Iger Turned Kimmel Back On Now Former ABC News Staffers Demand He Defend Journalism

If the mouse gives a crumb, they will demand the cookie. Disney CEO Bob Iger recently put “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on hiatus and then undid that hiatus when the Hollywood turned on him. Frankly, as the show is based on commentary and not journalism, Jimmy Kimmel shouldn’t have been pulled over his comments saying the “MAGA gang” was trying act like the shooter  was “anything other than one of them…”

This was an opinion on a commentary show. Kimmel was allowed to have that opinion.

There is a difference between commentary and opinions, and actual news and journalism. Over the last several years, the mainstream media has seemingly forgotten this fact, but it is true nonetheless.

Since Iger stood for “free speech” once (after the hiatus and firing other actors like Gina Carano) former ABC News employees now want him to stand for “journalists.”

In a letter, organized by Lisa Stark and Ian Cameron, and signed by over 100 former ABC employees, they asked Iger to protect the “free press.”

But there is a difference between “freedom of speech” and “free press.”  Free press is held to a higher standard that doesn’t translate to “my opinions equal facts.”

Here is the letter,

“A message to Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company
As former ABC News employees, many of whom are also Disney shareholders, we care deeply about The Walt Disney Company, about ABC News and most critically about protecting a free press.
We want to acknowledge and commend your decision to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s show. It was the right call and an important statement that political intimidation should not dictate ABC’s programming. This action reflects the values that have long defined The Walt Disney Company.
Yet, it must be just the first step in a concerted effort to defend free speech and press freedom against political intimidation. The $16 million settlement with Donald Trump, combined with the absence of a strong public defense of ABC News journalists under attack, has emboldened Administration efforts to intimidate the press.
The continued political pressure from the president and others in his Administration undermines both the journalistic integrity of ABC News and the First Amendment rights you have long defended.
As Jimmy Kimmel so eloquently put it when talking about these attempts to stifle free speech, “That’s not legal, that’s not American. That is un-American, and it is so dangerous.”
Disney has both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead by standing firmly against capitulation and in defense of democratic values.
Your legacy includes a reputation as a staunch defender of the essential role of journalism in a healthy democracy. We urge you now to reaffirm that legacy by:
· Publicly and unequivocally defending ABC journalists against political attacks.
· Aggressively pushing back against government efforts to undermine the First Amendment.
· Making clear that ABC News—and Disney—will not be silenced or intimidated by political pressure.
The First Amendment is not negotiable. ABC’s credibility and Disney’s reputation depend on unwavering leadership in its defense. At this critical moment, you have the chance to set a powerful example by standing up for the principles that define both our democracy and The Walt Disney Company.”

While stifling free speech is a problem, journalists with news organizations are held to a different standard than opinion shows. The issue is that a lot of the news networks out there have seemingly forgotten this fact.

Freedom of the press is different. It does protect news outlets from retribution for posting the truth. Of course, “the truth” is key.

There are four key principles to Journalistic Integrity according to the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).

• Seek truth and report it: Journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering and reporting information, verifying facts, and avoiding distortion.
• Minimize harm: Ethical journalists treat individuals with respect and consider the potential impact of their reporting.
• Act independently: Journalists’ primary loyalty should be to the public, not personal or external interests, requiring them to avoid conflicts of interest and resist pressure from outside sources.
• Be accountable and transparent: Journalists should take responsibility for their work, explain their ethical choices, correct errors, and address unethical conduct in the industry.

There are far more checks and balances when you are seen as a news authority than there are on a late-night show, comedy special, or commentary show. News networks need to stick to facts, and if they don’t, they can be sued by anyone, including politicians.

That being said, I agree that the government shouldn’t be able to dictate who can speak and who can’t.

It wasn’t right for the Biden administration to censor YouTubers and other commentators over opinions and their “free speech” about the Pandemic, vaccines, and the election in 2020, either. Yet I noticed that a lot of the “news networks” so worried about “freedom of speech” have not been covering this story.

Political censorship is never okay.

But freedom of speech applies to opinion, and the “news” sets itself up as an authority with a duty to truth.

I do hope Iger stands up for journalistic integrity and the rights of customers to have access to fact-based, unbiased news.