Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
135840618
label
American Business Media Council
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
135840618
contentType
document
title
American Business Media Council
citationUrl
identifierLocal
47
collections
Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration)
Morton Blackwell's Subject Files
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
135840618
coverageEndDate
logicalDate
1984-12-31
year
1984
coverageStartDate
logicalDate
1981-01-01
year
1981
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
bbc2e0e9538ed8f1
ocrText
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files
Folder Title: American Business Media Council
Box: 1
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
file
AMERICAN
BUSINESS
MEDIA
COUNCIL
721 Second Street, N.E. Capitol Hill Washington, D.C. 20002 202-546-4088
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael A. Valerio
Chairman
1/15/83
Paul M. Weyrich
Vice Chairman
John M. Cataldo
A CALL TO ACTION
Sen. Gordon J. Humphrey
George T. Ryan
Paul M. Lyons
President
"Broadcasters are required to present controversial issues
Harold R. Heesch
that are of importance to the public" and "when a
Secretary-Treasurer
station presents one side of a controversial issue of
public importance, it has an obligation to afford a
reasonable opportunity for the presentation of contrasting
points of view in its overall prgramming."
And just who decides whether an issue is of public
importance and controversial? - The broadcaster!!!
This is the very reason such groups as the National Gay Task Force are active in their
efforts to, "become more visible every day" .... "we want the same amount of coverage
the media gives to every other minority" "and when we create 'positive news', it
should be covered, and when we create 'negative news', we expect it not to be sensa-
tionalized and exploited."
The practice of signing and fullfilling "secret contract" between special interest
groups and broadcast stations still continues, as reported in the enclosed Phyllis
Schlafly Report of a year ago. Note the names of those organizations listed on the
front page who comprise of a Coalition that makes specific demands upon radio and
television stations that effect policy and program content.
The time has come for a gathering of equally concerned groups to join
together and discuss the problem, investigate the possibilities of a
need for a Coalition of Concerned Organizations for Better Broadcasting
(C-cobb) to be formed for the purpose of restoring to the broadcast media
many of the principles that our Founding Fathers envisioned and that join
us together in a common bond and interest!
The AMERICAN BUSINESS MEDIA COUNCIL, acting in the capacity of host for such a unified
gathering, takes pleasure in extending this invitation for your organization to send a
representative to a meeting on TUESDAY, February 1st from 10:00a.m. til Noon
at our offices for the purpose of discussion and action on this serious matter that
has had an effect on each of our group's goals and objectives.
Please complete and return the enclosed form. And remember, WE, TOGETHER,
can and will make the difference!
#
A Non-Profit, Tax-Exempt 501(c)(3) Organization
The
Phyllis Schlafly Report
VOL. 15, NO. 7, SECTION 1
BOX 618, ALTON, ILLINOIS 62002
FEBRUARY, 1982
Secret TV Station Contracts With Liberal Coalitions
In the post-Watergate era of full disclosure, it is very
By the terms of the contract, the TV station agrees to
difficult to understand why the Federal Communications
produce and air a weekly half-hour prime-time program ad-
Commission has allowed television and radio stations to con-
dressed to the needs and problems of minorities and women
tinue to sign and fulfill secret agreements with coalitions of
(such as the Equal Rights Amendment) not just a talk show,
special-interest groups organized for the sole purpose of ex-
but an entertaining program including films and other di-
ercising hidden editorial and management control over the
versions. That's only the start; the station agrees also to pro-
stations. But it has.
duce other programs which probe the problems of minorities,
Furthermore, it takes diligent detective work and un-
women, and the civil rights movement.
common perseverance to get the stations to divulge the ex-
It is abundantly clear from the make-up of the coalition
istence and text of the secret contracts. At the very least, they
and the context of the contracts that the "concerns of women"
should be a matter of public information readily available in
are defined to mean the women of the women's liberationist
the public file.
movement (represented by the National Organization for
Because of the rule against newspapers owning television
Women) and to exclude the women of the traditional women's
stations in the same area, there has been a great deal of
movement (represented by Eagle Forum).
buying, selling and exchanging of ownership of television and
The station pledges to buy for broadcast at least four
radio stations. The liberal groups that want to exert hidden
half-hour programs per year which are independently pro-
influence on the media watch the trade journals for announ-
duced by or on behalf of minorities and women, and for which
cements of such impending transfers.
the station will advance up to $20,000 for production costs.
