NY PBS affiliate decides not to air panel on Armenian genocide

Feb. 28, 2006
Herald Leader
TIM McCAHILL
Associated Press

NEW YORK - A public broadcasting station has decided not to air a panel discussion that includes speakers who deny the killing of more than 1 million Armenians in the 20th century was genocide.

The taped discussion, which was scheduled to run April 17 on WNET-TV, was criticized by elected officials and Armenian-American community leaders, who called it an insult.

But a spokeswoman for the PBS affiliate said Tuesday's decision had nothing to do with politics.

"It was an editorial decision," said Stella Giammasi, vice president and director of communications at WNET, Channel 13.

The program was to follow a new documentary, "Armenian Genocide," which features interviews with Kurdish and Turkish citizens speaking about their families' experiences during the period and will air as scheduled.

After screening the discussion, Giammasi said, WNET officials determined it "did not add anything to the documentary."
[...]
Weiner, D-N.Y., said he hoped WNET's decision would prompt other PBS stations to reconsider whether to air the discussion.

"Let me put it this way," he said, "I hope this panel discussion isn't aired on any PBS station

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