AFTRA FLASH

September 2004

In this issue

Please click on the following links to take you to the news...

NET CODE NEGOTIATIONS SET TO BEGIN
ORGANIZING UPDATE
TO YOUR HEALTH - NEW BENEFITS
BROADCAST ISSUES
OVERTIME - TAKE ACTION
AFTRA ROCKS THE VOTE!
NEWS AND INFORMATION
TALENT PROTECTION
UPCOMING EVENTS
CONGRATULATIONS
WE REMEMBER

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ORGANIZING UPDATE

In February of 2004, Fremantle Latin America cancelled ongoing discussions with AFTRA regarding covering the Spanish language telenovela La Fuerza Del Silencio under a union contract. Production on the show, slated for broadcast on the Telemundo Network, was then moved from Los Angeles to Dallas, Texas, in an obvious effort to avoid the union.

In response, AFTRA planned public demonstrations in Los Angeles, Dallas and Miami for September 22. These events were intended to build on AFTRA’s continuing campaign to ensure union standards are applied to performers on this specific program as well as all Spanish-language programming generally.

We are pleased to inform you that on September 15th, AFTRA met with representatives of Telemundo and, at the conclusion of that meeting, Telemundo representatives agreed to continue discussions with AFTRA. As a result, AFTRA has agreed to postpone the events scheduled for September 22 in anticipation of a continuing, productive dialogue with Telemundo about union coverage of its programming.

Certainly, it remains to be seen whether AFTRA and Telemundo will reach a satisfactory resolution. We will keep you informed of further developments in this important campaign to provide union standard benefits and protections for Spanish-language performers.

NOTE: The No-Work order for La Fuerza del Silencio continues in effect until further notice.

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TO YOUR HEALTH - NEW BENEFITS

Supplemental Dental and Vision Benefits Now Available for AFTRA members!
AFTRA members who are enrolled in the AFTRA Health Plan will be receiving information on the Supplemental Dental/Vision Plan for AFTRA members, which is available October 1. This supplemental program provides dental coverage similar to that provided under the AFTRA Health Plan prior to 2003, as well as a vision benefit. Enrollment is now underway. For more information, check the AFTRA website (www.aftra.com), or Group Benefits Associates website (www.groupba.us/aftradental/), or call GBA at 1-800-569-5319. This program is not administered by the AFTRA H&R Funds.

AFTRA Health Fund Premium Reminder!
If you are enrolled in the AFTRA Health Plan, and have not yet received your Health Plan premium notice from the AFTRA H&R Funds for the quarter beginning October 1, 2004, contact the AFTRA H&R Funds Office immediately at 1-800-562-4690. The AFTRA H&R Funds Office should have received your health plan premiums for the October 1 quarter by September 15.

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BROADCAST ISSUES

Reporters Told To Reveal Sources Or Face Jail Time - TAKE ACTION
An unprecedented number of journalists have recently been cited for contempt in federal court as a result of their reporting on controversies involving Wen Ho Lee, Valerie Plame, and former Providence, R.I., Mayor Buddy Cianci. AFTRA has joined with the Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press to call upon prosecutors to respect the important privilege between journalists and their sources. We have created an on-line petition to give our members a vehicle to support journalists who are subject to contempt proceedings in retaliation for protecting their sources. If you are a journalist, please go to the Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press website (http://www.rcfp.org/standup/) to lend your support to this important effort.

Political Campaign News Coverage…Or Lack Thereof
With the elections coming up, how well are the broadcast networks covering the political campaigns? Speaking at the FCC Localism Hearing in Monterey, CA last month, Martin Kaplan, Associate Dean of the University of Southern California cited a recent study of political coverage on local television, which found :

• Only 44 percent of broadcasts contained any campaign coverage at all. In other words, almost six out of ten top-rated news broadcasts contained no campaign coverage whatsoever.
• Nearly half of the stories were about horserace or strategy, and not about issues.
• Fewer than three out of ten campaign stories included candidates speaking, and when they did speak, the average candidate sound bite was 12 seconds long.

To read the full findings of the study, go to http://www.localnewsarchive.org/pdf/LocalTV2002.pdf.

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OVERTIME - TAKE ACTION

House Says No To Overtime Pay Takeaway!
In a victory for millions of workers, the House voted to block the Bush administration’s overtime rules that went into effect August 23. The amendment blocks all aspects of the new overtime rules except those that extend overtime to lower-paid workers. But the fight is not over. The Bush administration has threatened to veto the underlying bill, a $142.5 billion measure funding education, worker training and health programs in 2005, if it contains the overtime amendment.
Save overtime by sending a message to the administration at http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/bush_NO_VETO/.

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NEWS AND INFORMATION

AFTRA Addresses The Congressional Hispanic Caucus
National Executive Director Greg Hessinger testified before the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on the ongoing struggle to both increase diversity in the English language media and ensure that decent wages and benefits are the standard for workers in Spanish language media. AFTRA is currently seeking to cover performers on the telenovela La Fuerza del Silencio produced by Fremantle Productions Latin America for NBC/Telemundo. In addition, AFTRA is in the process of negotiating a first contract on behalf of broadcast journalists at Chicago NBC/Telemundo station WSNS-TV. To learn more, go to www.aftra.com.

