Anti-Neocons

ESO Rockets to #2 on PBS in Just Three Weeks!
Help Us Take It to #1 in Three Minutes!

AE911Truth’s new documentary Experts Speak Out
is poised for unprecedented success

Click to Watch It Now and Push It to #1!

As reported in the Digital Journal, our long-awaited documentary video "9/11: Explosive Evidence &endash; Experts Speak Out" is finally getting some of the attention it deserves from the highbrow US television audience. As Tori Alexander notes, "PBS is the first major network to air the program," which has already rocketed in PBS rankings from #6 in views and shares last week to number #2 just yesterday.
- AE911TRUTH Action Alert

You Did It!
9/11: Experts Speak Out Reached #1 on PBS-TV
Help us build on this success!

Dear AE911Truth Supporter,

Thanks in large part to dedicated 9/11 activists like you all across the country and to Shari Bernson, the courageous Development Director at PBS affiliate Colorado Public Television 12 (CPT12), "9/11: Explosive Evidence – Experts Speak Out" has gone ‘viral’.

The CPT12 broadcast of Experts Speak Out shot up the chart to become the#1 Most Watched AND Most Shared video on PBS nationwide during the week of the 9/11 anniversary, and in just a few weeks, the film topped 300,000 views.

(source)
http://www2.ae911truth.org/actionalerts ... _PBS_2.php

"Although the program aired on a PBS-member station, this program is not a PBS production. I'm sure if a station pursued it, the producers would be glad to have it air on their station. However, it is doubtful this would ever air on our station unless backed by distributor support (PBS, APT, NETA)."

"Rather than stating UNC-TV would not air programming like this very
important documentary by the over 1700+ Licensed Architects and Engineers
for 9-11 TRUTH . . .

. . . because it is not a "PBS Production", . . .

. . I would hope you at WUNC-TV would be asking yourselves WHY PBS has
not produced anything of this caliber?"

Dear Mr. Blackburn:

Thank you for your response. Your comments have been forwarded to the program managers.

Sincerely,

D. Turner
Customer Care Dept.
UNC-TV

Thu 9/27/12 12:02 PM

Dear Mr. Blackburn,

After reading your response this morning I thought some further explanation was needed as to why we have not offered this program to UNC-TV viewers. Also, know that I am not here to change your mind about PBS or NPR and whether you support them or not. However, I am writing to help you understand our position on why we have not scheduled this program.

First, and in all honesty, we simply did not know or were aware of this program until your correspondence to us. We have no program record in our database that this program even existed, and we have no program offer from any of our program distributors stating that they were offering this program. Yes, a PBS station had aired this program, but this program was not offered to all PBS stations (as far as I am aware), so my thinking is that this was locally produced, aired and pledged in Colorado. My point being is that this program did not go through proper channels in offering the program to the system for us to even consider scheduling the program. We can't schedule a program unless we are aware of it, and we were not aware of this program. Moreover, whether a PBS station has produced a program or not has no bearing as to whether we will offer a program or not. If it's a fair and balanced presentation we will consider it for our air. Now, after being made aware of the program and doing some investigating, I have been able to screen this program in its entirety, and this is what I have concluded.

As you know, year after year, PBS is recognized by Americans as the most trusted institution in the US. That is in part because, when we broadcast a documentary, we make sure that the producers did their absolute best to research all possible angles of the story they are discussing. I am no advocate for the foolish notion of "unbiased" journalism. However, I do believe that it is essential for a documentary producer - especially for a public television producer - to do their best to fairly present the perspective of those who disagree with them.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of 9/11 conspiracy videos floating around the country. I have sat through a few of them and they range from painfully boring to quite entertaining. But none of them dares to actually speak with people who disagree with them. Despite describing itself as "non-partisan" and "strictly scientific," 9/11 Explosive Evidence appears to be no exception to this rule. It claims to represent the views of "over 1700 architects and engineers," but ignores the opinions of the vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of people employed in these professions in the United States.

By airing 9/11 Explosive Evidence, we would essentially be endorsing the notion that our government knew about, participated in, and/or covered up the mass murder of nearly 3,000 Americans. Furthermore, we would be doing so without following any of the journalistic standards or core values that make, as you are aware, public television the trusted institution that it is today.

No matter how many views this program gets and no matter how much money it makes, we simply don't see how it could be worth the integrity we would be giving away. Therefore, we will not be offering this program on UNC-TV. You may not agree with our position, but I do hope you have a little more understanding of why we have taken this position. Have a great day. Thank you.

- Bryan

Bryan Sodemann
Assistant Program Director
UNCTV
10 T.W. Alexander Drive
Research Triangle Park, NC
27709
(919) 549-7067
bsodemann@unctv.org

Subject: UNC-TV Policy In Regards to Airing PBS/Non PBS Productions In Serving North Carolina‏

Fri 9/28/12 11:33 AM

Dear D. Turner,

Thank you for referring my questions and concerns to Mr. Bryan Sodemann,
Assistant Program Director UNCTV, about my request for UNC-TV to follow
the lead of PBS affiliate Station 12 in Colorado and broadcast the excellent
documentary, "9-11: Explosive Evidence - Experts Speak Out" from the
over 1700+ Licensed "Architects and Engineers for 9-11 Truth"

I see from the PBS website that this documentary has now reach the #1 Slot
for "Most Shared" videos on PBS.

"9/11: Experts Speak Out Reached #1 on PBS-TV"
http://www2.ae911truth.org/actionalerts ... _PBS_2.php

However, I was quite concerned when I read Mr. Bryan Sodemann's
response from Thu 9/27/12 12:02 PM:

"Now, after being made aware of the program and doing some investigating,
I have been able to screen this program in its entirety, and this is what I have
concluded.
. . . No matter how many views this program gets and no matter how much
money it makes, we simply don't see how it could be worth the integrity we
would be giving away. Therefore, we will not be offering this program on UNC-TV."

As a Native of North Carolina and a life long supporter of and frequent volunteer for
Public Television and National Public Radio, especially UNC-TV, I was shocked
to read that one individual alone has the authority to dismiss such an important
documentary and prevent it from being aired in North Carolina.

If I understand Mr. Bryan Sodemann's response correctly, he states that he had
never heard of this documentary until my request. I find it odd that a Programming
Director would be uniformed about any program that had become the #1 Most
Shared program on the PBS Network.

Mr. Bryan Sodemann states he viewed the program, "9-11: Explosive Evidence - Experts
Speak Out" in its entirety and then he alone made the decision . . .

. . . not to present it for any type of panel peer review or to refer it to the UNC-TV
Board of Governors for discussion . . .

. . . but to prevent it from being offered to the People of North Carolina over
their UNC-TV Public Television Network.

I find this procedure highly questionable to say the least.

I ask that this lone "final" decision by Mr. Bryan Sodemann be put up for discussion
and review.

Given the importance and gravity of this topic, this North Carolina Native feels this
is far too an important decision to be left up to one individual.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

- Frederick C. Blackburn
Blowing Rock, NC


cc: Mr. Tom Howe, Mr. Robert D. Teer, Jr, and Mrs. Sabrina Bengel

Fri 9/28/12 3:58 PM

Mr. Blackburn
As the UNC-TV executive in charge of programming, I have asked our director of programming and educational services, Diane Lucas, to respond to your email.

Gail Zimmermann

Fri 9/28/12 4:07 PM

Mr. Blackburn:

Today I watched the program "9/11: Explosive Evidence," and I agree with the decision made by Mr. Bryan Sodemann.

Diane Lucas
Director of Programming and Educational Services
UNC-TV