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A New JWW Action Initiative

GET THE STORY OUT!

In spring 2005, Nicholas Kristof wrote a New York Times column pointing out that ABC News had a shocking total of only 18 minutes of Darfur coverage in its nightly newscasts for the entire year, and that it had even this much was to the credit of Peter Jennings; NBC had only 5 minutes, CBS only 3 minutes! This is, by comparison, a micro-fraction of the time devoted to Michael Jackson that year. What a chilling statement about the priorities of our major news outlets and their perspective on the interests of consumers of news. During the genocide in Rwanda ten years before, when 800,000 Tutsis were slaughtered in 100 days, it was a celebrity trial in Los Angeles that had our attention. Moreover, recently, there were efforts by advocates to buy advertising space criticizing the media's failure to give proper coverage to Darfur; however, several media outlets rejected the paid advertisements.

This failure of our media to keep us informed cannot continue. The time has come to demand better coverage, to hold the news media accountable for reporting the news. The people of Darfur deserve nothing less.

JWW is urging its members to send letters like the sample below, to any/or all of the media outlets listed below.

Dear ___________ ,

I am writing concerning your coverage of the genocide in Darfur.

Genocide is the ultimate crime against humanity. A government-backed genocide is unfolding in the Darfur region of the Sudan. As the horror in Darfur continues, our major media sources are largely missing in action.

Like many American citizens, I rely on the news media. If an event is not reported on television, it is as if it does not happen. I am aware that it has been over a year since the United States Congress, in a unanimous vote, as well as both President Bush and Senator John Kerry, all agreed that genocide was taking place in Darfur, Sudan.

It is beyond question that the events unfolding in Darfur are newsworthy. Moreover they are of critical import to the American populace and policymakers alike. This country has long made clear that, as the sole superpower in the world, we cannot isolate ourselves from the rest of world and that we have an obligation to intervene to stop suffering and injustice.

In order to meet that promise we must be informed and aware of what is happening in the world. I believe the first recognized genocide of the 21st Century is news that merits the highest levels of attention from the American public. This is the single most devastating human rights challenge in the world; and we in America are sorely uninformed about it. Such information is not vital simply for our own edification - it is critical to ending this genocide.

As awareness among the public and policymakers increases it creates the possibility for government response and action which will protect innocent lives, hold the guilty accountable and bring peace to a region that has suffered far too much.

I am communicating with you today asking that you be a witness to genocide. Give the Darfur Genocide the coverage it so clearly deserves.

I look forward to a response from you on this important matter.

Thank you,

Name
Address
City, State, Zip

ABC NEWS Phone: (212) 456-1000 Fax: (212) 456-5962 147 Columbus Ave New York, NY 10023 abcnews.go.com	NBC NEWS Phone: (212) 664-4444 Fax: (201) 583-5453 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 nbcnews.com	MSNBC Phone: (201) 583-5000 Fax: (201) 583-5584 1 MSNBC Plaza Secaucus, NJ 07094 msnbc.com
CBS NEWS Phone: (212) 975-4321 Fax: (212)975-1893 524 W. 57th St New York, NY 10019 cbsnews.com	FOX NEWS Phone: (212) 301-3000 Fax: (212) 301-4229 1211 Ave of the Americas New York, NY 10036 foxnews.com	LA TIMES Phone: (213) 237-5000 Fax: (213) 237-7679 202 W. 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90012 letters@latimes.com

Letters To The Editor Submitted by JWW

	Re: It's Hell In Darfur, But Is It Genocide? Los Angeles Times May 14, 2006
	Darfur victims have been undercounted Los Angeles Times May 5, 2006
	Re: If Iraq was wrong is Darfur right Los Angeles Times April, 2006
	Re: What Do We Do About Darfur Los Angeles Times April 14, 2005
	Re: The Darfur Genocide Los Angeles Times March 24, 2005
	US Focuses on Aiding African Union in Darfur Los Angeles Times May 12, 2005
	Re: The American Witness New York Times March 3, 2005
	Sudan Militia Leader Links Regime to Crisis Los Angeles Times March 3, 2005
	Re: A Wave of Apathy Over Africa's Suffering Los Angeles Times January 18, 2005