Show Distorting News A book expected to be published published published pub pub- in September will show in carefully researched form that the networks have distorted distorted distorted dis dis- dis- dis the news in recent years Its It's titled The News Twisters and should cause quite a stir IT WILL reportedly demonstrate demonstrate demonstrate demon demon- strate just what critics have so long charged that a New York clique of newsmen deciding news policy and content for three networks hold enormous enormous enormous enor enor- power to determine what news millions of Americans Americans Americans Amer Amer- get and wield that power with bias The question thus be becomes omes more pressing than how ever-how can Congress and the FCC see to it that radio and television news is fairly presented presented presented pre pre- ITS IT'S THEIR job its it's now admitted even by uy some network network network net net- work people because broadcasters broadcasters broadcasters broad broad- casters use the publics public's airwaves airwaves airwaves air air- waves and channels unlike newspapers which are strictly private properties CBS President Frank Stanton recently managed to successfully successfully success success- fully Cully defy Congress and avoid a contempt of Congress ci ci- ci tation But he presumably used up much of his influence over various Congressmen in the Selling The Pentagon controversy controversy controversy con con- and is not likely to tobe tobe tobe be able to repeat such a defense of biased reporting defying a congressional committee committee committee com com- again This is hinted by pointed pointed- CBS indications indications' it it wont won't repeat the practices used in making the Pentagon film CUm THE PROBLEM today is complicated by the fact that two congressional committees oversee the FCC and indirectly indirectly indirectly indi indi- the networks and too many members on them have financial interests in stations which are in turn tied to the networks The FCC and the congressional committees should be completely divorced from possible network pressure pressure pressure pres pres- sure or influence Congressional al leadership alone can remedy the situation |