable.

[truthkeeper]

testing bttt