Letter to ABC Re:20/20 Matthew Shepard Report

[JamieMcG]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 5:39pm

To Whom It May Concern,

As a young gay man living in the US, I have grave concerns over your upcoming report on the hate crime which galvanized the gay community to fight for our equal representation in the eyes of the law.

Having read your press release on the topic, I am saddened that ABC News would go the route of sensationalist, unbalanced reporting, letting Fox News' tabloid journalism set the standard.

In statements to police following the murder, both killers admitted to killing Shepard because he was gay. To turn around and say that there were other factors 6 years later, is not only ludicrous, but does nothing but present a disservice to the memory of Matthew. Incidentally, I find it odd that this "report" is airing just a few months after Shepard's murderers request for a sentence reduction was denied.

It makes me sick to think that the network I have turned to for decades for impressive and insightful journalistic abilities, has been reduced to a tool of the Christian Right.

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Sincerely,

James McGonnigal
New York, NY

Feel Free to write your own letter to [e-mail]

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 5:45pm

I would leave out the parts about "Fox News" and the "Christian Right". Makes you sound like a whiney liberal.

[JamieMcG]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 5:50pm

Just making the observation that once they start along that route, there is no turning back. It's quite obvious that the report is orchestrated by something other than "new evidence" being uncovered 6 years after Matthew's death. And in the respectable journalistic community, Fox news is the most obvious example of tabloid tv around...I'd say "Christian Broadcasting Network," but they're a little to the left of Fox.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 5:57pm

If ABC was a tool of the Christian Right, they would be trying to get the story yanked for its homosexual themes.

Say what you will about Fox news, but shows like Hannity and Colmes, which present both viewpoints, are few and far between.

[JamieMcG]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 6:04pm

Okay, are you really trying to argue the balanced reporting of Fox news? Hannity and Colmes??? Are you kidding me? Sean Hannity is a loud mouthed, obnoxious and charismatic guy. Colmes is mousy, unattractive and underinformed, right-leaning liberal. And according to reports from journalistic schools and organizations which measure the "balanced" reporting of networks, they discovered that Hannity gets 83% of the airtime on that show. Colmes gets 10% and guests get 7%...fair and balanced.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 6:11pm

"Sean Hannity is a loud mouthed, obnoxious and charismatic guy."

If he's so loud mouthed and obnoxious, why do people watch?

I agree with you that Colmes is mousy, unattractive and underinformed. But aren't all Democrats? Sounds like you just described John Kerry.

Hannity broadcast a pre-election interview with Bush, Colmes whined around that Kerry wouldn't accept his offer. I disagree that Colmes gets 10% of the show. That number is dead wrong. He just doesn't make good use of the 50% of the show that he does get.

Updated On: 11/20/04 at 06:11 PM

[MaTakeALookAtMe]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 7:20pm

They probably watch because he's loud mouthed and obnoxious... that's why I watch..

[Chloe]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 7:21pm

I think your letter is very good, Jamie. Thanks for letting us know about this.

And Goth, your comments make YOU sound like an insensitive conservative. Maybe you haven't realized that you guys now control the country and that the underdog act doesn't cut it any more.

[Liam]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 7:27pm

i will wotch it but i will be verry mad and the better wotch what they say i feel sadend that thell do any thing for a story did you see the last 20/20 whith that girl that turned into a man?and the colige cheating?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 8:38pm

"...shows like Hannity and Colmes, which present both viewpoints, are few and far between."

AhahahahahahahahaHAHA.

[grownupgroupie]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 8:51pm

"whiney liberal."

As opposed to a "whiny conservative?" AHEM.