CHANNEL 4 SMEARS CHAVEZ

Dear Jim Gray, Channel 4 Editor

On March 27, Channel 4 News included a report by Washington Correspondent Jonathan Rugman: 'Hugo to go?'

John Pilger described the report as "one of the worst, most distorted pieces of journalism I have ever seen".

For a detailed analyses of Mr. Rugman’s report, please take the time to read “CARTOON TIME - CHANNEL 4 SMEARS CHAVEZ” (Media Lens, April 5, 2006)

Jon Snow replied to the many viewers who complained about Mr. Rugman’s journalistic travesty with a charade: “I hope to be interviewing chavez when he comes through London in a couple of months time and will put your points to him..thanks for taking thr trouble to write..it makes a difference”; “i hope to raise someof the points with chavez when he comes through London in the coming months..as long as he hasnt 'come off the rails by then..although i think he'd be the first to say he's never been on them..the rails were set out by the gringo, and he's done well to be off them”; etc.

Doesn’t Channel 4 have a better way to show its values of independence, balance and fairness than Mr. Rugman’s travesty and Mr. Snow’s charade?

Why should the right of your viewers to a correct and balanced information depend on the hopes of Mr. Snow to interview President Chavez in a couple of months?

Shouldn’t Channel 4 immediately and publicly acknowledge Mr. Rugman’s travesty, issue a formal correction and apologise to its viewers, to President Chavez and to the Venezuela’s people?

Mr. Rugman asks rhetorically in his report "Is Chávez on the way to becoming a dictator?"

I would like to ask you – but not rhetorically - “Is Channel 4 on the way to becoming FOX NEWS?”

Thank you for your time and I look forward for your comments.

Kind regards,
Gabriele Zamparini

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crumbs gavbriele you sem to be a bit hot under the collar about all this..poor old pilger if this is one of the worst, most distorted pieces of jouranlism he's ever seen he must have lived a sheltered life..as i know he hasnt, thus i suspect you exagerate a little. i've had it from a number of people that chavez, enormous force for change tho his presidency has been, is indeed trying to see if the consitution will allow some bending of rules to extend his tenure..that he has been showing a bit of stress recently. I dont think you can entirely disregard everything we reported. I'd recomend Cat's Dream getting out there..maybe send pilger..and do a new take..but do look at the points I've raised..i suspect there are a number of things that will alarm you..you have a fine tradition in these matters..best wishes, jon snow

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Dear Mr. Snow,

Thank you for taking the trouble to write. Since my email was not addressed to you but to Channel 4 News Editor Mr. Gray, I am even more grateful.

It’s too bad though that your love for sarcasm doesn’t allow you to address the issues raised in my email and more extensively, in the Media Lens’ Alert.

And now I look forward to getting a proper reply from Mr. Gray.

Kind regards,
Gabriele Zamparini
PS It will sound strange to you, but I don’t have any collar. And about collars, congratulations for your £600,000 book deal.

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gabriele either you have to communicate with me, or John piliger has to but i cant carry on two dialogues over the same email!!!..oh and the book deal..was three years ago!! and was for a little more than that..best jon snow