President Connolly Addresses The Communication Workers of America (CWA)
On August 31, President Connolly spoke at the 66th annual convention of the Communication Workers of America in Anaheim, CA. In his remarks, President Connolly focused on media consolidation and “the battle to break up the vast towers of vertically integrated ownership of our major media,” a fight that AFTRA is heavily involved in. In noting his admiration for CWA, Connolly stated, "I appreciate the leadership that CWA has shown in every aspect of social and political policy in our country. And in proving a powerful and inspiring ally to we AFTRA Artists who know it well ... and to the American people who may not yet, but who will in time." To read the full text of his speech, please go to http://www.aftra.com/aftra/letter.htm.

Incentive for New York Productions Gets A Boost
In an effort to slow runaway production, the New York State legislature will give out $100 million in tax credits to film and television companies for projects produced in New York State over the next four years. The initiative, backed by AFTRA, stipulates that 75% of the project work must be done in New York to receive the tax credit.

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TALENT PROTECTION

Notice to NY AFTRA Members:
Former Los Angeles talent manager Christopher Valentino, convicted of criminal conspiracy and grand theft in 2001 for running a kickback scheme with a photographer and now facing a $100,000 warrant for his arrest in California, has apparently turned up in New York bringing complaints from New York-based actors. Any member in the New York State area who has had dealings- related to the entertainment industry- with former Los Angeles talent manager Christopher Valentino, please contact Jon Sorenson, Director of Marketing & Public Relations New York State Consumer Protection Board. If you are calling from New York, the toll-free number is (800) 697-1220, extension: 3-9472. Otherwise, call (518) 473-9472, fax (518) 474-2896 or email to Jon.Sorensen@consumer.state.ny.us.

Anti-Scam Bill Signed In California
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed an anti-scam bill, protecting actors from being charged up-front fees for acting classes and photographs by talent representatives. The bill, SB 1687 authored by state Sen. Kevin Murray and supported by AFTRA, closes a loophole in the California Advance Talent Service Act, which was designed to protect individuals in the talent business from scams, by adding to the definition of advance-fee as “a fee paid for the purchase of a good or service in order to obtain representation, counseling or promotion.” The bill goes into effect on January 1, 2005.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Los Angeles Audition for NBC's Diversity Comedy Showcases
NBC will be holding an open call audition at Los Angeles' Laugh Factory this September to find ethnic and minority comedians to perform alongside Chicago & New York's top comics.

OPEN CALL: Monday, September 27 at 10 a.m.
SHOWCASE: Tuesday, September 28 at 7 p.m.

Like their Chicago and New York Diversity showcases, NBC executives, casting directors and top agents will be in attendance. Please check for the most up-to-date information as the Open Call date approaches. For more information on NBC's diversity initiatives, visit NBC Career Opportunties - NBC Talent Diversity Initiative.

Although AFTRA and the AFTRA/SAG/WGA National Comedians Caucus is not an official sponsor of this Showcase, AFTRA and the Comedians Caucus applaud NBC’s efforts to provide equal employment opportunities to its membership. For more information about the AFTRA/SAG/WGA National Comedians Caucus, please contact Lauren Bailey at (323) 634-8295 or at Lbailey@aftra.com.

For informationon AFTRA's network diversity casting initiatives, please contact Ray Bradford, AFTRA's National Director for Equal Employment Opportunities, at (212) 863.4251 or rbradfor@aftra.com.

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CONGRATULATIONS...
to the following AFTRA members, those that continue to contribute excellence in broadcasting and those no longer with us, honored by the Library of American Broadcasting at its 2nd annual Giants of Broadcasting luncheon September 15:

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WE REMEMBER

One of the first African American television news anchors in Los Angeles, Larry McCormick, passed away August 30 at the age of 71. McCormick, a LA AFTRA member since 1959, had a long distinguished career that started back in 1957 in Kansas City. He was nominated for four Emmys, and won one for his report “Making It: Minority Success Stories.” He was awarded the prestigious Governor’s Award in 1994, presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. In October 2002, McCormick was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Singer Laura Branigan, whose signature song Gloria stayed on the pop charts for 36 weeks and won her a Grammy nomination, passed away August 26 at the age of 47. Branigan released seven more albums after her debut and appeared on soundtracks for Flashdance and Ghostbusters. More recently, Branigan returned to the stage, appearing as Janis Joplin to rave reviews in the off-Broadway musical Love, Janis.

New York Radio Veteran Chuck Leonard passed away August 12 at the age of 67. Leonard was the first African American radio personality on Top 40 WABC/New York. An AFTRA member since 1965, Leonard spent 14 years at WABC before working at a series of FM stations in New York including WRKS and WJUX Jukebox Radio. Most recently, he joined Satellite Radio on both the Swing Street and Soul Review channels.

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