Miani Herald: Author: Terror Spy Show a TV Whitewash

[paulthompson]

Here's an interesting story from today's Miami Herald:

What was expected to be a controversial documentary that charges that Osama bin Laden's top spy infiltrated three U.S. security agencies has gotten even hotter, with investigative reporter Peter Lance calling the TV piece based on his book a whitewash that's ``like doing Schindler's List from Hitler's perspective.''

The documentary, Triple Cross, is scheduled to air on the National Geographic Channel Aug. 28, with Lance's book of the same name due out a few weeks later. But their accounts of how bin Laden's master spy Ali A. Mohamed outwitted the CIA, the FBI and the U.S. Army may be overshadowed by the war of words between Lance and the network.

Lance, who in early treatments of the Triple Cross script was the narrator, was so infuriated by the program's eventual direction that he refused to appear. National Geographic's producers at one point held back transcripts of interviews they were supposed to share with Lance, and still won't let him see the final documentary unless he signs what they call a ``non-disparagement agreement.''

As the dispute has grown, some sources interviewed for the Triple Cross documentary have asked National Geographic to be removed from the program.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/entertainment/television/15310462.htm

My commentary: I have direct contact with the author in question, Peter Lance, so I know some of the "inside scoop." It seems to me that Lance's book is very hard hitting about the FBI and their failures leading up to 9/11, and the FBI didn't like that. They threatened National Geographic not to allow key people to be interviewed unless certain conditions were made, and Nat Geo agreed. Ironically, a documentary about a cover up in itself becomes a cover up. What a sad state our media is in.

[CJCRANE]

1. Hmmm...interesting...(nt)

[alfredo]

2. Thanks for the heads up on the documentary and book.

Read John Dean's last two books, they are required reading.

[leftchick]

3. sad indeed

thank you Paul.

[WCGreen]

4. Here's a surprise....

Newscorp, Murdochs corporation, own National Geographic Channel.....

http://www.newscorp.com/operations/cable.html

[blossomstar]

5. ummmmmmm, interesting.

[OregonBlue]

6. I was wondering. The last couple of years they've had a very

right wint bias. I used to really enjoy their specials but haven't been able to watch for some time because everything seems to get a slant, even when it should not be political.

[WCGreen]

7. The brand name is what draws people in.....

And it has nothing to do with the National Geographic Society....

[paulthompson]

8. It doesn't?

Surely there's a strong connection between the National Geographic channel and the National Geographic Society, no?

[WCGreen]

9. Not since Newscorp bought it....

[Garbo 2004]

10. In US the channel is a joint venture: Fox & National Geographic TV

From Dec 2000 article: "The 24-hour network, 70% owned by Fox Cable Networks Group and the balance by National Geographic Television, will debut Jan. 7..." http://telephonyonline.com/news/telecom_national_geographic_channel/index.html

The joint venture also is noted in this recent press release on the Triple Cross special: "Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channel (NGC) is a joint venture between National Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F) and Fox Cable Networks." http://sev.prnewswire.com/television/20060815/DCTU05715082006-1.html

[magellan]

11. Well, there goes our NatGeo subscription

This kills me. My family has had a subscription to National Geographic magazine since I was little, it's one of the magazines I look forward to most each month. But I can't continue to support the NGS if they're going to be just another mouthpiece for the right.

[OregonBlue]

12. Agreed. I used to love their specials so when it was added to our

satellite, I watched. Kept noticing a bias. Didn't occur to me to look up who owned it. Now that I know, I won't bother to turn it on. Shouldn't this be posted in a latest discussion thread so others out there can cancel subscriptions and turn it off. Nothing talks to them like poor ratings!

[paulthompson]

13. what a shame

I don't really watch TV so I haven't been aware of Nat Geo's rightward shift. I hope the magazine is still the same as ever.

[seemslikeadream]

14. kick