122 ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE Henry Monsky, president of U.S. B'nai B'rith. Krom American Jewish Yearbook, 1947 48. Philadelphia, Pa. 123 TRIAL BY MEDIA Chapter 11 Trial by Media "NBC was one of the largest broadcasting networks in the world, and I was the villain on prime time of their premiere show "First Camera." Rudy "Butch" Stanko. The question must be asked: Why should any group be allowed to operate a Gestapo-like organization in the United States? The answer is understandable when you realize they have such power because the owners and managers of major mediae in this country and throughout the world are B'nai B'rith members. No wonder the U.S. Congress has refused to question the motives of this police force as it goes about accomplishing its assigned task of world supervision. Citations 1. Douglas Reed, The Controversy ofZion (Dolphin Press Ltd., PO Box 3145, Durban, Natal, South Africa, 1978), p. 340. 2. ' Robert H. Williams.TVz^ Anti-Defamation League (Liberty Bell Publications, Reedy, West Virginia 25270,1975), p. 1. 3. Brig. Gen. Jack Mohr, Jewish Power (113 Ballentine St., Bay St. Louis, MS 38520). 4. Ibid. 5. Williams, p. 2. Most people's lives in the United States are dominated by television-^ medium which appeals to all age groups with programs ranging from music videos for the teeny hoppers, sitcoms for relaxing the blue collar laborers, to news documentaries for those seeking more in-depth answers to current controversies. Television has become so pervasive in our lives, surveys show that the average American views close to six hours of TV a day, that it is rare to find a person who has beliefs about such topics as apartheid, the unrest in Lebanon and Israel, or the controversial traffic and seatbelt regulations that have not been determined or at least influenced by ABC CBS, or NBC. This would be a very positive condition if the networks were presenting unbiased, in-depth reports, especially in the news portion of their schedules. But if they are controlled by a special interest group, and if they do not use the expository method which presents both sides of controversial issues, they are a threat to our freedom. If people in a society do not have access to truth, and in fact are taught untruths, they cannot make correct decisions on matters which affect the lives of everyone in America and the world. Add to this a written media which jump on the bandwagon of any sensational story, and you have a truly threatening situation. According to Marshall McLuhan, the mass media expert of the twentieth century, television is a cool medium because of its relatively "low definition," which engages the viewer actively; whereas, print is a hot medium whose high definition encourages detachment and isolation. Simply translated, this means that the TV viewers must be entertained and informed in a dramatic way. While this is a positive situation in sitcoms and variety shows, it is something less than desirable in newscasts or historical or contemporary documentaries. Such shows as CBS's Sixty Minutes, ABC's 20/20, and NBC's defunct First Camera should try as much as possible to avoid dramatizing what they present so that the viewers will receive a clear picture in contemplating their facts and theories. This did not occur in my situation, as you will clearly see. But before I tell my story, let's look at a few