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From Channel One’s “Testimonials” http://www.channelonenetwork.com/corporate/testimonials.html
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Dear Channel One: Our school district’s hands-on experience with Channel One has been extremely positive. We find the programming to be of the highest quality and our students benefit from their exposure to the daily current events broadcast. For many of these young people, this is their only exposure to the news. Our teachers use this program to stimulate thoughtful discussion on current topics. Many of our students continue these discussions with their parents at home. This student/teacher/parent interaction is invaluable. – Robert Lane, Member Lowndes County Board of Education; Former President, Alabama Association of School Boards, Lowndesville, Ala.
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From Jim Metrock:
This is a powerful statement praising Channel One. Channel One has been using this quote from Robert Lane for almost 10 years now. Most of the “testimonials” about Channel One are from years ago.
Mr. Lane’s comments have helped Channel One’s public relations campaign in Alabama and across the country. He is one of the few people to publicly say Channel One is a benefit for schools.
As it turns out, these are not his words.
They were written by Martin Christie of Public Affairs Strategies, Channel One’s Alabama lobbyist at the time.
Mr. Lane came by Obligation’s booth at the recent National School Boards Association annual conference and talked with me about Channel One. He said his “old friend” Martin Christie “put me up to that,” referring to the above “testimonial” he signed.
Mr. Christie is no longer listed as a lobbyist for Channel One Network in Alabama. He does continue to represent Cash America International a payday loan company with many locations in Alabama. (Interesting that just as payday loan shops exploit lower-income communities, Channel One is found disproportionately in schools in those same communities.)
I reported several years ago on the Channel One “testimonial” of Alabama state senator George Clay which is still on Channel One’s site.
This is his quote:
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From Channel One’s “Testimonials” http://www.channelonenetwork.com/corporate/testimonials.html
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Dear Channel One: [Our] schools do not have the means to purchase [electronic] equipment with the limited resources at their disposal. Channel One is not only a valuable educational tool, it is a vital and committed force benefiting adolescent health in my district and throughout the country. – Former Sen. George Clay, Chairman, Health Committee, District 28, Tuskegee, Ala.
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Senator Clay also sent a blistering letter to the president of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1999 when the group passed a resolution urging Alabama schools to remove commercials from classrooms. (Channel One was the only company bringing commercials into classrooms.) Senator Clay lectured the pediatricians and implied that they didn’t know what was in the best interest of children.
The letter was shocking and didn’t sound like it would come from an elected official.
I called Senator Clay and talked with him shortly after the AAP Alabama Chapter sent me a copy.
Senator Clay was apologetic. Quite frankly, he was embarrassed. He said the letter was sent to him by… (dramatic pause) Martin Christie and Sen. Clay signed it and mailed it.
Why would these two gentlemen do this for Mr. Christie?
At the time Channel One and their parent company Primedia had a lot of money and they funneled that money through lobbyists like Christie who in turn wrote checks to the campaigns of politicians who in turn were happy to sign letters praising Channel One Network.
