From Jim Metrock:
Ken McNatt sent me an email about today’s Channel One script.
He has found another example of Channel One violating their contractual promises to educators. This violation is a new one.
From today’s Channel One transcript. Ken’s comments are in the parentheses.
BUT ONE YEAR AND ONE-HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS LATER, A RAY OF HOPE FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS. THE SAINTS AND THE FALCONS WERE NOT THE ONLY SPECTACLE LAST NIGHT. U2 AND GREEN DAY KICKED OFF THE EVENING WITH A JOINT PERFORMANCE. IT WAS A CONCERT THAT WAS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO A CITY FAMOUS FOR ITS RICH MUSICAL HISTORY.
(The music was part of the festivities, but this is where it turns into an advertorial)
THE EDGE: EVERY MUSICIAN WHO EARNS MONEY DOING WHAT THEY DO OWES A LITTLE BIT OF DEBT TO NEW ORLEANS.
EILEEN: THAT SENSE OF OBLIGATION IS WHAT COMPELLED U2 GUITARIST THE EDGE TO START MUSIC RISING, AN INSTRUMENT-REPLACEMENT FUND THAT HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF GULF COAST MUSICIANS GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. FUNDS FROM THE CAMPAIGN ALSO GO TO PURCHASING INSTRUMENTS FOR CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
WEB TAG
MEKA: IF YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD LAST NIGHT’S SUPERDOME PERFORMANCE, FOLLOW THE LINK ON THE KATRINA’S IMPACT PAGE AT CHANNELONE.COM. PROCEEDS FROM YOUR PURCHASE WILL GO DIRECTLY TO MUSIC RISING.
(This is a solicitation of funds, a direct violation of the C1 contract.)
Ken is absolutely right. I haven’t seen this before in my ten years of watching Channel One. This is a new practice and it violates their contract.
One might think, "What the big deal?" After all, this appears to be a respectable organization with a very worthy cause. Why not ask students to make a contribution?
The reason is two-fold: First, it is wrong for Channel One to use their position in classrooms to solicit money from students. The age range of students goes from 18 to 10. Some young people may not have the life experience to understand which pitches for cash are worthy and which are not. Channel One’s anchors because of their repetitious presence on classroom TV screens develop a trust and loyalty that should not be used to shakedown kids for cash, even for good causes.
Second, Channel One’s lawyers have already written a contract and terms of agreement that they state in unambiguous terms that Channel One News will never allow solicitation of funds.
Here is Channel One’s infamous list of things they will NOT advertise. I have gotten laughs from audiences across the country when I have shown this on a screen. Channel One executives actually think they should be patted on the back for sacrificing the right to advertise abortion clinics, beer, and firearms to middle school students. The attorneys who wrote this must have had either a great sense of humor or a complete disengagement from reality.
Most of the things on this list would never be considered acceptable to anyone. "Solicitation of funds" is not one of those things. It was evidently included because schools told Channel One that they did not want students "panhandled" by Channel One’s reporters or anyone appearing on the show. When a reporter solicits money from students, it is yet again, another blurring of the lines between news and advertising.
Channel One needs to cut this out.
