In May, Channel One’s president of programming, Morgan Wandell, made a decision to show American schoolchildren part of the tape that terrorists made of Nicholas Berg
Berg was an American that was captured by terrorist and then killed. The terrorist filmed his beheading. Channel One’s Morgan had access to the terrorist film and decided that American students were tough enough to see a portion of the tape.
Of course, Channel One probably never thought about showing the actual beheading since legitimate news organizations didn’t. What is remarkable, and deeply disturbing, is what Channel One DID show. They showed basically what the big networks showed, even though Channel One’s audience is made up of young people from 10 to 18.
Middle school students see a terrorist pulling a long knife out of his robe and then he brings it down in front of him and nearer to Nicholas Berg who is kneeling in front of him. It is a terrifying scene for adults. One can only imagine the nightmares children had after having to see this gruesome scene on their classroom TVs.
Obligation’s Jim Metrock said, “How many more Channel One mistakes can our children take?. Channel One didn’t have to do this. What a way to start a school day? The executives at Channel One have never fully understood that children are different than adults. Let’s hope Channel One will not be in the lives of children much longer.”
Channel One News shows a terrorist pulling out the knife that cuts off Nicholas Berg’s head.
