Thursday
June 15, 2000
Immediate public apology
Letter to CBS television's "60 Minutes" producer:
Dear Mr. Hewitt,
I am writing this letter to protest the biased and inaccurate reporting
concerning of an individual (an alleged Iranian spy) who was interviewed
on a recent "60 Minutes" program without a background check ["Iran
Defector Talks To 60 Minutes"]. Professional journalists like
you are supposed to maintain integrity in their jobs and be independent
and responsible. Accuracy in reporting is a critical element in responsible
reporting.
CIA and FBI officials investigated that alleged Iranian spy ["Iranian
Defector Called an Impostor "]. These agencies reported that he
is an "imposter" who was trying to obtain a U.S. visa by attributing
responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing and the Khobar Towers incident
to Iran. However, the Saudi Arabian government has found no evidence of
external involvement in the case of Khobar Towers, and the Lockerbie bombing
is being investigated in the international courts in the Netherlands. It
seems that when those who pay for the advertisements or control the political
system also control the mass media; democracy loses its value and importance.
The program that you aired was defamatory to many individuals who are
native Iranians like me. The practice of defaming Iranians in general,
and Iranian Americans in particular, must stop. We have kept quiet for
more than 20 years while the mass media have bashed us to no limit. Teaching
in a business school at the university level, I truly understand the competitive
nature of business. However, your program must stop using inaccurate information
to gain a few more ratings points. In the short run, you will gain some
viewers; in the long run, you will lose credibility.
In this case, the damage is already done. The effect of this program
on the minds of many viewers will be permanent. Sensational and biased
journalism must stop. Your program can create animosity toward Iranians
in school, at work, and elsewhere in everyday life. Many Americans have
very limited knowledge about world politics and foreign countries. These
naïve individuals believe literally everything they watch on TV. So,
by making statements that cannot be backed up, you are promoting hatred
toward Iranians.
As an Iranian, I request an immediate public apology. It is only ethically
and legally warranted to provide equal airtime for positive Iran-related
news. I do not mind interviewing a representative sample of Iranians and
reporting the news honestly. I must add that every country has its own
unique problems. Iranians must not be singled out for negative portrayal.
Let us use international law to deal with similar issues. I hope your producers
will replace biased journalism with something that at least resembles the
truth. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mohammad Ala, Ph.D.
Professor of Management
Director of Productivity Center
California State University, Los Angeles
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