From: coriez@ix.netcom.com (Charles Oriez) Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Subject: Denver media update Date: 28 Aug 1995 12:09:41 GMT Message-ID: <41sbm5$84v@ixnews3.ix.netcom.com> I originally sent this e-mail to a couple of folks particularly interested in Denver media coverage of the Clam raids on Wollersheim and Penny. I was asked to repost here for everyone, for some reason. So, with some identifying language removed, here goes: one neccessary clarification - the original e-mail I sent out happened on Friday [Aug. 25]. I dont know that KUSA is still carrying the story nightly as their lead story. ======================================================================= Okay. I tried responding just to xxx, because I did think it was slightly off topic. But I guess I better do a backgrounder for you on Denver media, as it pertains to Wollersheim and xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. There are two media outlets that are attacking this issue and refusing to let go. They both happen to be ABC affiliates (I think - see below), but are not related to each other by ownership or otherwise, AFAIK. KUSA-TV, Channel 9 - They've been running the raid and its aftermath as the lead story since it broke. Last night they led with Kobrin's letter threatening to sue them "A cult in California doesnt want us to share what we know about this story". Then went on to discuss the raids, the aftermath, the civil liberties info, and some stuff right out of OT3 (think the body theatans are 3, anyway). They are an independent ABC affiliate, set to switch next month to NBC (all the top stations in Denver are jumping around next month). Ward Lucas, the anchor on the evening news, has made this his personal issue, from the looks of it. He went so far as to call the radio station below yesterday morning (2 days after raid) to discuss the story further, on the air for 20 minutes. I view that as almost unprecedented, especially without prearrangement. The tenor of their comments from day one has been adament oppostion to what they see as an assault on free speech. I don't think they're going to let up. KTLK 760 AM - KTLK and KOA (850 AM) are 'sister stations', by which I assume they mean common ownership and affiliation. I know KOA is ABC, which means I assume KTLK is ABC. Seperate news departments though. When the anti-censorship (cancel poodle ) press release went out, It was sent to an executive producer at KOA, in the hopes of getting some air time on the Greg Dobbs show (nights, KOA). She said Dobbs wasnt interested, but passed it to Mike Loftus, who is the producer for Peter Boyles (KTLK, mornings), in the thought that he would be interested. The morning after the raid, Boyles criticised the raids rather strongly on air, and said he was going to get one of the raidees on his show as fast as possible, but mentioned that he hadnt reached them yet. Peter Boyles has a standard talk show format, with a listener call in line. Mike spent all of that day trying to track down Lawrence, finally being successful around 6 or 7 in the evening. People raided in the future shoulq quickly assign a press coordinator to pull press calls off your answering machine and coordinate your post raid interview schedule, book deals, etc. Lawrence agreed, promos started, and it was the hottest topic of the morning. When the guest for the following hour cancelled, the discussion got extended from the original 1 hour to 2 hours. That was when Ward Lucas called in and spent 20 minutes on the air. This was yesterday morning. Peter Boyles was outraged. Callers were outraged. The OSA folks who had the temerity to call in were enturbulated. First Deborah Dano (sp?) and then Karen Pough. Dano was completely unable to redirect, couldnt handle a decent dead agenting, etc. In fact, Lawrence commented after she hung up that she'd be replaced, and 10 minutes later Pough called. Good old hkk was threatening lawsuits left and right. They're so mad that they are still talking about it today. People are still calling in. When US Senator Ben Campbell came on the next morning, that was the first thing he was asked about. He said he came in early, sat down with Peter Boyles, and got as much info as he could. He said his office is getting phone calls about it. He sounded concerned, but didnt commit. By the way, the talk show host murdered by the nazis, Alan Berg, was a host on one of these stations. They don't scare easy. Anyone not able to hear KTLK might try KOA (850 AM), which I know can be picked up from Indiana to San Francisco. Greg Dobbs is on, I think from 9PM to midnight MDT. Listener call in number thre is 303-623-8585. If you hear it, and hear of an opportunity to discuss the raids, call him. In addition to the radio/TV media, the Rocky Mountian News is particularly paying attention to the story, with just about daily coverage of new material. The Denver Post has been less capable in its coverage. The Gazette Telegraph (Colorado Springs - 60 miles south) is limiting its coverage, for now, to the AP feed. I wont post the print stories, because someone else already is. --------------------------------------------------------- *charles oriez, sp4 coriez@ix.netcom.com* *"It works in a field, but not a spiritual one. It has * * no mystical basis. It is a cool, cynical, manipulating* * business and nothing else." Mr Esperon, Danish dele- * * gate to the European Parliment, on Scientology * ---------------------------------------------------------