BOZELL RIPS LEFT-WING ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP - Press Release - June 28, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2001

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katie Wright (703) 683-5004, ext. 132

BOZELL RIPS LEFT-WING ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP FOR SHAMELESSLY USING PARENTS TO MANIPULATE THE NEWS

“The Left Will Stoop To Anything To Get John Stossel Off The Air”

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Media Research Center President Brent Bozell blasted the ultra-left wing Environmental Working Group for shamelessly manipulating parents of young children to attack ABC News Correspondent John Stossel over his special on how scare tactics are used to perpetuate a one-sided view of environmental issues.

     “John Stossel has a point of view that is vastly under-represented on networks like ABC, and his reporting is factual and honest. That's why the Left can't stand him, and will stoop to anything to get him off the air. These parents were in the room when their kids were interviewed. They saw John Stossel interview them. They said nothing for two months. If they really had concerns they could have raised them then and there with ABC, but they’ve instead been manipulated by this left-wing group in search of an anti-Stossel publicity splash just as his report is about to air,” Bozell said.

     “ABC is right to be sensitive to parents’ concerns, but when parents can be so easily manipulated as part of a witch hunt to knock an honest journalist off the air, it sends a dangerous signal to all reporters who would dare question the Left’s agenda – on the environment or any other issue,” Bozell said.

     “Mr. Stossel’s premise is absolutely true as our own exhaustive research has found: information on environmental issues like global warming are presented in almost a totally one-sided fashion. As a parent myself I find it insulting and appalling that both adults and children are consistently bombarded with advocacy journalism that misleads and misinforms the very public to which the media are responsible,” Bozell said.

For more information on the Media Research Center or to schedule an interview with a spokesperson please contact Katie Wright at (703)-683-5004, ext. 132.