| Refusal to air iraqi dead criticized { March 19 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/05/01/442901.htmlhttp://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/05/01/442901.html
Refusal to air recitation of war dead criticized AP 2004-05-01 03:13:12
LOS ANGELES -- Criticism of a TV station group's refusal to air a Nightline recitation of U.S. war dead in Iraq swelled yesterday with Senator John McCain, soldiers' relatives and news media watchdogs speaking out. McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam, sent a strongly worded letter to Sinclair Broadcast Group about its decision to pull yesterday's Nightline from seven stations across the U.S.
"There is no valid reason for Sinclair to shirk its responsibility in what I assume is a very misguided attempt to prevent your viewers from completely appreciating the extraordinary sacrifices made on their behalf by Americans serving in Iraq," the Arizona Republican said in the letter yesterday.
In a 40-minute broadcast, ABC News anchor Ted Koppel was to read aloud the name of a U.S. service man or woman killed in the Iraq war as their photo appeared on the screen along with their name, military branch, rank and age.
Nightline planned to include more than 500 killed in action in Iraq since March 19, 2003, as well as more than 200 non-combat deaths.
Military Families Speak Out, whose anti-war members have relatives or loved ones in the military, condemned Sinclair's decision, saying it was "dishonouring our troops and their families."
The group's website posted one member's letter of opposition.
"The Sinclair Broadcast group is trying to undermine the lives of our soldiers killed in Iraq. By censoring Nightline they want to hide the toll the war on Iraq is having on thousands of soldiers and their families, like mine," wrote Jane Bright of West Hills, Calif.
Her son, Sgt. Evan Ashcraft, was killed in July near Mosul, Iraq.
"We should be honouring all the men and women who have served," said Ivan Medina, 22, of Hinesville, Ga., who was with the U.S. army in Iraq and whose twin brother, Irving, died there.
"My hat goes off to Nightline."
Free Press, which describes itself as a national media reform group, sent its own letter to Sinclair questioning whether the company's actions violate U.S. government rules governing "stewardship of the public airwaves."
The letter, signed by Free Press managing director Josh Silver, said the group intends to encourage viewers served by Sinclair stations to weigh in when TV licence-renewal hearings are held.
Organization president Robert McChesney questioned Sinclair's motives.
"It's a politics-slash-business decision that Sinclair made because they don't want to (anger) the White House."
Sinclair said it would pre-empt Nightline on its ABC affiliates. It said the program "appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq."
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