press_letter

                 OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESS/MEDIA :
                          Consider yourself on NOTICE!

This past Saturday there was a devastating 7.6 earthquake in El Salvador, leaving hundreds dead or dying and countless trapped by a hillside that had literally been shaken loose. Later that same evening, around 6:30pm here in Los Angeles, there were two more earthquakes. The first one registering 4.6 and 25 minutes later the second was 4.1. Now, here in L.A., those are pretty small potatoes compared to what we went through seven short years ago this week, but it rattles the nerves and causes minor damage nonetheless. When all of the other major networks led with the local earthquakes first, the ABC affiliate’s late night news broadcast led with the story about Ronald Regan’s hip injury. This story lasted eight minutes. Eight. Now, yes, he’s an ex-very popular President (however corrupt). And yes, a hip injury in an 89-year-old man is devastating, and to compound that with Alzheimer’s disease it is something I don’t wish on even Cop Killing advocate Tom Alciere. Ok, maybe he is someone who could use a lesson in humanity by becoming a caregiver. Anyway, I do know of what I speak here, I lost my father to Alzheimer’s eight months ago. But seriously, the lead story???? Please. Can we get our priorities straight? Or were they hoping to trump up such a small story so that by Nonauguration Day there will be a nice sympathy distraction to the OTHER story, and I’m not talking about the Smirk Swearing-In.
January 20th, 2001 will be a BIG DAY. Not just in Washington DC, but in almost every major city across this country. There will be literally millions of people protesting the Illegal Selection of GW Bush by The Supreme Court Five Whore Club who all had a Conflict Of Interest in the outcome of this abomination of an election. This is THE OTHER STORY. It’s a HUGE story. GIGANTIC!

Ya think? Think it’s big enough to actually get some air time, any airtime, much less make it to print in any of the major newspapers? Think about it.

Most of those who frequent the internet’s growing non-corporate bound political websites are more than aware of the impending Million Voter March. But have you noticed how much or rather how little you’ve heard on Radio and Television? How about the Newspapers? I have only begun, now that it is hours away to see any coverage, most of which is on the web or NPR. My bet is they'll spin it to look like support for Pres -Select Smirk.

I have fired most all of the cable news organizations. FOX news was the first to go when they jumped the gun announcing the election outcome incorrectly & prematurely. They were in bed with the Bushistas from the beginning having hired GW’s cousin so they cannot be trusted. CNN was the second. They lost me when their right wing slant became more tilted than the Tower of Pisa and their obvious deferment to the Supreme Whore Call when they reported it as 7-2 and neglected the major 5-4 and all the near violent dissent of the minority. YOU’RE OUT! Perhaps some of you have actually seen some coverage somewhere other than the net. I’d like to know where.

I think it’s a big enough story that it deserves to be talked about now. But I’m not hearing anything much of anything on television -but maybe I'm watching too much CSI & West Wing reruns, but I doubt very seriously that it will make it in its entirety this weekend.

Here’s why: As some of you know, I was affected by last year’s SAG/AFTRA strike. It lasted six months and was one of the most costly strikes in this country’s history. (Over 1 billion in earnings lost since this affected not only actors, but the support staff, crew, agents, craft services, and everyone else who get work in commercials.) Yet, it rarely saw the light of day when it came to the news. As we all know, corporations who buy airtime to run ADS own the media. The Ad agencies, supported by the Corporations were asking us to take a pay cut when they are making record profits. (The “talent” cost per ad is less than 2% of the total production cost. Less than 5% of SAG membership make any money at all, most of that 5% make less than $5000 per year (when they get work). Less than 2% make over $20,000 per year. Less than .01% make over $100,000, and this percent rarely make commercials.) Many agencies went out of business, leaving thousands of actors without representation (damned near impossible to get work without it.)   Many people lost their homes. It was financially devastating to this town, not to mention New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and other hubs of commercial production. The Corporations had the media by the collective balls (or so the coward media believed). How on earth could the Los Angeles Times survive if Macy’s didn’t run any advertising? (Like Macy’s could survive if they didn’t.) If the corporate owned media were on the morally right side of the strike, surely they would have wanted the public to know about it! Anyone remember the Broadcasters strike in ’98? No? Wonder why?

Do not mistake for a moment the illusion of Free Press. Yes, the press has the right to print what they wish, but do they? The bigger question is - don’t we as citizens have “A Right To Information?” Shouldn’t “The Press/Media” have a responsibility to the citizens of this country to report ALL of the news truthfully?
I think so. And I know I’m not alone in this belief.

So, here is my challenge to The Press/Media:

                             REPORT THE INAGURAL PROTESTS HONESTLY

Give it the fullest and most complete coverage possible. Do NOT attempt to spin it to look like record numbers of Bush supporters came to DC.

Never forget: The majority of people in this country voted for someone ELSE. And no matter how much ‘positive’ reporting you give it, Bush will NEVER EVER have a mandate. Do not believe the people are as stupid as you think we are. I can cancel my subscription not only to The Los Angeles Times, but to my cable company as well.

   I can always get my news from the many honest websites on the Internet, including the BBC and Bartcop!