Nbc to Reexamine Use of ‘alleged’ in Broadcasts Dealing with Bias Against Jews in USSR

The National Broadcasting Co, has indicated it will be more careful in its broadcasts on its use of the word “alleged” with reference to discrimination against Jews in the Soviet Union. In a letter to Rep. James H. Scheuer (D.,N.Y.) who had complained about the usage of “alleged” by WRC-TV, an NBC affiliate in Washington, in its reporting on the plight of Soviet Jews, NBC’s President Reuven Frank responded:

“I think you are right, I have told the people directly involved; I am about to put out a general instruction to the entire NBC staff on the use of “alleged” as a lazy way of seeming to say something but at best says nothing, at worst casts doubt where none should be cast.” Frank added in his letter, which the Congressman made available to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today, that he did not hear the specific WRC broadcast to which Scheuer had referred “but I have heard others.” Newspapers and news agencies other than NBC have used “alleged” or the “it is said” phraseology when reporting the circumstances of Jews trying to emigrate from the Soviet Union.