United Church of Christ Files Actions Against CBS and NBC

http://www.mediachannel.org/views/dissector/affalert297.shtml

United Church of Christ Files Actions Against CBS and NBC

Mediachannel.org NEW YORK, December 9, 2004 -- The United Church of Christ
today filed petitions with the Federal Communications Commission, asking
that two network owned-and-operated television stations in Miami be denied
license renewals for failing to provide viewers "suitable access" to a
full array of "social, political, esthetic, moral and other ideas and
experiences."

WFOR-TV (a CBS station) and WJVT-TV (an NBC station) -- whose operating
licenses are currently up for FCC review -- are being challenged because
"there is substantial and material question" as to whether the stations'
parent companies, Viacom, Inc., and the General Electric Company, have
operated the stations in the public interest, the petitions state.

The action stems from a much-publicized decision by both networks to deny
an advertisement that makes clear the church's welcome of diverse, even
marginalized, segments of the population. CBS and NBC have said the
all-inclusive ads are "controversial" and, therefore, amount to "issue
advocacy," something the networks have said they do not allow.

In a signed statement that accompanies the petition, the Rev. John H.
Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president, said, "The religious,
ethical and moral right of members of UCC churches and other citizens to
have access to diverse programming has been harmed by the refusal of NBC
and CBS to carry , as well as by their failure to carry
programming reflecting the full range of religious expression in the
United States on their networks and on their owned-and-operated stations."

Similarly signed complaints from a group of UCC members in south Florida
make the case that those who live in the network stations' viewing area
are being denied a positive message of inclusion.


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Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

the looney GOP christians.

What can we do to help?

Seems to be terribly threatening to the Fundies that someone is actually telling the American public that they have spiritual choices.

GO UCC! I donated toward this effort.

I expect it to get ugly, though. When progressive churches get uppity, they are going to be attacked by such political action committees as the SBC (no offense to my Baptist friends ... but Richard Land is a political operative first ... and a 'minister' second... and has at least partied with those at the Council for National Policy).

(apparent to anyone who still has a functioning brain anyway)

NBC and CBS were wrong not to show the commercials.

another example of the race to the bottom of the barrel in American mass media.

I wish turn the other cheak would work sometimes. I'd exect this from freeper churches because I don't view them as christians anyway. This is just a stunt that wont acheive anything

the ad or the legal action?

personally, I think both are quite appropriate