Date: Thu, 4 Aug 1994 23:31:22 EDT [ Send all responses to FABIAN@vm.cc.purdue.edu ] Public service announcements concerning AIDS prevention were given to the television networks a few weeks back. Many local television network affiliates have decided to either not air the PSAs or air them only late at night. The networks have also not sent the PSAs to all of their affiliates so that even if they are interested in broadcasting them, they are unable to do so. Letters to Leaders, an AIDS grassroots organization, has written the following letter to the major networks to show support for the showing of these announcements. Please send or rewrite this letter to the four addresses at the top of the letter. July 22, 1994 Mr. Thomas Murphy Mr. Donald Ohlmeyer ABC NBC Capital Cities 30 Rockefeller Plaza 77 West 66th Street New York, NY 10012 New York, NY 10023 Mr. Jonathan Rogers Mr. Mitch Stern CBS Fox 630 North McClerg Court 10201 Pico Blvd. Chicago, IL 60611 Los Angeles, CA 90035 Dear Chief Executive Officers: I am involved with a grassroots organization committed to AIDS awareness and education. I am writing to support and applaud your decision to authorize the airing of the United States Center for Disease Control ("CDC") AIDS Prevention Public Service Announcements ("PSA"). We have contacted many of your Midwest local affiliates and your national networks and have learned of your position on scheduling the broadcast of the PSAs. I am surprised and disappointed to find out that many of your local affiliates have decided to either not air the PSAs, or air them only late at night. My request is that the PSAs consistently air during prime time on all of your stations to foster AIDS awareness with the intent to stop the spread of AIDS. Since 1990, teenagers have been one of the fastest growing groups to be diagnosed with AIDS. As you know, prime time programs expose young viewers to sexual situations without consistently showing them how to protect themselves from contracting AIDS. Prime time is the ideal arena in which to respond to and stop this growing trend. The networks have the opportunity to educate all people, especially our youth, about safe sex. Through investigation, I have found that not all affiliates have received the PSAs. If you have not already sent the PSAs to all of your affiliates, please do so and request that they air them during prime time hours instead of limiting their broadcast to late at night. With your support we can educate people about AIDS prevention and stop the spread of AIDS. To have this possibility realized, I request that your stations air the U.S. Center for Disease Control AIDS prevention PSAs during prime time. I plan to provide a copy of this letter to my elected leaders in Washington requesting federal intervention on this matter. Thank you for your time and cooperation. Very truly yours, ________________________ ________________________ Address ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Letters to Leaders is a grassroots network dedicated to helping people write letters to legislators and other leaders regarding particular HIV/AIDS issues. If you would like to receive sample letters on a regular basis, send an e-mail to me at fabian@vm.cc.purdue.edu