When a sale is under negotiation, the liberals and
The station agrees to create a special community affairs
women's liberationists form a "Broadcast Coalition" under
programming unit to ensure the responsiveness of local public
some innocuous name, draw up a contract, and demand that
affairs programming to minorities and women.
the targeted station sign it. The mailed fist in the velvet glove
Under the terms of the contract, the station must produce
is that the coalition threatens to file a "petition to deny" the
nine programs a year suggested by the council that involve the
granting of a license to the new owner and thereby delay the
council's participation in conception, design and production.
sale for months or years. Since any delay is very costly, the
The contract binds the station to create the post of
station-victim signs up.
"Minority Affairs Director" and to fill it with a person who
Now let's look at the far-reaching specifics of the editorial
"has demonstrated a sensitivity to equal rights for minorities
and management control which is delivered by the station
and women." That's jargon which means that a black or a
under such a contract in to the hands of a tiny ad hoc com-
woman who does not support E.R.A. and affirmative action is
mittee of leftwing liberals and women's liberationists. The
barred from the job.
following examples are taken from a typical contract now in
The contract requires the station to hire at least seven
force against a leading television station in a major TV
new blacks in the top four job categories of officials and
viewing area. The groups in the St. Louis Broadcast Coalition
managers, professionals, technicians and sales, plus eight ad-
which forced the contract on the TV station include Common
ditional fulltime women in those categories. No one person
Cause. Grav Panthers, Women's International League for
can be counted as both black and female.
Peace and Freedom, Clergy and Laity Concerned, Coalition
Twice a year, the station is compelled to submit to the
for the Environment, ACORN, Missouri Public Interest Re-
"Citizens Advisory Council" full data by race and sex on
search Group, National Alliance Against Racism and Political
hirings, firings, promotions, resignations, employee training,
Repression, National Farm Workers Ministries, Women's
and employee recruitment. The station must provide $35,000
Lawvers Association, Women's Self Help Center, American
in scholarships for minorities and women, plus summer in-
Friends Service Committee, Gateway New American Move-
ternships.
ment, and World Federalists Association
And what does the TV or radio station get in return for
First, the ad hoc liberals set up their formal structure,
surrendering all this editorial and personnel control to a self-
variously called "Citizens Advisorv Council," or something
serving special-interest group masquerading as the "public
similar. The station pledges to have its management meet at
interest" "In exchange for the making of these undertakings,
least four times a year with this council to discuss the station's
the Coalition has agreed to withdraw its petition to deny" the
programming and employment.
granting of the license to the new owner. It's quite a racket.
AMENDMENT TO APPLICATION OF
THE TIMES MIRROR COMPANY FOR ASSIGNMENT OF
LICENSE FOR STATION KTVI, ST. LOUIS (BAPLCT-790228KF)
The following Agreement between the Times
I. CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL
Mirror Company ("Times Mirror") and the St. Louis
The Station will establish a Citizens Advisory
Broadcast Coalition ("Coalition") has been negotiated
Council ("the Advisory Council"). The members of the
pursuant to the Federal Communications Commission's
Advisory Council will consist of up to ten representatives
Report and Order in In re Agreements Between
of a cross-section of various minority, women's and other
Broadcasting Licensees and the Public, 57 F.C.C. 2d 42,
community organizations in the Station's service area
35 R.R. 2d 1177 (1975), and constitutes an Amendment
with emphasis on organizations active within the City of
to the Top-Fifty Market showing made by Times Mirror
St. Louis. Five of the members will be designated by the
in conjunction with the pending applications for as-
Coalition and five will be selected jointly by the Station
signment to it of the five television stations now licensed
and the Coalition.
to Newhouse Broadcast Corporation ("Newhouse"). As
The Station will meet with the Advisory Council
reflected in the original Memorandum Re: Top-Fifty
four times each year, twice primarily to discuss pro-
Policy dated February 26, 1979, filed with the appli-
gramming and related matters, and twice to discuss the
cations, and the previous Supplements filed on April 26,
Station's equal employment opportunity program. The
1979 and September 21, 1979, because the proposed
Station will be represented at these meetings by the
acquisition would result in Times Mirror's control over
General Manager or his designee, the Program Manager,
three VHF television stations in the Top-Fifty Markets,
Minority Affairs Director and such other Station per-
existing Commission policy requires a compelling public
sonnel as may be appropriate. The program meetings
interest showing in order to warrant a grant of the
will be designed to give the Advisory Council an op-
applications.¹ Times Mirror submits this Amendment as
portunity to comment on the Station's progamming and
part of the showing made by it in order to satisfy the
to give suggestions for upcoming program endeavors. In
Top-Fifty Market policy.
