A gutsy New York businessman, who puts his money where his mouth is, tried to buy time to air a TV spot to urge an end to federal deficits. Would you believe! All three TV networks refused to air this spot for which New York businessman J. Peter Grace was willing to pay commercial rates.
The networks proudly announced their censorship on the TV evening news. The reason, as explained by the CBS spokesman, was: “The subject matter is controversial.”
“Controversial”! It is patently ridiculous to assert that the networks have a policy of not airing controversial subject matter. All the networks program a steady diet of highly controversial subject matter.
There is more to this refusal than met Dan Rather’s eye. The real reason the networks censored the ad is that it is against network policy to air anything with editorial content that the network did not produce. That’s how the big-media liberals maintain their control over what Americans think, and also over what they think about.
The network liberals don’t want Americans to think about what Peter Grace is thinking about, namely, cutting federal spending; the liberal line is, that’s impossible so we must raise taxes. The networks don’t want Americans to think that network news coverage and documentaries about the Vietnam War were dishonest; that’s why they refuse to air Accuracy in Media’s superb new documentary called “Vietnam: The Impact of the Media.”
The networks don’t want Americans to think about Soviet military superiority, so they consistently refused to sell time to the American Security Council for its several splendid documentaries, and instead aired only network documentaries promoting the false liberal notion that the Soviets are peace-loving. The networks don’t want Americans to think about building a U.S. space shield to shoot down enemy missiles (Reagan’s SDI), so they refused to sell time for programs or spots on High Frontier, and instead air only programs that lead Americans falsely to believe that the only possible result of nuclear attack would be the devastation pictured in ABC’s “The Day After.”
Usually, the networks don’t give a reason for refusing to air programs or spots over which they don’t have editorial control. Sometimes, they give an obviously untrue excuse such as claiming that it is “too controversial” or “not up to our standards.” But once upon a time, CBS let the cat out of the bag and admitted the real reason.
In 1966, Schick Safety Razor Company produced a first-rate, dynamic musical called “Up With People.” It was endorsed by Walt Disney, John Wayne, and others as great entertainment; it received standing ovations whenever it was performed live; and it was aired on many local television stations.
But it was banned on the networks and on their owned-and-operated stations. The then CBS Vice President Craig Lawrence sent a telegram to Schick spelling out the CBS policy that no sponsored program may express an editorial or ideological viewpoint unless the program is produced by CBS itself and expresses CBS’s own editorial viewpoint.
Lawrence’s telegram explained: “CBS has long had a policy against the inclusion in the entertainment program, of this kind of editorial views on current issues… It is CBS policy not to sell time to sponsors for the expression of such views.”
That is one of the most revealing statements ever made by an insider in the U.S. communications media. It contains two vital admissions: (1) that CBS will not permit its network or the stations it owns to air “this kind of editorial views,” that is, the kind of editorial views included in “Up With People”; and (2) that CBS will not “sell time to sponsors” to express views of the sponsor’s choice.
The songs in “Up With People” did have some editorial content. Here are some typical lyrics from the program CBS censored: (1) “Freedom isn’t free; you’ve got to pay a price, you’ve got to sacrifice, for your liberty.” (2) Be patriotic; our country is worth fighting for; support our fighting men. (3) Be alert to protect our country “like Paul Revere.” (4) The financial rewards of life go to those who work hard and stand on their own two feet. (5) “You can’t live crooked and think straight; clean up the nation before it’s too late.”
This monopoly control of news exercised by the TV networks is unacceptable in a democratic society whose functioning depends on the free interchange of news and opinion. The First Amendment belongs to all the American people, not just to the TV networks.
That’s why the Fairness Doctrine should be maintained, enforced, and expanded.
