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Posted on 09/20/2004 2:37:53 PM PDT by tvn
Media Ethics Project (“MEP”) of New York today informed counsel for Viacom, Inc. that, based on the actions announced earlier today by CBS News, MEP will moving to dismiss its Petition for Declaratory Ruling, previously filed with the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). The MEP Petition sought sanctions against CBS News and its parent organization, Viacom, for its recent broadcast of news reports by anchorman Dan Rather based on use of documents, which a steadily growing number of critics have alleged to be forgeries.
CBS announced that it will shortly commission an independent review board to determine the process “by which the report was prepared and broadcast to help determine what actions need to be taken.” CBS stated that it will make the board’s findings public.
MEP had informed Viacom counsel on September 13 , 14 and 17 that it would dismiss its FCC Petition in the event CBS referred the documents controversy to an independent review. MEP contacted Viacom counsel this afternoon to confirm that its dismissal motion will be filed tomorrow with the FCC.
In announcing the dismissal action, MEP Chairman William Whitely stated: Mr. Whitely added: “What is most unfortunate about this incident has been the reluctance of CBS News to recognize the new realities of the mass media world. Quite obviously, the Internet, with its countless bloggers, as well as Drudge, Free Republic, World Net Daily, Little Green Footballs and other ever-expanding information sites, has become a vibrant and highly involved participant in news gathering and dissemination. CBS News must come to accept this new force, and not reject it with disdain and arrogance.”
(Excerpt) Read more at mediaethics.8k.com ...
The watch is cute, but enough already on so many posts.
LOL!
As long as Rather is still on board, CBS is still under the microscope. What he did is inexcusable. The media loves to damn cops who've been on the job for decades when they do something wrong, because 'they should have known better'. Now Rather skates using the same premise in reverse.
Rather, you should have known better. Pulling a fraud after this many years of experience, would get any other employee canned in a heartbeat!
You have no crediblity left. Bye... 'you are the weakest link!'
Man it took this to initiate an ethics complaint, must be at least a 1000 other opportunities.
I won't ... my complaint was filed before their's and shall remain so
How nice. Another Site Nanny™.
yawn....
They're getting away with murder at CBS. Who will appoint the members of this "independent" review board? As someone else already pointed out, a private citizen would be prosecuted instantly for this behavior. Why does Dan Rather et al. at CBS get a pass?
What ethics?
The media has no ethics.
A crack whore has more ethics than dan rather.
And in my opinion is a better human being.
I am happy to add my name to the official compalint file...I am not comfortable with a mere verbal apology...I have been involved over the years with a number of justicible disputes and a mere acknowledgment of an unacceptable element is not responsive...specifically, I understand that 6 documents were submitted in furtherance of the story...you may call the story about the dog that did not bark but what about the two that were not used? why? if they were poisoned but from the same tree, why were they not be presneted when four were? This should not be concluded by a mere apopogy from Mr. Dan...what is the source of the six docs, which were warranted by CBS to be docs from a gov't official relating to a gov't employee? I rather suspect that the whole story is a transmission through the DNC/Kerry to discredit a sitting president. I have much about which to disagree with Pres. Bush but still a licensed owner of the airways owes the public a tad more than an "oops."
Donate to Swift Boat Vets for the Truth HERE.
Sign Petition against CBS & Dan Rather HERE.
My Campaign Button Page
and My Toons Page [Updated 9-18 / 6:20PM CST] 
Not good enough. A full apology for the report is required, not just "regret" at having used the documents.
The "independent review board" is necessary but not to "determine the process...." The board must determine why Dan Rather and CBS NEWS chose to run with a story supported by false documents that were easy to detect as being fake; a story supported by a former Democrat politician and Kerry fund raiser once involved in a bribery and stock fraud scandal; a story designed to tilt the election toward John Kerry.
In other words, WHAT DID DAN KNOW AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT?
Just sent an email to these folks,suggested they change name to No Ethics Medic Project. I feel better but I really want to know how much of Abu Graib, forgive speeling please, was dummied up by that Mapes woman.
Ickkkkk
Further Information With Respect to the Decision of Media Ethics Project To Dismiss Its Petition Against Viacom and CBS
In response to comments, Media Ethics Project has determined that it would be helpful to provide additional information concerning its decision to dismiss its Petition for Declaratory Ruling against CBS. As shown below, this decision by MEP at this particular stage in the continuing controversy was practical, appropriate, and necessary.
First some background:
At the start of the CBS public debate over the documents, MEP contacted Viacom counsel in writing on two separate occasions to urge the appointment of an independent board to review the facts and circumstances related to the 60 Minutes II broadcast. When the CBS “Clarification” was issued last Wednesday (September 15), including a refusal to refer the matter to such a board, MEP immediately filed its Petition with the FCC, seeking sanctions against Viacom and CBS..
