••

,ts-, • •

Pulling The Plug

Channel 56 reviews its policies after
Jews and Arabs give mixed reviews to another
show on the Middle East.

as "hate-filled" by Berl Falbaum, presi-
dent of LiAsot, one of the four boy-
cotting organizations, elicited approxi-
mately 200 letters of protest to the
TVS-Channel 56 is
station, with cancellation of financial
"holding off" on broad-
support from approximately half of
casting former Israeli
the letter-writers.
Foreign Minister Abba
One couple who cancelled their
Eban's "On The Brink Of Peace" TV
ort complained to The Jewish
program after receiving mixed reac-
supp
News in a letter about Antoniotti's let-
tions from tw
O•different community
ter of response. Irving and Vivian
panels that pre-screened the show last
Stollman of West Bloomfield said
week.
Antoniotti wrote that critics were try-
One panel was Jewish, the other
to "control" the
One
station.
Arab.
The invitational
"He also distorts
the facts, writing
pre-screenings were
that there are
a departure from
the procedure last
`requirements for
summer when the
the station to air
independently pro-
Detroit Public
duced programs,"
Television station's
the Stollmans wrote.
standing commu-
nity
advisory panel
pre-screened
and "But what he does-
n't say is that the
station had a choice.
approved the con-
troversial
"People
And The Land". a It can reject pro-
gramming it finds
unsuitable. Most
program. The show
public television sta-
aired last August,-
r,
tions around the
and in
country, recognizing
four local Jewish
the program as
o rganizations called
nothing but inflam-
for a financial boy-
matory propaganda,
of
Channel
56
cots
Steve Antoklotti:
because of its deci-
rejected the pro-
re-thinking station policy.
grarri. ,3
4
-
sion to 'broadcast it.
• .,\
Station officials
Antoniotti said the decision of
The Brink 4
\ Peace"
deny that'
what to air is the station's, and after lis-
was a drect
.response to "People And
i
teeing to the mixed reviews of the two
The Land:" The former details the
pre-screening groups last week, Chan-
current Middle East peace process,
beginning with the 1979 Camp David nel 56 decided to cancel its scheduled
broadcast Feb. 1 of "On The Brink Of
accords. PBS officials said 249 stations
Peace."
— 69 percent of PBS stations — ran
Antoniotti and Channel 56 are
"On The Brink Of Peace. "
beginning to re-think their position
"We dont want to get into a situa,
on "point-of-view" programs in
responds to
tion where one program responds
resp onse to "People And The Land"
another," said Dave DevereauX, vice
and
an similar shows.
president for communicatiOnS.
"It's not our intention to offend
But Steve Antoniotti, Channel 56
anyone," said Antoniotti, "and there
neral manager,
president and ge
are points-of-view out there that may
acknowledged that public fespons e to
off end.
"People And The Land" has him re-
"Should we even be in the business
thinking station policy and gave rise
oint of view when it ofTends?
T
to the new pre-screening polio}.
of
Ma pybe 'we shouldn't." 11J
The program, which was described

ALAN HITSKY
Associate Editor

...you're a grown-up. Get your
own subscription to The
Jewish News and leave his
alone when you visit.

,•)r•WKWY

W O R* 1 704 4 N

• ' ,VA

, .

•

plus
YES! Please send me 52 issues of The Jewish News
Magazine for only $46 ($63 out-of-state).
five issues of Style

❑

a Please Bill Me.

Charge my: 0 VISA

0 Payment Enclosed.
0 MasterCard

0 I'd like to send a subscription as a gift to:

Gift Card Message

New susbscribers only

i

r.

1/23
1998

20

nrigISU NEWS Please send all payments with this coupon to:
The Jewish News • P.O. Box 2267
Southfield, Ml 48037-2267
Or fax us at (248) 354-1210
Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.