PBS Slams Confidentiality

NCFA has received many calls from viewers of the recent Jim Lehrer News Hour program on PBS-TV, featuring the issue of confidentiality in adoption. Most callers felt it was biased and were upset. As it turns out, the anti-adoption groups agree, as their comments on the internet show.

"Sue" wrote : "The news Hour had a segment tonight on opening adoption records. Imo, it was a real attempt at covering all pov equally and fairly. . .They did the registry versus open records controversy, quickly, but completely - for a televised segment."

"Patty" responded: "I have just watched it through for the second time and it is EXCELLENT... I was very proud of the marvelous job done by the Oregon PBS team..they really did their homework. Their graphics concerning the LOWEST abortion rates in the two US states which have OPEN records for adult adoptees really iced it...All in all, I felt this was def initely one for our side. "

"Sue" responded: "If BN (Bastard Nation) or AAC (American Adoption Congress) or CUB (Concerned United Birthparents) is creating a film library of such segments, I'd be glad to donate my copy... Or better still, I hope that all the organizations will contact PBS today to thank them and to request copies of the segment. Wouldn't that be an interesting tool for future BN Reg Days and other events? . . . Can you guys get permission for all of us to use that segment in future pro-reform efforts?"

"Damsel"commented:"..You go, girl with the BN proj ect to bring all the terminally ill adoptees who have had their records denied out of the woodwork. I met SEVERAL at RegDay '96. The issue is not medical records really, but neither is it minority..birthparentrights. But if we have to appeal to sensationalism as ..[NCFA] is doing, then that's what we have to do. We have to get it together and trot out all the arguments and counter-argumentsfor open records. We can all take advantage of sensational minorities. The question is whether the minority of birthmothers who don't want contact have more rights 18 years down the road than the group of adult adoptees. "

"Deb"said: "It may have been a difficult time for the birthmother, but she should get into therapy and work through it...And why did she wait two years to relinquish? Pretty fishy."

If these are the anti-adoption people's comments for public consumption, guess what they say behind "closed doors" on the internet? Damaging as these comments are, don't be surprised to see the anti-adoption people stop gabbing so openly.

Those who' d like to read the transcript can obtain it from NCFA for $10.00 by sending a SASE to NCFA, ATTN: News Hour. NCFA' s Pierce did present accurate data that covered every point made on the News Hour during the taping, including statistics that were not "cooked". The problem is that very little of that made it into the segment - an argument for refusing to do any taped pieces in the future, in the interest of preventing similar one-sided presentations.