“An example of unethical journalism that benefits extremist Muslims…”
By Kevin Mooney for CNSNews.com:
(CNSNews.com) – A conflict of interest involving the radical Nation of Islam and the Washington, D.C., affiliate of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) is an example of unethical journalism that benefits extremist Muslims, according to a national security expert and a Hollywood filmmaker.
Martyn Burke, director of documentary films at ABG Films, and Frank Gaffney, president of the conservative Center for Security Policy, produced a documentary for a PBS series – “America at a Crossroads” – that focused on Muslims in America, Europe, and Canada who speak out against Islamist extremists.
Their documentary, “Islam versus Islamists: Voices from the Muslim Center,” was, after a protracted battle, rejected in April by WETA, the PBS affiliate in Washington, D.C.
The film is going to air on an Oregon PBS affiliate this month, and some other affiliates may run it as well. However, it is now known that PBS had an unedited version of the film reviewed by the radical Nation of Islam prior to PBS’s decision to cancel the documentary.
The Nation of Islam (NOI) and its long-time leader Rev. Louis Farrakhan have a history of espousing racism and anti-Semitism. Farrakhan stepped down as NOI’s leader in 2006 for health reasons.
PBS’s decision to pass the film to NOI for review was a serious “breach of journalistic ethics,” said Burke.
“Is there anyone who understands that no functioning journalist – or network, or publication can ever allow this kind of outrageous action?” Burke wrote in an e-mail to PBS officials.
“This utterly undermines any journalistic independence. … It virtually hands the story to the subject and allows them to become an active party in shaping it. That is advertising, not journalism. Is that not obvious?” he added.
Yes, it is obvious.