Katie Couric, was not warning parents about sexual predators when she said "They're after your children and grandchildren." No, the “Evening News” anchor was talking about corporations “spending nearly $17 billion a year trying to sell their products to our kids.”
The one-sided May 14 segment blamed “far-reaching tentacles” of business for obesity and youth sexual activity, among other problems.
One critic, Dr. Susan Linn from the Campaign for a Commerical-Free Childhood said:
“Advertising and marketing is a factor in childhood obesity, in eating disorders, precocious irresponsible sexuality, youth violence, underage drinking, underaged tobacco use.”
But Couric didn’t give a single business the opportunity for rebuttal in the nearly five-minute story. Instead she relied on four critics of business for the report: Linn from CCFC, an author of an anti-industry book, a Pace University marketing professor, and one of the most liberal senators in Congress.
The CBS report attacked businesses from across the spectrum -- food, toys, restaurants and cars -- American Express, Baby Einstein, Chuck E. Cheese, Band-Aids and Oral-B toothbrushes were all named in the story.
