Opinion ID: 184630
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Licensee's policy on distortion

Text: 35 In addition to holding that Serafyn presented insufficient evidence to demonstrate that CBS had intentionally distorted the 60 Minutes episode about Ukraine, the Commission's denial of Serafyn's petition also rested upon the alternative ground that he had not alleged a general pattern of distortion extending beyond that one episode. Upon appeal Serafyn argues--and the Commission does not dispute--that he did present evidence regarding CBS's general policy about distortion, namely the comments of Wallace and Hewitt quoted above, and that the Commission failed to discuss or even to mention this evidence. Both Wallace's comment (you don't like to baldly lie, but I have) and Hewitt's (it's the small crime vs. [331 U.S.App.D.C. 348] the greater good) are, to say the least, suggestive. Furthermore, both Wallace (as the most senior reporter and commentator for 60 Minutes) and Hewitt (as the producer of the series) are likely members of the news management whose decisions can fairly be attributed to the licensee. Hunger in America, 20 FCC 2d at 150. The Commission's failure to discuss Serafyn's allegation relating to CBS's policy on veracity is therefore troubling. Indeed, because of the importance the Commission placed upon the supposed lack of such evidence, its presence in the record casts the Commission's alternative ground into doubt. The Commission must consider these allegations upon remand.