Americans For A Safe Israel (AFSI) has filed petitions with the Federal Communications Commission challenging the broadcast renewal license applications of six Pennsylvania affiliates of the NBC television network because, according to the AFSI, the network violated federal law by presenting distorted coverage of the war in Lebanon.
In the nearly 100-page petition, the New York based AFSI filed with the FCC, the six NBC affiliates, including KYW-TV in Philadelphia, will be charged with biased and inaccurate reporting, according to Laurie Wagman, a co-plaintiff in the license renewal challenge and a native of Philadelphia.
“Being actively involved in publishing, I know the importance of fair and accurate reporting,” Wagman, who is founder of American Theater for Youth and publisher of magazines for educators, told a news conference. “NBC News violated this journalistic tenet repeatedly during its reporting of the Lebanon conflict and apparently continues to do so. We as citizens must take the necessary steps to assure a more objective and unbiased media.”
Wagman was joined at the news conference by Peter Goldman, the executive director of the AFSl, who is producer and writer of a AFSI documentary, “NBC in Lebanon: A Study of Media Misrepresentation.” The 58-minute film demonstrates how NBC allegedly distorted coverage of the war in Lebanon after the Israeli invasion in June, 1982.
The documentary serves as the basis of the AFSI petitions against the six stations. Besides KYW-TV, petitions have also been filed against WPXI-TV of Pittsburgh; WICU-TV of Erie; WJAC-TV of Johnstown; WGAL-TV of Lancaster; and WBRE-TV of Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre. The NBC Network in New York has repeatedly refused to comment on the AFSI petitions. Similar attempts to deny station renewal licenses to NBC affiliates were instituted several months ago against stations in New York State and New England.
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