MediaWatch: August 1996
Table of Contents:
Ross Takes on the Boss
ABC's Brian Ross filed stories during the GOP conclave on corporate money lavished on the GOP, but his August 15 World News Tonight report looked at a surpising target:
"Very much in the middle of the mix are the giant media corporations, like CNN, whose multi-million-dollar merger has yet to be formally approved by federal regulators. Time Warner gave more than $100,000 to be an official sponsor of the convention." Former Los Angeles Times reporter Dwight Morris told Ross media companies shouldn't use the conventions to lobby, and Ross noted: "But that didn't stop CBS lobby ists from giving the Republicans thousands of dollars to help pay for the cost of food and liquor in the skybox belonging to Republican Party Chairman Haley Barbour."
Ross even reported on his own bosses: "Last night, the ABC hospitality suite was a lobbyist's dream. With visits from Congressman Tom Bliley, the chairman of the House Commerce Committee, which handles telecommunications issues. And then from the number two man in the House, Majority Leader Dick Armey, who could be seen with top ABC executives, including the ABC lobbyist, who insisted he wasn't lobbying."
The Friday before the Democrats convened Ross reported "a labor union under federal investigation for its ties to the mafia" contributed at least $250,000 to the party.
