From     <BHUSTON@stny.rr.com>
Sent      Tuesday, September 26, 2006 1:20 pm
Subject      Breast Cancer media request

To: Julia Sansom WBNG
    Amy Henry
    Suh Neubauer WICZ
    Kena Vernon WICZ
    Mary Haupt, PSB
    Elzabeth Cohen, PSB
    Marisa Brahney, and other senior women reporters, WIVT
    Mary Beth Walsh, Citadel
    Joanne Aloi, Clear Channel Radio
       
Dear Julia Sansom,
     and other local women media professionals,

As you no doubt know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I am preparing a talk called "Breast Cancer and the Media" and am seeking a woman from the working media to provide a counterpoint.

MY CREDENTIAL/MOTIVATIONS:

My mother died of cancer when I was 11 years old, so this subject is especially important to me, as I want to do what I can to make sure other women don't suffer the way my mother did.

I have no formal medical education, but I have done an extensive and on-going study of how the media works. My talk will have thorough footnotes.

My CV is here: http://home.stny.rr.com/bhuston

THESIS:

Public Relations firms funded by industry are manipulating the local commercial media in order to deliberately confuse people about the actual causes of cancer, including breast cancer. This increases corporate profits, because it is industrial and consumer products which are making people sick. It also causes the public to become ignorant and confused about the world we live in. This is especially problematic for local broadcasters, obligated by law to serve the public interest.

I argue ignorance and confusion are the design goals of campaigns such as "Race for a Cure", and providing disinformation seems a major function of non-profits like "Susan G. Komen Foundation", and "Breast Cancer Awareness Month". My talk will include examples of local media coverage about breast cancer.

Indicted are the capitalist media which deliberately provokes ignorance and confusion, and capitalist medicine which wants to create sick people, because spreading ignorance and disease is where the profits are.

Woman are dying and suffering, and are being horribly disfigured by bizarre medical procedures, for a disease which is largely preventable, with certain lifestyle choices. However, information about these choices are suppressed and malaigned by the profit-seeking media.

MEDIA REQUEST

I would be interested in having two speakers to refute or counter my assertions. Ideally, I would like to find one media and one medical professional.

This would be a public presentation of some sort, a forum, or a presentation for Public Access TV. Date/location TBD.

Be assured that I would be willing to work with you to ensure that you feel comfortable the structure of the forum is fair, equal time, etc. I will also provide you with a copy of my presentation beforehand, so that you may have time to prepare a response.

Please let me know if you would be interested.

Kindest Regards,
Bill Huston

--
Bill Huston
607-724-1755
bhuston@stny.rr.com

------------------- Responses -------------------------------------

From Mary Haupt:

Bill -- I just received your message. Will share it with some colleagues
at the Press to see if there's any interest.
Mary

From Marisa Brahney:

Hi Bill,

I appreciate your effort, and I am sorry to hear you lost your mother to
this terrible disease.
However I don't feel I'm versed on the particular issue you'd like to
debate, and I just don't feel comfortable agreeing to participate.

Thank you,
Marisa

From Julia Samson:

Bill,
I've read through your request and I really don't think I can help you
out. I wish you the best of luck. Breast cancer is a disease that's
touched so many people in my family including my mother, Grandmothers,
my Aunt and many cousins. It's a horrible disease and I pray every day
that a cure will be found.
Take care,
Julia

Reply:

Julia,

My goals are not to embarrass the people
in medicine or media who are taking part
in this campaign; my goal is to help
women and get to the truth.

If you feel you cannot participate,
can you help find me a spokeswoman
for Komen or whatever foundation you
are working with?

Thanks + kindest regards,
BH

--
Bill Huston
607-724-1755
bhuston@stny.rr.com

Julia responds:

I am the Spokeswomen for the American Cancer Societies Annual Breast
Cancer Walk. You can try contacting the American Cancer Society.
Thanks,
Julia

Reply to Julia:

Do you have a contact name/phone number?

Thanks,
BH

Julia responds:

I talk with a few people there. If you call they should be able to send
you in the right direction. They are located in Endicott and their
number is in the phone book.
Thanks,
Julia

From Jen Potsko, Fox40 Newsdesk:

Hi Bill,

This is Jen Potsko from FOX 40....  I am forwarding this message to all the
females who work here and hopefully they will better assist you.
Sorry for the delay.

Jen Potsko
FOX 40 News

Elizabeth Cohen responds:

DEar Mr. HUston:

Sorry not to get back to you on this. I have been swamped with assignments and, in fact, am dealing with my own family health crisis right now. So it is nothing personal. I HOPE you find a woman media professional.

Best regards,

Elizabeth Cohen

Amy Henry responds:

Hi Bill,

Thank you for including me in your request despite that i am no longer 'working media' ....

I am so sorry about your mother. my grandmother died from breast cancer as well, and cancer in general seems to run rampant in my family even though we are all vitamin and health 'nuts.'

I cannot really offer a counter point because I agree with what you are saying ( I am also spread way too thin right now and adding even one more small thing will put me over the edge).

I know at Fox we totally dropped the ball when we covered the BMW breast cancer drive. You had every right to be furious that we did not think to look into the issue beyond the press release-but such is MSM....

I hope you are well and that someone still working will participate. Thanks for asking.
Take care,
Amy

Joanne Aloi (GM, Clear Channel Radio), and Mary Beth Walsh (GM, Citadel Radio) did not respond.