TV station alters candidate's erroneous statement
ALLENTOWN - Seeking to avoid causing financial harm, a TV station censored a congressional candidate's statement, made during a taped debate, that two major banks had failed when in fact they hadn't.
When the debate aired Monday, WFMZ-TV muted the sound and blurred Democrat Sam Bennett's lips as she made the erroneous remarks.
The debate was taped Friday in front of about 200 people and Webcast live. Hours later, one of the banks contacted Bennett's staff about the error, and it in turn alerted WFMZ, said her campaign manager, Josh Levin. He said the candidate meant to say the banks had "nearly failed."
The station altered the videotape after consulting with the campaign of Bennett's opponent, Republican Rep. Charlie Dent; the Federal Communications Commission; and the National Association of Broadcasters, and added a disclaimer, approved by both candidates.
"In the end, we did not feel that broadcasting the names of the banks served the public in any way," station general manager Barry Fisher said. "Because of the economic times we're in . . . a statement on television can cause an immediate effect." - AP
