A comment on our News Networks

[VERNIG.PETER@FORUM.VA.GOV]

I have been following the thread on the news program and "deadly"
plutonium.  Those that think we should try to flood the networks with
mail don't understand one basic thing.  They have no interest in
accuracy or honesty!
 
I will try to keep this short.  This is a true example.  The network
was ABC or NBC, whichever one has Tom Brokaw.  It was one of a host
of 60 Minutes wanna be news shows.  They broadcast a segment on the
unrest and violence in Guatemala related to adoptions.  There are
periodically rumors there that kids are kidnapped and or that organs
are harvested.  The reported on an incident where a child was kidnapped.
and many other incidents that were unrelated.  They did a lot of filming
in front of Hogar La Esperansa [Home of Hope] the only thing directly re-
lated to Hogar was an alegation by a novelist that he'd been at the
Hogar and it was implied that he could "buy a baby" and that was his
interpretation.  It was not related that the incident occured 8 years
befor the broadcast.  I can't evaluate the incident enought from what I
saw to say at all whether it was in anyway credible.  But I do know the
adoption of our son Paul was legal.  We had to submit birth certificates
income tax records, etc.  13 documents in all to the Court of minors.
All had to be notarized, certified by the Attorney General of Colorado,
and verified by the Guatemalan Consulate.
 
I called and talked to a stafffer at the network, that's how I found
out that the novelist's visit was from 8 years earlier.  I was told 
there would be a "clarification" broadcast.  It consisted of a mere
mention of the fact that the attorney for HOgar had protested and 
stated that all adoptions are carried out in strict accordance with
Guatemalan law.  Our adoption was delayed by almost 6 months because
the birth mother could not be located to confirm her intention to 
place our son for adoption, he had to be declared abandoned.  I and 
dozens, if not hundreds of adoptive parents wrote to complain of the
false and misleading impression given by the show.  Folks, I didn't even
get the courtesy of a form letter reply much less a retraction or real
clarification.
 
THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT ACCURACY, HONESTY OR INTEGRETY ONLY RATINGS!
BTW, my only consolation was that the show was cancelled and the one
that carried their so called clarification was the last show.
 
So I guess I have to say I think letter writting to the networks is futile.
These are of course only my opinions and do not reflect those of my
employer or anyone else.
 
Peter G. Vernig