Broadcasting chain bans televising of Nightline’s tribute to troops killed in Iraq
Sinclair Broadcast Group cites TV show’s ‘political agenda’ in airing the memorial
marinecorpstimes.com
By Gordon Trowbridge
Times staff writer
Viewers in eight television markets will not see Friday’s broadcast of ABC’s “Nightline” – during which anchor Ted Koppel will read the names of hundreds of U.S. servicemembers killed in Iraq – because of a national broadcasting chain’s decision to bar the episode.
Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Thursday that the eight ABC affiliates it owns would not show Friday’s “Nightline” because reading the names “appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq.”
To justify the decision, a statement on the company’s Web site cited the fact that Koppel will read the names of the more than 500 U.S. troops killed in Iraq, and not the names of Americans killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and similar attacks since.
“Nightline” officials told The Associated Press that the broadcast is intended simply as a tribute to fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.
The ABC broadcast will use names, hometowns and photographs provided by Army Times Publishing Co., the publisher of this Web site.
Among Sinclair’s ABC stations is one in Asheville, N.C., where some family members of servicemembers killed in Iraq said the company’s decision is misguided.
“That’s ridiculous,” Beth Whitener told the Asheville Citizen-Times. Whitener’s husband, 19-year-old Army Pfc. Joey Whitener was killed Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Mosul, Iraq.
“I think it’ s more than appropriate to show those faces because they were over there fighting for our freedom. I think they have a right to be honored and shown on TV.”
Brenda Franklin, whose husband, Army Staff Sgt. Bobby Franklin, 38, was killed in August in an explosion in Baghdad, said the public needs to see the faces of the soldiers who have died in Iraq.
“We have paid a lot,” she told the newspaper. “My family has paid a lot. I think everybody needs to see the faces.”
In addition to its Asheville station, Sinclair owns ABC affiliates in St. Louis; Columbus, Ohio; Greensboro, N.C.; Charleston, W.Va.; Mobile, Ala. (which also serves the Pensacola, Fla., area); Springfield, Mass.; and Tallahassee, Fla.
Nightline’s decision has come under criticism from some conservative commentators for the decision to read the names. Koppel, who was embedded with the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division during its drive to Baghdad last year, was widely praised by television critics for providing some of the most compelling coverage of the war.
Sinclair, based in Hunt Valley, Md., owns 62 television stations across the country. Its Web site is www.sbgi.net; its phone number is (410) 568-1500.
Viewers who want to give feedback to ABC News can call the network at (212) 456-7777 or e-mail nightline@abcnews.com.
From another source:
STATEMENT OF THE SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP
The ABC Television network announced on Tuesday that the Friday, April 30th edition of “Nightline” will consist entirely of Ted Koppel reading aloud the names of U.S. servicemen and women killed in action in Iraq. Despite the denials by a spokeswoman for the show the action appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq.
While the Sinclair Broadcast Group 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. As a result, we have decided to preempt the broadcast of “Nightline” this Friday on each of our stations which air ABC programming.
We understand that our decision in this matter may be questioned by some. Before you judge our decision, however, we would ask that you first question Mr. Koppel as to why he chose to read the names of the 523 troops killed in combat in Iraq, rather than the names of the thousands of private citizens killed in terrorists attacks since and including the events of September 11, 2001. In his answer, you will find the real motivation behind his action scheduled for this Friday.
ABC NEWS STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO SINCLAIR
We respectfully disagree with Sinclair's decision to pre-empt "Nightline's" tribute to America's fallen soldiers which will air this Friday, April 30. The Nightline broadcast is an expression of respect which simply seeks to honor those who have laid down their lives for this country. ABC News is dedicated to thoughtful and balanced coverage and reports on the events shaping our world with neither fear nor favor -- as our audience expects, deserves, and rightly demands. Contrary to the statement issued by Sinclair, which takes issue with our level of coverage of the effects of terrorism on our citizens, ABC News and all of our broadcasts, including "Nightline," have reported hundreds of stories on 9-11. Indeed, on the first anniversary of 9-11, ABC News broadcast the names of the victims of that horrific attack.
In sum, we are particularly proud of the journalism and award winning coverage ABC News has produced since September 11, 2001. ABC News will continue to report on all facets of the war in Iraq and the War on Terrorism in a manner consistent with the standards which ABC News has set for decades |
