10/22/2001
Brace yourselves, media bias fighters. This is undoubtedly the
most hideous media bias outrage yet discussed on fairpress.org.
The news organization formerly known as the Clinton News Network
can now be referred to more correctly at the Criminal News
Network. They have managed to arrange an "interview" with the
evil one, Osama bin Laden.
In announcing this "coup" on Tuesday, 10/16/2001, Wolf Blitzer
attempted to rationalize the network's thinking:
"Someone claiming to represent al Qaeda has asked Al Jazeera and
CNN to submit written questions for Osama bin Laden - questions
they say bin Laden will answer on video tape and send back to
Al Jazeera. This proposal came in to Al Jazeera, which then
notified CNN.
CNN has some questions we would like to put to Osama bin Laden,
but first we want to be absolutely clear about this process:
- We want to stress that CNN has no information about where bin
Laden is or whether he is alive or dead.
- We do not know how al Qaeda communicates with Al Jazeera or how
Al Jazeera plans to get the questions to bin Laden.
- We agree to no prohibitions or preconditions from Osama bin
Laden's organization or from the Al Jazeera television channel.
- By submitting our questions, we are making no commitment to air
bin Laden's response. We will look at the tape, if there is a
tape, and decide how much or how little to run. If we believe
his comments are not newsworthy, we will not run any of them.
- We claim no exclusivity over this tape, and we will allow other
news organizations to make their own judgments on how to use
bin Laden's answers."
Here are CNN's six questions:
- Your spokesman has praised the September 11 terrorist attacks
that killed thousands of innocent people and threatened to
carry out more attacks involving planes and tall buildings.
How can you and your followers advocate the killing of innocent
people?
- What was your role and the role of the al Qaeda organization in
the September 11 attacks?
- What was your role and the role of your organization in the
subsequent anthrax attacks in the United States?
- Did any of the September 11 hijackers of their accomplices receive
al Qaeda financial support or training at al Qaeda bases in
Afghanistan, and was any other government or organization
involved?
- In the past, you called on you followers to acquire weapons of
mass destruction-nuclear, chemical and bioiological weapons.
Do you or your followers have any such weapons and, if so, will
those weapons be used?
- The vast majority of Muslim and Arab leaders, including Muslin
clerics and Palestinian authority leader Yasser Arafat, say there
is no justification in Islam for the terrorist attacks you
advocate. They have denounced you, your followers, and your
self-declared holy war. How do you respond to their criticism?
The CNN web site states, "We have no idea if bin Laden will answer
these questions, and we intend to run only what we think is
newsworthy. We will report back to you as this process unfolds."
Media bias activists would be very surprised if CNN did not find
some way to declare a large portion of this so-called interview
"newsworthy". It's only a question of how low they will go to
increase their Neillson ratings.
Brent Bozell of the Media Research Center has issued a
furious press release with six questions of his own for CNN.
- Knowing that terrorists thrive on media exposure to spread
their propaganda, and that the interview was instigated by
al Qaeda, why would you allow your international network to
be used by a wanted terrorist and known killer?
- Have you sought assurances from the government of the United
States that this endeavor will not in any way jeopardize the
war against terrorism or cause further loss of life?
- Given that bin Laden is a liar - he first denied having anything
to do with the terrorist attacks on the U.S. - why do you think
he will be honest with CNN?
- Will you independently verify bin Laden's statements before you
put them on the air?
- If CNN had existed 60 years ago would it have interviewed and
aired comments from Emperor Hirohito, the man who ordered the
attack on Pearl Harbor?
- If CNN had existed 60 years ago, would it have given a forum to
Adolf Hitler to explain his hatred of Jews and Christians?
The
MRC CyberAlert for 10/18/2001 concluded its item on this
outrage with this statement: "I'm pretty confident CNN has a
much better chance of getting Osama bin Laden to answer its
questions then the MRC has of having CNN address ours."
Well, then! I suggest we bury CNN in e-mail and letters
demanding that they answer Bozell's very astute questions.
CNN
P.O. Box 105366
One CNN Center
Atlanta, Georgia 30348
Phone 404-827-1500
FAX 404-681-6363
CNN Feedback
Washington Bureau:
820 First Street NE, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20002
Phone 202-898-7900
FAX 202-898-7923
Owner of CNN:
AOL TimeWarner
75 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10019
Phone 212-484-8000
Read more here:
Newsmax.com: CNN Getting bin Laden 'Interview'
CNN's Version
Ed. Note: Although CNN & AOL TimeWarner officials came out with
an insultingly wrong-headed policy about "terrorists" being called
"alleged terrorists", the Media Research Center's analysis shows
that on-air personnel never complied with that policy and
it has since been rescinded. Unfortunately, this tale has now
reached the level of an urban legend with many people still
believing this is CNN's policy. I urge all media bias activists
who respond to the above "outrage" not to drag unsubstantiated
rumors into your letters and e-mails to CNN. Also, I will
remind everyone that it was Reuters who referred to terrorists as
"freedom fighters", not CNN. You may wish to read to the
following to reassure yourselves that this is correct.
MRC CyberAlert 10/01/2001, CNN "Terrorist" Update
MRC CyberAlert 09/28/2001, CNN's "Alleged Terrorists"
MRC CyberAlert 09/25/2001, No "Terrorists" at Reuters
