By David Zurawik and Nick Madigan
Baltimore Sun
Published: 11/21/2006
Excerpt:
Facing mutiny by its affiliate stations and a storm of public
criticism, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. yesterday canceled a "sweeps"
television special and a book in which O.J. Simpson was to describe how
he would have killed former wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend
Ron Goldman.
The highly unusual move of canceling both a heavily promoted book
and a two-night prime time program on the eve of their appearance
suggests that there are still lines that the public doesn't want
crossed -- despite a conventional wisdom that says tabloid and reality
TV have hopelessly debased popular culture in recent years. ...
"I and senior management agree with the American public that this
was an ill-considered project," Murdoch, the CEO and chairman of News
Corp., said in a statement yesterday. "We are sorry for any pain this
has caused the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson." ...
...
Murdoch's Fox television network faced mounting affiliate defections across the country.
While a dozen affiliates from two small chains, Pappas Telecasting
and LIN Television, announced over the weekend that they would not
carry the program, scheduled to air Nov. 27 and 29, such major chains
as Tribune Broadcasting and Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group
appeared to be coming to the same conclusion yesterday afternoon when
Murdoch pulled the plug. ...
... "Given the significant and really vehement opposition of the Fox
affiliates, plus the growing opposition of the public, this is both a
business decision and basic common sense decision," said
Bob Steele,
senior ethicist at the Poynter Institute, a Florida-based media
training center and think tank, of the Simpson case.
"The negative feelings about O.J. Simpson have been so strong from
so many quarters, that the idea of the book and the TV show just did
not sit well with anyone who exhibited any moral fiber. Frankly, I'm
astounded Fox didn't foresee all the negative reaction."
More of this article...Search Google News for more quotes by Bob Steele...
