Washington Ukrainians protest against "60 Minutes" segment

by Larissa M. Fontana

WASHINGTON - About 100 angry Ukrainian Americans representing a broad spectrum of the local community protested the CBS "60 Minutes" segment "The Ugly Face of Freedom" aired on October 23. The protest, sponsored by The Washington Crisis Committee, an ad hoc committee of Ukrainian Churches, organizations and concerned citizens, took place Wednesday, November 2, at noon, at the CBS offices, 2020 M St. NW.

The mood of the protest was reflected in the placards: "CBS turns a jaundiced eye on truth," "Don't watch CBS," "Tabloid journalism reigns at CBS." Various slogans were also chanted, adding to the mood of the occasion, such as "An apology is due - CBS from you," "CBS, oh no, journalism at a low," "Truth, yes. Lies, no." "CBS, CBS, is a journalistic mess."

The thrust of the message was that Ukrainian-Jewish relations were presented in a biased and distorted manner on the "60 Minutes" segment. The demonstration was covered by Voice of America, Intel and Window on America.

Representatives of the Washington area Ukrainian community - Ihor Gawdiak, Ukrainian American Coordinating Council; Tamara Gallo, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America; the Rev. G. Pidhuretz of St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Church; and Larissa M. Fontana, Washington Crisis Committee-attempted to meet with Barbara S. Cochran, vice-president and bureau chief of the Washington CBS office.

Ms. Cochran insisted on one and then agreed on two emissaries. Mr. Gawdiak and Ms. Fontana met with Ms. Cochran and voiced the concerns of the protesters. Among the items discussed were the results of the October 31 meeting in New York between CBS officials and Ukrainian community representatives. The offensive manner in which Ukrainian-Jewish relations in Ukraine were presented, the effect this presentation is having on private citizens, and the credibility of the media in general were also raised.

A letter from the Ukrainian American community of Washington signed by Ukrainian churches and 13 area organizations, detailing grievances and demands, was presented to Ms. Cochran. The demands were: a public apology on "60 Minutes," the resignation of Morley Safer, a Ukrainian response to "The Ugly Face of Freedom" and an airing of "Famine '33" as a means of educating the American public about the Ukrainian people.

The larger issue of media credibility was also raised. If this particular story was handled in such a manipulative manner, then it can be assumed other issues are equally mishandled, argued the Ukrainian community representatives.

In the end, Ms. Cochran stated that the major responsibility lies with CBS headquarters, but that the presented letter will be reviewed and sent to New York.

The demonstrators expressed the need to lobby the commercial advertisers of CBS and the CBS board of directors.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, November 6, 1994, No. 45, Vol. LXII

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