Apologize – Email To Jim Morris

March 11, 2002

From: <jimmetrock@mindspring.com>
Date: Sat Mar 09, 2002 11:43:25 PM US/Central
To: jmorris@channelone.com
Subject: Apologize on air for using reporters to push products

Dear Mr. Morris:
Although I believe you should resign for allowing your young reporters to unethically
do ads during the non-commercial part of Channel One News, I think it is much
more important right now for you or Mr. Wandell to appear on Channel One News
along with the reporters involved and apologize to students, teachers and administrators
and all the parents who review the show on the Internet.

You didn’t "cross" the line, you erased the "line" and
in doing so showed contempt for the students and teachers. Future journalists
are watching are your show. They deserve an apology.

You should also send a letter to each school district and tell them what you
have done and that you will not allow it ever again. This is the only way that
you can mitigate the damage that will come from misusing the reporters as you
did with Columbia Sportswear, Cingular and with the guest hosts who hawk their
wares with the help of the reporters.

You have a special audience. When you do something wrong, you need to set it
right and not silently hope that people will forget your actions.

I look forward to hearing from you.

From Dixie,
Jim Metrock