Criticized Alhurra head resigns
Broadcaster aired anti-American statements
By William Triplett
Variety
June 11, 2007
WASHINGTON -- The editorial director of Alhurra Television resigned Friday amid criticism of the U.S.-funded broadcaster for airing unchallenged anti-American and anti-Israeli statements, some of which were made by people or groups the Bush administration has designated as terrorists.
Larry Register submitted his resignation to the Broadcasting Board of Governors, under whose purview Alhurra falls. In his letter to BBG member Joaquin Blaya, Register said he had been unfairly targeted but felt the criticisms were starting to affect the Arabic-language TV station's ability to carry out its mission of countering extremist views of the U.S. among Middle East auds. . .
. . .In addition to vitriolic statements that aired without an opposing opinion or analysis, Alhurra covered the extensive conference Iran hosted questioning the validity of the Holocaust. Most commercial media had deemed it not newsworthy.
Defenders of Alhurra said that for the broadcaster to gain credibility with Middle Eastern auds, it needs to air controversial material that the U.S. government may not like or accept.
Register was also criticized for not being an Arabic speaker -- a requirement, some said, for leading an Arabic-language broadcaster.
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Senator Tom Coburn
Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security
340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2254 Fax: 202-228-3796
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