advance of these meetings the Station will provide to the
Advisory Council a proposed agenda, minutes of the last
Set forth below are undertakings made by Times
meeting and (as may be appropriate to the subject
Mirror in the areas of programming (particularly that
matter of the meeting) reports on:
responsive to the needs and interests of minorities and
1) Minority and women oriented programming
women), equal employment opportunity, and related
carried during the previous six months as well as
matters. These undertakings reflect the Agreement
plans for such programming in the future.
reached between Times Mirror and the Coalition, which
2) Participation by minorities and women in Sta-
has filed a petition to deny the application for assign-
tion programming.
ment to Times Mirror of station KTVI, St. Louis ("the
3) Public service announcements.
Station"). In exchange for the making of these under-
4) Recruitment and hiring procedures including
takings, the Coalition has agreed to withdraw its petition
information showing the effectiveness of those
to deny and to support the grant of the assignment ap-
procedures.
plication as being in the public interest and in compli-
5) Local news and public affairs programming.
ance with the Top-Fifty Market policy.2
As soon as practicable after establishment of the
initial Advisory Council, the Station and the Advisory
Times Mirror has determined in the exercise of its
Council members will agree on reasonable procedures
judgment as a present and prospective broadcast licensee
for the conduct of meetings, the terms of service and
that the undertakings set forth herein are particularly
manner of removal or replacement of Advisory Council
appropriate means of serving the public interest, con-
members and other similar matters related to the con-
venience and necessity in the area served by the Station.
duct of the Advisory Council's business.
Times Mirror makes these undertakings as representa-
The Station will provide the secretarial and other
tions to the Commission. Both Times Mirror and the
support services necessary for sending notices and for
Coalition understand and intend that these undertakings
other administrative requirements of the Advisory
will be construed and enforced by the Commission in
Council.
accordance with its policies governing licensee-citizens
agreements. See In re Agreements Between Broadcast
II. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Licensees and the Public, 57 F.C.C. 2d 42, 35 R.R. 2d
A. E.E.O. Objectives
1177 (1975). Accordingly, Times Mirror will endeavor in
To speak directly to the concern for jobs and up-
good faith to perform fully all undertakings set forth
ward mobility for minorities and women, during the
herein and will expect to be called upon to justify any
first 36 months after Times Mirror becomes the licensee
substantial deviation therefrom.
of the Station, the Station will use its best efforts to in-
crease the number of Blacks employed full time at the
I See Multiple Ownership of Television Broadcast Stations, 22
Station in the "top four" job categories of officials and
F.C.C. 2d 969. 12 R.R. 2d 1501 (1968): Notice of Inquiry and Notice
managers, professionals, technicians and sales, by adding
of Proposed Rule Making, FCC 78-203, Mimeo No. 84567 (Mar. 16,
seven Black employees in such categories, of which at
1978).
least one will be in the officials and managers category
The Coalition has also agreed to hold in abeyance all other liti-
and four in the professionals category. The Station will
gation affecting the Station or the assignment and, if the assignment
also use its best efforts to employ an additional eight full
application is granted. to dismiss that litigation.
time women employees in such four categories of which
at least one will be in the officials and managers category
program for the purpose of providing summer em-
and two in the technical (non-engineering) category.
ployment and training in such areas as sales, program
These increases will be over the levels shown in the
production and news, for two minority persons or
Station's license renewal application filed with the FCC
women annually. The Station will keep records of in-
in September, 1979. For the purpose of this paragraph,
terns on file with a view toward notifying them of future
Times Mirror relied on the SMSA work force figures in
job openings for which the Station believes them to be
Exhibit N to the assignment application which showed
qualified.
