IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM OF MASS NEWS MEDIA

WHEREAS, the mass news media of the United States, particularly the television networks, are being subjected to an increasing campaign of intimidation, harassment and legal pressures from the highest levels of the nation's executive and legislative branches of government; and

WHEREAS, this accelerating pressure -upon the news media has taken the form of divisive, destructive official government criticism, and government efforts to subpoena film and materials other than what has been broadcast publicly in specific television documentaries; and

WHEREAS, the news media, particularly the television networks, have incurred the opposition of the national administration and some U.S. senators and U.S. representatives because the news media have reported information from Laos, Southeast Asia, the Pentagon and other sensitive sectors of American life which did not coincide with official U.S. government explanations; and

WHEREAS, the American people have the right to expect -- and the responsibility to assure -- the fullest possible flow of information from all mass news media as a basic ingredient in the effective functioning of a free, democratic society;

THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the American Ethical Union, meeting in Annual Assembly on April 22 - 25, in Cleveland, Ohio, does affirm its wholehearted support of news media organizations and individuals who resist these dangerous efforts to silence and/or manage the reporting and analyzing of news which does not coincide with the national administration's official line on such issues as the Southeast Asia war, the operations of the Pentagon and other sensitive areas of American life; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Ethical Union and its members throughout the nation hereby call upon all news media to maintain the highest standards of independent, honest journalism -- thus meeting their highest responsibility, which is to the American people. At the same time, the American Ethical Union, and its members call upon the President of the United States, the Congress of the United States, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Democratic and Republican National Committees to do everything possible to end the dangerous, divisive attacks upon the mass news media and upon freedom of expression at this critical time in our nation's history; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to appropriate officials and individuals in the mass news media, in government and in the public and private sectors.

Source: AEU 63rd Annual Assembly Memo [job06scan]

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