Reforming ABC News Coverage: Calling the Media to its Proper Role
The Kucinich campaign is not going to let ABC get off easily. A new page is up on the campaign website:
“If you want to rock the vote, you have to rock the boat!”
- Dennis Kucinich
Reforming ABC News Coverage: Calling the Media to its Proper Role
On December 9, Congressman Kucinich publicly stood up to big media on a nationally televised debate. Dennis told debate moderator Ted Koppel, "I want the American people to see where media takes politics in this country." The crowd cheered. "We start talking about endorsements, now we're talking about polls and then talking about money. When you do that you don't have to talk about what's important to the American people."
As reported by the Associated Press, New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairwoman Kathy Sullivan was "thrilled" by Dennis' statement, and said she wished the candidates had spent even more time talking about the issues important to New Hampshire voters.
On December 10, ABC News pulled its fulltime embedded reporter from her job of traveling daily with the campaign, a move that entailed canceling an in-depth interview of the candidate that had been planned for the next week in Iowa. Also on the 10th, after the Kucinich campaign sent out a press release about the change, ABC said the same reporter would still cover the campaign part-time and without the traveling. On the 11th, ABC's reporter informed the campaign that she would be traveling some, including a trip to Iowa to conduct the interview this weekend or next week.
ABC News has also taken its reporters off fulltime embedded status with the campaigns of Rev. Al Sharpton and Carol Mosley-Braun.
At issue here is whether the media will usurp the role of the people in narrowing the field of candidates. The airwaves belong to the people. The people of this country are increasingly turned off by politics and disinclined to vote. Biased and superficial coverage leaves people thinking that their vote does not matter and that they have nothing to vote for.
To express concerns to ABC, contact the following:
ABC Audience Response line at 818-460-7477. Press 4 to leave a message.
ABC News Washington DC Bureau at 202-222-7777, fax 202-222-7684
ABC News Political Director Mark Halperin at 212-456-4545, fax 212-456-2795, email mark.halperin@abc.com
ABC News President David Westin at 212-456-6200, fax 212-456-4292
ABC President Alex Wallau at 818-460-5500, fax 212-456-2795, email alex.wallau@abc.com
You can write letters to:
ABC News
47 W 66th St
New York, NY 10023-6290
Dennis Kucinich is the candidate for media reform.
Kucinich would ensure that the public's airwaves benefit the public. He would require ample free television time for candidates and would break-up of the media monopolies that restrict political debate.
Only Dennis Kucinich has filed formal objections with the FCC to their deregulation of the media.
Only Dennis Kucinich has held hearings on Capitol Hill on what the media weren't telling people about a war.
Only Dennis Kucinich will, as President, bust the mega-monopolies that are choking off public discussion and reducing voter turnout.
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