women representing approximately 41% of the work
III. PROGRAMMING FOR MINORITIES AND
force and Blacks approximately 17%. If during the li-
WOMEN
cense term there should become available new figures
A. Minority Affairs Director
that show significant increases in these levels, the Station
The Station will establish the position of Minority
will attempt in good faith to adjust its employment
objectives to reflect the new work force figures. Sim-
Affairs Director to be filled by a person who is informed
ilarly, if during the license term the overall number of
concerning and has demonstrated a sensitivity to equal
employees at the Station is significantly increased
rights for minorities and women. The Minority Affairs
(beyond any increases made in order to meet the fore-
Director will be under the direct supervision of the
going commitments), the Station will endeavor to pro-
Program Manager, and will have as one main respon-
portionately increase its above-described commitment to
sibility the development and presentation of program-
hiring additional Blacks and women in these job cate-
ming addressed to the concerns of minorities and
women.
gories. Moreover, the Station will discuss with the
Advisory Council what its employment objectives should
B. Regular Program for Minorities and Women
be for periods beyond that covered by this Amendment.
The Station will commence a weekly one-half hour
In determining whether the Station has achieved its
program which addresses the needs and problems of
objective of hiring seven additional Blacks and eight
minorities and women, such as discrimination against
additional women over current levels, no person who is
Blacks and women, the Equal Rights Amendment, and
counted by the Station toward the objective for one
violence against women. The program will be broadcast
category shall be counted toward the other.
on a fixed day of the week and at a fixed time between
The Station will make a special effort to seek out
the hours of 6:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. This program will
and qualify potential Black and women candidates for
be produced by the Station, but some programs in the
engineering positions and women candidates for non-
series will utilize program material obtained from other
engineering technical positions. Toward that end the
stations and other sources such as individual production
Station will earmark at least $10,000 per year of the
companies. The program will not be limited to a panel
scholarship funds referred to in Section V for training of
discussion, roundtable or "talking heads" type of prog-
Blacks and women for employment as broadcast en-
ram, but rather will include films, slides, live perform-
gineers. The persons so trained will be offered positions
ances or other audio and visual media forms.
with the Station for which they are qualified if such
C. Sports Coverage
positions are available, or if not the Station will assist
The Station acknowledges the public's increased
them in their efforts to find employment elsewhere
interest in the coverage of women and minority amateur
appropriate to their training.
and professional athletic events and therefore will in-
B. Reporting
crease coverage of such events to the extent deemed
Twice a year, the Station will provide to the
appropriate by the Station.
Advisory Concil a report on Station employment during
D. Investigative Reporting
the past six months that will include the following:
The Station will regularly and continuously use the
1) A job title by race and sex.
investigative report technique within the early and late
2) Applicant flow data (including hirings, firings,
evening local news shows to explore urban problems.
promotions and resignations) by race and sex.
E. Local Public Affairs Programming
3) Participation in employee training and career
The Station will use affirmative efforts to increase
development programs by race and sex.
the quantity and effectiveness of its local public affairs
4) Entities and individuals contacted as affirmative
programming in meeting needs and interests of mino-
action resources for job openings and the results
rities and women, and participation of minorities and
of those contacts.
women in such programming. To that end the Station
5) A utilization analysis of the Station's employ-
ment in relation to the SMSA labor force by race
will produce programs which probe the problems of
minorities and women, the civil rights movement and
and sex and by job categories relevant to the
the status of minorities and women in our society. Pur-
broadcast industry and to the Station's specific
suant thereto, the Station will create a special com-
organizational units.
munity affairs programming unit, with the primary goal
C. Employment Improvement
of attempting to insure the responsiveness of the Station's
In addition to the scholarship funds called for by
local public affairs programming to the needs and
Section V, the Station will pay tuition for minorities and
interests of minorities and women. The unit will have
women employed full time at the Station to take courses
the specific responsibility of producing programming
or training (e.g., night school), to improve skills directly
for the regularly scheduled program outlined in III.(B)
related to current or prospective employment at the
above, and will have such other duties as may be as-
Station.
signed to it by Station management.
D. Summer Interns
In addition, the Station will regularly purchase for
The Station will maintain a summer internship
broadcast programs independently produced by or on
behalf of local minorities or women. Subject to the
efforts to inform minority and women's groups and or-
availability of such programming and its consistency
ganizations of the availability of such announcements,
with normal broadcast standards, station policies and
including extending invitations to representatives of
practices, the Station will purchase at least four one-half
such groups and/or organizations to attend briefings at
hour programs per year. At the request of women's or
Station on the use, preparation, production and utiliza-
minority groups in the community, and upon being
tion of PSA's, free speech messages, and other public
presented with reasonably acceptable program propo-
service and public affairs programming.
