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Out of office legislators still accepted free Iron Bowl tickets

January 1, 2011

News releaseDecember 30, 2010 Birmingham, AL – A recently released list of public officials who received free Iron Bowl tickets and parking passes from the University of Alabama shows that several legislators accepted the gifts even though out of office. Jim Metrock of Obligation, Inc., a Birmingham-based child advocacy organization, made a year-long effort...
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Bryant-Denny Stadium

December 29, 2010
Bryant-Denny Stadium

The seats were not the best in the house, but they were free.  2010 Iron Bowl tickets for Alabama public officials were located in sections SS-12, SS-13, U4-QQ, and U3-L.  
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University of Alabama finally releases names of ticket recipients

December 24, 2010
University of Alabama finally releases names of ticket recipients

On October 5, 2010 the president of the University of Alabama Dr. Robert Witt looked at my request and must have laughed. My request was rather simple: I wanted the University to release the names of those public officials who would be receiving free Iron Bowl tickets and a parking pass for the then-upcoming...
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50,000 student hours gone in 30 seconds

December 17, 2010

30-second commercial forced on teens and preteens November 15, 2010.     November 15, 2010 – Channel One News says they still have “nearly 6 million” students under contract to watch their in-school TV show. If that is true then one 30-second ad like this one for an animated movie called Tangled could waste...
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Not your average use of school time

December 13, 2010
Not your average use of school time

Warner Brothers needs help from taxpayers.  They have a new movie coming out that has all the makings of a major disaster. The 3D Yogi Bear movie was going to be released this past summer but its release was postponed.  That’s not a good sign for a movie. The few reviews of the movie...
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November 15 show – Ads as news

December 12, 2010
November 15 show – Ads as news

  This is one of the webpages Channel One News devoted to plugging the new Harry Potter movie. Channel One also ran commercials for the movie on the in-classroom TV show and ran video ads on its website. They also aired “news” stories whose purpose was to pitch the movie in a more subtle...
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Advertising feminine hygiene products to pre-teens

December 10, 2010
Advertising feminine hygiene products to pre-teens

This is a screen shot of Channel One’s homepage today.  This is the website that Channel One News plugs constantly during each daily in-classroom Channel One News TV show.  (“Go to Channelone.com for more information.” “Go to Channelone.com for to enter the contest.”) Channel One has taken a lot of money from Procter &...
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WVTM-TV Birmingham: First poll less than 90%

November 25, 2010
WVTM-TV Birmingham: First poll less than 90%


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Birmingham News: Iron Bowl winner

November 22, 2010
Birmingham News: Iron Bowl winner

Link to article
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Birmingham News: Iron Bowl and ethics reform

November 18, 2010
Birmingham News: Iron Bowl and ethics reform

Full story          
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Anniston Star: Legislators give tickets to “children,” “grandson,” and charity.

November 17, 2010
Anniston Star: Legislators give tickets to “children,” “grandson,” and charity.

Local legislators not using Iron Bowl tickets by Patrick McCreless [email protected] November 17, 2010 The host of the Iron Bowl sends free tickets to state legislators each year – tickets several local legislators do not plan to use. This year, Jim Metrock, president of Obligation Inc., a Birmingham-based advocacy group for children, is fighting to...
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We the fools

November 15, 2010

November 8, 2010 – A captive audience of teens and preteens have to watch this relatively obscure band plug Channel One’s advertising feature called Hear It Now. Channel One News routinely advertises new musical acts during the “news” part of the show. This is clearly advertising, but it is in addition to the 2...
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Birmingham News editorial board: Just say no

November 15, 2010
Birmingham News editorial board: Just say no


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Channel One News now owned by ZelnickMedia (Grand Thief Auto)

November 9, 2010
Channel One News now owned by ZelnickMedia (Grand Thief Auto)

Source: Alloy, Inc. ZelnickMedia Completes Acquisition of Alloy, Inc. NEW YORK, Nov. 9, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alloy, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALOY) (“Alloy”) announced today that an investor group led by ZelnickMedia has completed the previously announced acquisition of Alloy following the approval of the transaction by an overwhelming majority of Alloy shareholders at a special...
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Longest serving state legislator refuses tickets.

November 9, 2010
Longest serving state legislator refuses tickets.

Holmes, other legislators, turn down free tickets to Iron Bowl from UA November 09, 2010 by Bob Lowry MONTGOMERY – Rep. Alvin Holmes, D-Montgomery, said today he won’t accept tickets to this year’s Iron Bowl game in Tuscaloosa, and wants them to go to wounded veterans. Holmes, the longest serving member of the Legislature,...
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Birmingham News: Bowling for Ethics

November 9, 2010
Birmingham News: Bowling for Ethics

    PDF of editorial
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Video: If middle school parents aren’t upset about this, then…

November 1, 2010

March 13, 2014: This and other videos were removed after Channel One complained to YouTube.  Obligation’s YouTube account was terminated by Channel One’s actions. Channel One will do about anything to prevent the public from seeing what it is showing schoolchildren.   This is taken from the November 1, 2010 middle school showing of...
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Free Iron Bowl tickets for Alabama legislators? This has to stop!

October 27, 2010
Free Iron Bowl tickets for Alabama legislators? This has to stop!

For all our articles on free Iron Bowl tickets for Alabama public officials click here.   FOR LARGER IMAGE OF AD CLICK HERE From Jim Metrock: This ad is running in the Birmingham News today, October 27, and on Sunday, October 31. Why spend $2,400 on these ads?  Because it’s a cheap way to...
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$1,000 a ticket?! No wonder politicians cling to free tickets.

October 26, 2010

Finebaum: Alabama, Auburn could play a historic Iron Bowl Posted:  10/26/2010 It is a month from today and if you don’t have a ticket, forget about it. Or you could pay through the nose, ears, eyes or perhaps get some government bailout money to be able to afford a ticket. Right now, at the...
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Utopia is a place where you don’t have to listen to teachers.

October 25, 2010
Utopia is a place where you don’t have to listen to teachers.

Typical Channel One News.  This is a controversial topic and Channel One did not give teachers any warning that they were going to air the story.  Does this send a message to middle school students (Channel One’s biggest, most loyal audience) that there’s an alternative to taking notes in class?  Channel One News doesn’t...
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Anniston Star editorial

October 20, 2010
Anniston Star editorial

Political football in Montgomery by The Anniston Star Editorial Board October 19, 2010 If only Alabama and Auburn’s ball carriers were as elusive as state politicians asked to weigh in on the free Iron Bowl tickets perk handed out to lawmakers every year. The way some side-stepped the issue when asked about it by...
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Birmingham Business Journal: Iron Bowl 2nd hottest tickets in nation.

October 19, 2010
Birmingham Business Journal: Iron Bowl 2nd hottest tickets in nation.


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