The broadcast media, especially television, has been saturated with biased reporting for the past few months. Often these are the products of national networks. A & E’s weeklong “Under the Gun” series, and more recently a piece from CBS’s Dan Rather regarding the 2nd Amendment not being an individual right are the most blatant examples of op-ed pieces going under the guise of a “hard-hitting news” story. The villainization of the gun and the gun owner is an increasing trend in the media, and it must stop. Local television stations are granted licenses to broadcast from the Federal Communications Commission, and these licenses can be challenged if enough complaints are filed. Local stations may put pressure on the networks to start broadcasting balanced news if their licenses are being called into question.
When the media lies, it is up to us to let them know that it is unacceptable. Write down the specific information: the name, time and channel of the program; the EXACT nature of the misinformation; and, most importantly, the truth. Send this information to the station; if it originates from a network send it to both the national office and local affiliate. Title it “FOR PUBLIC FILE”, and send a copy to the FCC, their address: Federal Communications Commission, Mass Media Bureau, Complaints and Political Programming Branch, 445 12th St. SW, Room 3B443, Washington, DC 20554. If you need further assistance call CCRKBA at (425) 454-4911.