sals, schedules and budgets, the Station will advance up
I. Training Dealing With the Nature and Effects of
to a total of $20,000 during the three-year period be-
Racism and Sexism
ginning with assignment to Times Mirror of the license
for the Station to meet production costs of such pro-
The Station will provide training dealing with the
nature and effects of racism and sexism on its staff. The
gramming, the amounts so advanced to be credited to-
ward the purchase price for the programming when
Station will consult with local community groups in the
completed.
planning and preparation of the training programs. In
Nine times per year, the Station will produce
addition, the Station will look to the Coalition for sug-
programs suggested by community groups that involve
gestions for conducting the training as well as for sources
to be used therewith.
participation by such groups in the conception and de-
sign of the program and, to the extent appropriate to the
subject matter, participation by members of the group or
IV. TIMETABLE
other individuals (including on-camera participation)
Following assignment of the Station's license to
and use of production techniques sugested by the group.
Times Mirror, it is contemplated that the preceding
The Station's obligation to produce such programs will
provisions of this Amendment will be implemented on
be subject to the availability of suitable program con-
the following schedule: Within 60 days, the Citizens
cepts and any necessary participation of groups and
Advisory Council will be established. Within 90 days,
individuals involved.
that Council will hold its first meeting. Within 120 days,
F. Free Speech Messages
the position of Minority Affairs Director will be filled.
The Station will promote and broadcast free speech
Within 150 days, the provisions of Articles II (C) and
messages which are 30-second or 60-second appearances
(D); III; and V will commence to be fulfilled.
by persons wishing to express a point of view on matters
of legitimate concern to the community. There will be
V. SCHOLARSHIP FUND
up to two such messages per week, repeated three times
During each of the first three years after Times
each week and distributed throughout the broadcast day,
Mirror becomes licensee of the Station, Times Mirror
including prime time. If demand merits, the number of
will provide not less than $35,000 annually to sponsor
messages per week will be increased. While the Station
scholarships for minorities and women from the Station's
will inform the community as to the nature and avai-
service area for study and training in technical and other
lability of these messages, as more fully set forth in
positions in the broadcast industry. The scholarship
paragraph H below, the Station will rely on interested
funds will be provided to an institution or institutions
persons to initiate requests for the opportunity to appear.
acceptable to the Advisory Council, but all other details
The Station will not limit the content of their statements,
of the program will be subject to the sole judgment of
except that (1) the message must be directed to a non-
Times Mirror and the Station's management.
frivolous matter of legitimate public concern; (2) the
language must be within the normal bounds of decency
VI. REIMBURSEMENT OF THE COALITION'S
and good taste and will not constitute personal attacks;
EXPENSES
(3) political candidates and their spokespersons will not
Times Mirror will reimburse, by payment 30 days
be permitted to utilize the messages; and (4) the Station
after issuance of a final order granting the assignment of
will at all times reserve the final good faith judgment
the Station's license to Times Mirror, the Coalition's le-
regarding the use of its facilities in the public interest,
gitimate and prudent costs and expenses, including at-
including all questions relating to compliance with the
torneys fees, in an amount not to exceed $38,500, to be
fairness doctrine, other FCC rules and policies, and all
listed in a schedule to be supplied.
other applicable legal requirements.
G. News Reporters
THE TIMES MIRROR COMPANY
The Station will have on its news staff at least one
Date: November 13, 1979
By: William A. Niese
full time reporter whose primary responsibility is co-
verage of matters relating to the needs and interests of
ST. LOUIS BROADCAST COALITION
minorities and at least one other full-time reporter whose
primary responsibility is coverage of matters relating to
Date: November 13, 1979
By: Nancy Schmidt
the needs and interests of women. However, coverage of
these issues will not be restricted to these reporters.
The Phyllis Schlafly Report
H. Public Service Announcements
Box 618. Alton. Illinois 62002
The Station will increase the number of public
ISSN0556-0152
service announcements proposed in its application for
Published monthly by The Eagle Trust Fund, Box 618, Alton,
transfer of license by 10 percent to 165 per week. The
Illinois 62002.
