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From: Your Name <you@example.com>
To: patti.mcgettigan@woodtv.com
Subject: Express Disapproval of WOOD TV 8's Coverage of Antiwar March
As a viewer of WOOD TV 8, I was extremely disappointed by your coverage of the antiwar march that was held in Grand Rapids on Saturday, March 17.
The story featured on the 6:00pm newscast contained nothing more than b-roll from the start of the rally and contained no information about why the protestors were there beyond the fact that they want the war to end. You failed to mention that far from simply making vague and untargeted calls for the war to end, the protestors took the message directly to the home of Representative Vern Ehlers who has been a consistent supporter of the war since its inception. At his home, the protestors attempted to get him to sign a pledge to support an immediate end to the war and to stop voting to fund the war. It was also quite frustrating that in your coverage your channel failed to air an interview with the protest organizers.
Moreover, I was disappointed that your channel chose to emphasize the arrests that happened rather than the protest outside of Ehlers' home. Based on the footage in your broadcast, your channel was not at the protest at either time. However, rather than asking ACTIVATE about their actions at Representative Ehlers' home, you rely on the Grand Rapids Police Department to report that arrests were made. In your 11:00pm newscast the story was particularly ridiculous, with your newsreader stating that, "one person was taken into custody for refusing to stop using an amplifying device and while police were making those arrests, someone threw a small explosive device." This is an inaccurate portrayal of what was an unprovoked action by the GRPD. A simple call to the press contacts on the initial press release for the event could have clarified what happened.
In covering future protests, I hope that your channel stays for the entire time and actually airs interviews with those organizing or attending the protest. Moreover, I urge you to seek verification of claims made by police officers.
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
p.s.
Your Personal Statement
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To: patti.mcgettigan@woodtv.com
Subject: Express Disapproval of WOOD TV 8's Coverage of Antiwar March
As a viewer of WOOD TV 8, I was extremely disappointed by your coverage of the antiwar march that was held in Grand Rapids on Saturday, March 17.
The story featured on the 6:00pm newscast contained nothing more than b-roll from the start of the rally and contained no information about why the protestors were there beyond the fact that they want the war to end. You failed to mention that far from simply making vague and untargeted calls for the war to end, the protestors took the message directly to the home of Representative Vern Ehlers who has been a consistent supporter of the war since its inception. At his home, the protestors attempted to get him to sign a pledge to support an immediate end to the war and to stop voting to fund the war. It was also quite frustrating that in your coverage your channel failed to air an interview with the protest organizers.
Moreover, I was disappointed that your channel chose to emphasize the arrests that happened rather than the protest outside of Ehlers' home. Based on the footage in your broadcast, your channel was not at the protest at either time. However, rather than asking ACTIVATE about their actions at Representative Ehlers' home, you rely on the Grand Rapids Police Department to report that arrests were made. In your 11:00pm newscast the story was particularly ridiculous, with your newsreader stating that, "one person was taken into custody for refusing to stop using an amplifying device and while police were making those arrests, someone threw a small explosive device." This is an inaccurate portrayal of what was an unprovoked action by the GRPD. A simple call to the press contacts on the initial press release for the event could have clarified what happened.
In covering future protests, I hope that your channel stays for the entire time and actually airs interviews with those organizing or attending the protest. Moreover, I urge you to seek verification of claims made by police officers.
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
p.s.
Your Personal Statement
--
Delivered by CitizenSpeak!
Report abuse to abuse@citizenspeak.org [1025]
