July 29, 2004

Kenneth Tucker
CNN Producer

Dear Kenneth,

I am writing to you today regarding L. Brent Bozell's Live From... interview with anchor Miles O'Brien on July 27.

Although I am concerned that O'Brien did not inform CNN viewers that Bozell, like the organization that he runs, is staunchly conservative, I am more interested in the issue of CNN providing comparable air time to groups with different views on the media than those of Bozell. One of the reasons that conservatives dominate the debate over the politics of the media in our country is that, all too often, organizations like Bozell's are given the stage to themselves while progressives are sidelined.

Unlike your cable competition, I will be the first to recognize CNN's largely successful attempts at presenting both sides of an issue. But this effort should extend to media watch dog groups as well. Bozell's Media Research Center, according to the Washington Post (6/28/04) has raised $2.8 million to counter what he sees as a liberal jihad against President Bush.

I would request that my organization, Media Matters for America -- a progressive, Web-based, not-for-profit research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the media -- be given equal air time, beginning with CNN's coverage of the Republican National Convention.

I look forward to hearing from you on this matter. I thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

David Brock
President and CEO
Media Matters for America