Station will continue its in-house production capability
Second Class Postage Paid at Alton. Illinois.
of producing local public service announcements and
Subscription Price: $10 per year. Extra copies available: 50
cents each: + copies S1; 30 copies $5; 100 copies $10.
free speech messages. The Station will use affirmative
REGISTRATION FORM
TO: American Business Media Council
721 Second Street, Northeast
Washington, D.C. 20002
FROM:
(ORGANIZATION)
(STREET ADDRESS)
(CITY)
(STATE)
(ZIP)
(OFFICE TELEPHONE #)
*
(REPRESENTATIVE WHO WILL BE ATTENDING)
*
The above named individual will be attending the "investigative meeting" on
February 1,1983 from 10:00a.m. til Noon. As this will be a brainstorming
session, we plan to send our ideas along for consideration by the group.
The Negative Image of Business in
The American Business Media Council
the Media is a Serious Concern
Originated in the Grass-Roots of the
Business Community
The electronic and print media are vital
to the business community as a way to
introduce and display its products and
This concept arose out of the con-
services to the American public. With
cern of a number of corporate execu-
business sponsorship the heart of
tives that their advertising dollars
commercial TV, it is difficult to under-
were being used in a negative fash-
An Introduction
stand why so many newscasts and en-
ion. These businessmen fear that
to the
tertainment programs present such a
the billions of dollars paid yearly by
negative view of business people and
American business to newspapers,
the private enterprise system. Yet -
networks, stations, and support of
that is the case!
public broadcasting are funding the
AMERICAN
degradation of business' own image
According to a well-publicized study of
and the economic system that is the
BUSINESS
television broadcasting, business
backbone of the nation. Their con-
people are being presented as
cern has been translated into action
MEDIA
foolish, greedy, or criminal almost
one-half of all work activities by busi-
- by establishing the American
COUNCIL
ness involve illegal acts the majority
Business Media Council in 1982, as
of people who run big businesses are
the eyes and ears of business fo-
criminals business is nearly never a
cused on the media. The Council is a
socially useful or economically produc-
non-profit national educational in-
tive activity."
stitute, solely supported by business
firms of all sizes, foundations, and
The American Business Media
individuals who have a personal in-
Council - A Positive Influence
terest in preserving and promoting
our nation's private enterprise sys-
The American Business Media Council
tem.
The "Eyes and Ears"
was created to help correct the negative
of Business on the Media
image of business being presented to
For further information on how you can help
the American public today. The Council
bring about greater understanding of
business in the media, contact:
acts as a positive and constructive in-
fluence, to help bring about a fair and
Paul M. Lyons, President
accurate portrayal of business and the
AMERICAN BUSINESS MEDIA COUNCIL
private enterprise system in all forms of
721 Second Street, NE
the media, especially in television
Capitol Hill
broadcasting, by serving as a catalyst
Washington, D.C. 20002
202 - 546-4088
between business and the media.
THE AMERICAN BUSINESS MEDIA COUNCIL builds greater public
understanding and support for America's enterprise system - by acting
as the "Eyes and Ears" of Business on the Media.
The Council recognizes that a free press is vital to the integrity of American society, and that the
various media have a right under the First Amendment to present any material they want; but
likewise, the Council stresses that sponsors also have the right to choose the kind of presen-
ANTI-BUSINESS BIAS IN THE MEDIA
tations their advertising dollars support.
IS BEING GENERATED BY -
one-sided "investigative journalism"
The Council looks closely at media presentations, especially entertainment and news programm-
depiction of private business as
ing on TV. It makes sponsors aware of current and future programs that impact on the image of
evil, anti-social, and even
criminal
business, both good and bad, as an aid to their advertising planning. The Council also serves the
slanted news reporting
media by making management, production, and creative personnel aware that sponsors will no
entertainment shows that
longer tolerate continued unfair and inaccurate anti-business imagery presented to the public.
feature business people
To carry out its role in behalf of responsible media presentations, the Council -
as dishonest, stupid
the "bad guys."
Analyzes the media's portrayal of business
Recognizes creators and sponsors of pres-
and the private enterprise system - by
entations that present a fair and accurate
monitoring television programming and
image of business.
other media presentations.
Keeps business and the public aware of the
Sponsors and conducts meetings between
images and attitudes created by current and
representatives of the business community
planned presentations.
and the media.
Conducts workshops with companies and
Brings to the attention of producers and
associations to help target advertising dol-
writers the desirability of accurate and un-
lars more responsibly.
biased presentations about business.
Influences business support of presen-
Develops guidelines for placement of adver-
tations that are accurate and unbiased.
tising dollars more responsibly.
Develops educational information activities
in support of business through newsletters
and alerts.