On Friday (September 17), MEP again wrote to the Viacom attorneys, informing them that in the event the company decided to have the issues reviewed by an outside authority, MEP would dismiss its Petition, reserving the right to re-file in the future.
When CBS announced the commissioning of an independent board at noon today, MEP immediately contacted Viacom lawyers to confirm that a notice will be filed with the FCC tomorrow dismissing the Petition. Again, MEP confirmed that it will expressly reserve the right to re-file the Petition should events warrant.
MEP views the appointment of an independent board as a very positive step. Facts will be gathered, studied and assessed. A report will be written and distributed. This will provide persons and organizations such as MEP the opportunity to review additional evidence and fact-finding concerning the forged documents and related actions of Viacom and CBS personnel, consultants, and others.
MEP will review the information collected and decisions reached by the independent board. Following its assessment, MEP will make a decision, which will determine whether it will re-file its Petition.
Two additional points:
FCC Action.
From a practical point of view, it can be expected that if MEP had not decided to dismiss its Petition, the FCC, on learning of the CBS action announced today, would have either dismissed the MEP filing as moot, or held it in abeyance, pending the completion of the review by the independent board.
Preservation of Evidence
MEP has already informed counsel for Viacom and CBS that, in view of the filing of the Petition, steps should be taken by attorneys at each company to assure that all relevant documents and other records, including computer files, be collected and safe guarded to be available for submission in response to future subpoena requests. This notice having been given and appropriate steps having been taken, no evidence will be lost should the Petition or other legal action(s) be commenced following the independent board review.
Conclusion:
Viacom-CBS have certainly not avoided prosecution. They have merely proceeded to the next stage, which will involve an investigation by an independent board. This process will produce a public report.
Other stages will follow, such as the potential re-filing of the MEP Petition and/or other federal and state actions. In the end, as long as matters are open to public scrutiny, it should be expected that all of the facts will be established, motivations will be ascertained, responsibility and guilt will be determined, and responsible parties will be sanctioned.
Further Information With Respect to the Decision of Media Ethics Project To Dismiss Its Petition Against Viacom and CBS
In response to comments, Media Ethics Project has determined that it would be helpful to provide additional information concerning its decision to dismiss its Petition for Declaratory Ruling against CBS. As shown below, this decision by MEP at this particular stage in the continuing controversy was practical, appropriate, and necessary.
First some background:
At the start of the CBS public debate over the documents, MEP contacted Viacom counsel in writing on two separate occasions to urge the appointment of an independent board to review the facts and circumstances related to the 60 Minutes II broadcast. When the CBS “Clarification” was issued last Wednesday (September 15), including a refusal to refer the matter to such a board, MEP immediately filed its Petition with the FCC, seeking sanctions against Viacom and CBS..
On Friday (September 17), MEP again wrote to the Viacom attorneys, informing them that in the event the company decided to have the issues reviewed by an outside authority, MEP would dismiss its Petition, reserving the right to re-file in the future.
When CBS announced the commissioning of an independent board at noon today, MEP immediately contacted Viacom lawyers to confirm that a notice will be filed with the FCC tomorrow dismissing the Petition. Again, MEP confirmed that it will expressly reserve the right to re-file the Petition should events warrant.
MEP views the appointment of an independent board as a very positive step. Facts will be gathered, studied and assessed. A report will be written and distributed. This will provide persons and organizations such as MEP the opportunity to review additional evidence and fact-finding concerning the forged documents and related actions of Viacom and CBS personnel, consultants, and others.
MEP will review the information collected and decisions reached by the independent board. Following its assessment, MEP will make a decision, which will determine whether it will re-file its Petition.
Two additional points:
FCC Action.
From a practical point of view, it can be expected that if MEP had not decided to dismiss its Petition, the FCC, on learning of the CBS action announced today, would have either dismissed the MEP filing as moot, or held it in abeyance, pending the completion of the review by the independent board.
Preservation of Evidence
MEP has already informed counsel for Viacom and CBS that, in view of the filing of the Petition, steps should be taken by attorneys at each company to assure that all relevant documents and other records, including computer files, be collected and safe guarded to be available for submission in response to future subpoena requests. This notice having been given and appropriate steps having been taken, no evidence will be lost should the Petition or other legal action(s) be commenced following the independent board review.
Conclusion:
Viacom-CBS have certainly not avoided prosecution. They have merely proceeded to the next stage, which will involve an investigation by an independent board. This process will produce a public report.
Other stages will follow, such as the potential re-filing of the MEP Petition and/or other federal and state actions. In the end, as long as matters are open to public scrutiny, it should be expected that all of the facts will be established, motivations will be ascertained, responsibility and guilt will be determined, and responsible parties will be sanctioned.
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