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National Empowerment Television (NET), also known as America's Voice, was a cable TV network designed to rapidly mobilize conservative followers for grassroots lobbying. It was created by Paul Weyrich, a key strategist for the paleoconservative movement. At its peak, it claimed to reach more than 11 million homes. == History == Like many conservatives, Weyrich believed that the mainstream news and entertainment media exhibit a liberal bias. In an attempt to help counter this, he mobilized groups and donors who were equally concerned by the supposed lack of journalistic integrity. Coordinated by the Free Congress Foundation (FCF), they launched a Washington, D.C.-based satellite television network called National Empowerment Television (NET). Its logo featured a square of nine dots, referring to a puzzle that cannot be solved without drawing lines "outside the box." NET went on air for the first time on December 6, 1993. Many in academia and the mainstream media roundly criticized NET. For instance, the ''Columbia Journalism Review'' observed in 1994 that it spurned "broadcast journalism's caveat against partisan news programming.... One-third of the programs on NET are produced by 'associate broadcasters' -- organizations handpicked by Weyrich to share NET's airtime. Among the dozen associate broadcasters on NET are Accuracy in Media, the National Rifle Association, and the American Life League, an anti-abortion group. Though these programs can look like 'Discovery Channel' documentaries, they are in fact unrestrained, unfiltered, political infomercials."〔() 〕 Indeed, in an attempt to circumvent mainstream media opposition, NET went to associate broadcasters, local broadcasting channels for television syndication, and other non-traditional means of marketing. Thus, NET was able to become a broader resource for the U.S. social and economic conservative movements. Many organizations which had been traditionally shunned by major broadcasters and advertisers bought the rights to air programs on the channel, including the Christian Coalition, the Cato Institute, Accuracy in Media, and others. Nevertheless, the network had interests on a broad base of issues. For instance, under the management of Weyrich the channel was involved discussing – on programs entitled ''American on Track'' and ''The New Electric Railway Journal'' (affiliated with a print magazine of the same name) – public and mass transit issues, including local rail and interstate mass transit and the deleterious effects of automotive-oriented planning on environmental, economic, and urban quality of life. There were also programs and segments on family, community, and social issues that featured writers, local community activists and representatives, and academic leaders. Other programs focused on issues important to FCF activity: ''Endangered Liberties'' discussed privacy issues; ''Legal Notebook'' emphasized judicial nominations and court trends, and ''Next Revolution'' covered activities within social conservatism. The most popular program was ''Direct Line'' with Weyrich, in which the host interviewed lawmakers and other prominent figures live, permitted the public to call in directly with questions and comments, with Weyrich delivering commentary in the final segment. Additionally, the channel had programming on culinary and etiquette issues, even occasional segments devoted to wines and music. In all of its programming, the management team under Weyrich sought a highly professionalized approach to both its advocacy and journalistic programming. Consequently, the channel featured high production values and cost a great deal. The FCF claimed that various ideologically liberal organizations and individuals and industry competitors pressured many advertising firms to withdraw or withhold support. The result was that revenue could not meet operating costs, and in response to donor and investor pressure for a clearer focus, FCF dropped all programs not directly related to public policy and conservative activism, and rebranded the channel as NET: The Conservative NewsTalk Network, with the initials NET no longer standing for anything, and the nine-dot logo replaced with one evoking the U.S. Capitol dome. It also began news reports and updates (akin to the likes of CNN, albeit keeping its ideological principles at the forefront), and a full-fledged investigative journalism program. However, the high cost of this strategy, perceived obstacles for entering the marketplace, and other factors combined to bring NET down by 1997. As part of its audience mobilization strategy, NET invited viewers to participate in eight hours of live call-in television each day. Programs included: * ''The Progress Report'', hosted by then-House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich and Heather Higgins * ''Capitol Watch'', hosted by Burt Pines and Council Nedd II * ''Direct Line'' with Paul Weyrich * ''Borderline'', a forum for discussion of conservative views on immigration policy. * ''The Cato Forum'', which provided the Cato Institute with an ongoing opportunity to promote its beliefs concerning the illegitimacy of taxes and government regulation. * ''Legal Notebook'', providing discussion and perspectives by legal analysts on crime in America. * ''Straight Talk'', produced in conjunction with the Family Research Council. * ''On Target'' with the National Rifle Association. * ''Science Under Siege'', co-produced with the Competitive Enterprise Institute. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「National Empowerment Television」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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