Over three weeks ago PBS released its flawed program, Breaking the Silence.

Since that date, the factual content of the program has been shown to be biased and unfair. One of the mothers portrayed as a victim turned out to be a serial child abuser. And the program makes numerous claims that unfairly libel fathers.

Click "Read more..." for more.

Thousands of viewers have complained, and several affiliates have declined to air the program. But PBS has refused to pull the program. More than three weeks later, PBS has only promised to do “a review of the research behind and conclusions presented” in the program.

So why did the Corporation for Public Broadcasting let PBS to air such a biased program? Part of CPB's legal mandate is to ensure “strict adherence to objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature.” (http://www.cpb.org/aboutcpb/goals/objectivity). If they don't hold PBS accountable, who will?

The US Congress, that’s who.

This week, our lobbyists will be meeting with key members of the House of Representatives. They will be delivering a letter signed by RADAR and 15 other organizations around the country. A copy of that letter is shown at the bottom of this Alert.

So while our lobbyists are talking to staff members in the front room, the phones need to be ringing off the hook in the back. Please call the following Congressmen TODAY:

“I'm calling about Breaking the Silence, a program that was recently aired by PBS. This program has been caught up in allegations of bias and misrepresentation. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has a legal mandate to assure objectivity and balance in all public broadcasting. Please investigate to find out exactly what went wrong. Thank you.”

Your prompt response is critical to the success of this effort.

November 14, 2005

Fred Upton, Chairman
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
2183 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515

RE: Complaint about the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Dear Chairman Upton:

We are writing in regard to the PBS program Breaking the Silence: Children’s Stories, a documentary about the treatment of abused children by divorce courts in America. The program falsely concludes that children are frequently awarded to abusive fathers by divorce courts.

As such, the program directly violates the legal mandate of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to ensure “strict adherence to objectivity in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature.” Even though CPB did not create this program, CPB is nonetheless obligated by law to assure that all public broadcasting programs conform to journalistic standards of objectivity and balance.

Breaking the Silence was released by the Public Broadcasting Service on October 20. Even before its release, this controversial program has been surrounded by allegations of bias and misrepresentation. We know the following to be true:

1. Breaking the Silence (BTS) was funded by a $500,000 grant from the Mary Kay Ash Foundation, which has previously funded misleading television programs about domestic violence.
2. The program’s directors refused to interview persons who would have presented a balancing perspective on the issue, leaving a one-sided and inaccurate portrayal. [http://www.familytx.org/research/articles/PAS/BreakingTheScience-OstrichSyndrome.html#rejected-interviewees]
3. The program makes numerous sweeping claims that unfairly libel fathers. These claims are easily refuted by government reports and/or widely-accepted research:
   1. BTS claims that children are “most often in danger from the father.” But government statistics show that more children are abused and neglected by their mother than their father. [http://faq.acf.hhs.gov/cgi-bin/acfrightnow.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=70]
   2. BTS claims, “All over America, battered mothers lose custody of their children.” But the US Census Bureau reports that in 2002, “about 5 of every 6 custodial parents were mothers.” [http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p60-225.pdf]
   3. BTS indicates the vast majority of divorced dads who seek custody of their children are “abusive.” But research shows women are just as likely as men to commit domestic violence. [http://www.csulb.edu/~mfiebert/assault.htm]
   4. BTS claims that the parental alienation syndrome “has been thoroughly debunked by the American Psychological Association.” But the APA responded on October 24, 2005 that the BTS claim was “incorrect.” [http://www.therealitycheck.org/GuestColumnist/mrosenthal110405.htm]
4. The program features Sadia Loeliger, who is portrayed as a heroic mother who battled a biased divorce court system to regain custody of her child. But recently-released documents prove that Ms. Loeliger had been found by a California Juvenile Court to be a serial child abuser. [http://www.glennsacks.com/pbs/loeliger.php]
5. Six months before the program was scheduled to be aired, the program directors were apprised of Ms. Loeliger’s history of child abuse, but they chose to conceal that important information from program viewers. [http://www.glennsacks.com/pbs/loeliger-producers-warned.php]
6. To date, CPB and PBS executives have failed to comment on the substance of any of these charges.

RADAR – Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting – believes that fundamental journalistic principles of balance, integrity, and accuracy have been violated by this program. RADAR asserts that the Public Broadcasting Service should retract this flawed show.

Furthermore, RADAR has requested PBS to produce an objective documentary that focuses on the plight of children abused by their mothers, and the anguish of fathers who are prevented by the courts from protecting their children.

We the undersigned call on you to investigate CPB’s egregious violation of its Congressional mandate to ensure “strict adherence to objectivity in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature.”

Gordon E. Finley, PhD
RADAR: Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting

Marc Angelucci
National Coalition of Free Men – Los Angeles Chapter

Paul M. Clements
President, DADD-NH

Charles E. Corry, PhD, F.G.S.A.
President, Equal Justice Foundation

Harry Crouch
Director, San Diego Men’s Center

Michael Geanoulis
National Congress for Fathers and Children – New Hampshire Chapter

James Hays
President, Coalition of Fathers and Families NY, Inc.

Donald C. Hubin, PhD
Director, Columbus Chapter of Parents and Children for Equality

Lee Newman
Executive Director, Stop Abuse for Everyone – New Hampshire

Alan Rusmisel
Vice-president, Alabama Coalition for Fathers and Children

Albert Schafer
President, Coalition of Parent Support

Lisa Scott
Taking Action Against Bias in the System

Tom Smith
American Union of Men

Marc Snider
http://www.nhcustody.org/

Terri Lynn Tersak
President, Center for Children's Justice - Carolinas Chapter

David Usher
President, American Coalition for Fathers and Children – Missouri Coalition

Date of RADAR Release: November 13, 2005