Posted on 04/26/2002 6:30:07 AM PDT by SBeck
Apr. 24 ? AOPA President Phil Boyer sent a strongly worded letter to Fox Broadcasting Company CEO Roger Ailes on Monday, denouncing a story that ran on Ailes's Fox News Channel last week. In the letter, Boyer said, "Your staff misrepresented themselves and the facts to obtain a sensationalistic story that unfairly alarmed a trusting public." Fox responded almost immediately and stood by their story.
In the televised story, reporter Douglas Kennedy claimed he and his crew rented a pilot and plane from a flight school and were able to loiter over the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant in New York for 20 minutes without anyone raising an alarm.
But the flight school says they were approached by Fox News to do a story on ground escape routes from the plant. The pilot contacted New York Center prior to the flight, received permission from the manager on duty, was assigned a discrete transponder code, and during the flight, remained above 2,000 feet agl and in contact with air traffic control at all times.
In his letter, AOPA President Boyer chided Ailes for allowing such a story to air. "Our members had expected better from Fox News, and, frankly, you and I know well these facts spell poor journalism."
I thought the report was telling of the complete lack of security at the facility.
I didn't see the story but I have a problem with portraying a complete lack of security. They just hired more security and are looking for more. Also, I believe Camp Smith is right by Indian Point. The Army is within spitting distance. From this article and the crap I've seen on our local NBC station in NYC, I believe the press is being alarmist in order to create news.
Some at Fox... Linda Vester among them have obviously become so enamoured at being #1 that they are falling into the mold of the likes of CNN by hyper-dramatising normal real-life facts.
This "reporter" Douglas Kennedy should get the boot, much like CNN's Peter Arnett and so many others who deceive the public.
NO SECOND CHANCES FOR LIARS.
Yes, "Jerry Rivers" vacuums large as usual, but Van Susteren is presenting some informative shows. Traficant was a blast!
It doesn't take much these days to loose credibility with the majority of the honest viewing public, and this purposeful fraud by Fox and Douglas Kennedy (...hmmmmm, another lying Kennedy....) has put a real chink in Fox's armor.
If a TV channel can show big ratings, it translates into more advertising dollars; and the way to get big ratings in the NY area market is sensationalism .
Like any other channel, Fox would advocate any position that would build "market share"- even if they had to do a 180 degree political turnaround.
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