Did ABC News Ban Flag Lapel Pins?
Wednesday November 12, 2008
"Yesterday, the brass at ABC News issued orders forbidding reporters to wear lapel pin American flags or other patriotic insignia," accuses a popular forwarded email. "I urge you to boycott ABC and its sponsors and affiliates."
Boycott whomever you please, but know this: it was seven years ago in the aftermath of 9/11, not yesterday, that ABC asked its news anchors and reporters to eschew on-air displays of patriotism. Among other things, the network said it was concerned for the safety of American journalists working abroad.
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Boycott whomever you please, but know this: it was seven years ago in the aftermath of 9/11, not yesterday, that ABC asked its news anchors and reporters to eschew on-air displays of patriotism. Among other things, the network said it was concerned for the safety of American journalists working abroad.
Read more...
Comments
This is nonsense - I have worked at ABC News for 14 years and no one has ever banned flag pins. On air talent doesn’t wear pins as a practical matter - they would reflect light and bang into a lapel mic.
God save us all!!
This cannot be true. As an elementary teacher we are always encouraging patriotism.
To tcrossing!
Oh baloney,..Lou Dobbs ALWAYS wears a lapel pin,..hasn’t affected his mike!
Gniem
Maybe we should let their sponsors know and boycott them. Still find it hard to believe.
BAN FLAG LAPEL PINS i HOPE EVERYONE WHO LOVES OUR COUNTRY AND OUR FLAG BANS ABC
GO FOX NEWS. The only place where America is still the Best Place on Earth, God is still God and patriatism is something to be proud of, not shameful. But then, we have known for a long time what ABC, NBC and CBS stood for. Lies, deceit and atheism.
Hey David, stick your head outside and get some fresh air. What happened to all the stories on FOX about Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright and “Obama’s a liberal, muslim, socialist radical” that were so important BEFORE the election. Not peep since. Your far right wing, radical, hypocritical extremists, lost the election to a guy who thinks for himself and the best interest of the country, NOT the extremists in his party. BTW it’s “patriotism” not patratism.
you left wing news groups can think of any excuse not to honor the u.s.a.
band into lapel mics, are you nuts or just think we all are stupid!!!
what flag does ABC fly over there buildings the communist flag .
Does anyone have a list of their advertizers so we can let them know of our boycott of their products? And we can also let them know why.
One of the responsibilities of the media is to not become the news and to approach their subject in such a way as to get complete and unbiased information. There are plenty of people who would change their responses to questions purely based on the perceptions about the person asking.
This is fundamental - the subconcious consistently rules over the concious mind - and both are reactive. Change the tone of your voice asking the same question, and people go from proud to evasive to quiet, or even playful. The less a reporter appears to be biased in any way… and the less leading their questions… the more likely you will get an honest answer. You can bet that if all reporters had to wear their national flag overseas, the Canadians would be getting more honest answers. They simply are not so hell-bent on being red-white-and-blue, self-righteous, and in peoples face all the time. Reporters are supposed to obtain news, not become it… Reporting is not supposed to be campaign, but inquiry.
That said, asking a reporter not to wear a flag is also probably over the top on our home soil.
This particular claim does not provide much context, but it does suggest that wearing a pin could put some journalists in harms way; The fact is, America is not popular everywhere - including places with angry zealots, pipe bombs, and IEDs. That is where the news often is.
I think being cautious overseas - or attempting to not stilt the results or a journalistic inquiry - can both be valid.
You definitely would not reasonably impose that reporters wear flags. And I certainly have not heard here that anyone was fired - for wearing one - or not wearing one.
Many of us are asked at work to wear uniforms… McDonalds, Staples, you name it. Are they being sacreligious in worshiping false idols - or simply trying to have a job? Are they being un-American for not includign the flag in the KFC apparel? Please!
Employees are also told what not to wear. Flip flops and shorts just may get you fired. For a navy seal or an under-cover police office, the cost of being obvious may be higher. The employer can ask - even order - such things. It is not necessarily our place to question or impose on how people run the minutiae of their business. Employees are usually free to leave stupid employers.
You are, of course, also free to boycott. Just take a moment to think a bit also. Loud should not happen until you have isolated complete truth - check the details.
I think that, if this really happened, there is probably more to the story - and someone is conveniently leaving parts out.. or they just don’t know any details but they needed their 15 minutes of fame anyway. Some people are in a hurry to act like authorities - many of them should be quiet and listen more.
I doubt this event is being fully explained. Corporations usually have a lot more context before they make public statements - or impose such policy - media companies in particular.
Who gives a crap about ABC News? Have you seen their ratings lately? Another dinosaur which has become pathetically irrelevant.