The much-criticized CBS documentary, The Selling of the Pentagon, has focused a powerful spotlight on the way in which TV editors can and do distort reality. The editing practices used by CBS in The Selling of the Pentagon were so egregious that even the Washington Post joined with Vice President Agnew in condemning them. Congressman Harley O. Staggers, whose Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee is responsible for legislation pertaining to broadcasting, launched an investigation to determine if new laws were needed to outlaw misleading editing practices by the television news departments.
CBS fought back. Even though CBS had previously honored Committee subpoenas for unused video-tapes and films (“outtakes”) the network suddenly decided that such subpoenas were an invasion of its rights under the First Amendment. This was a bold move, and CBS realized that some fast manipulation of public opinion would be required to overcome the heavy weight of law and precedent arrayed against it.
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