What kind of message was sent by CBS's and ABC's decisions to not broadcast exposes on the tobacco industry?

Dear FRONTLINE,

[The message sent by the two networks was] this country is ruled by financial interests and that the public has nothing and no one to rely on for uncovering the truth.

Sylvette Bobb
houston, texas

Dear FRONTLINE,

It is because of programs like this, that we need to support and ensure that public television stays public. As this Frontline program has shown us, the involvement of corporations in our media (those air waves that the public owns) does indeed keep them from informing us about what we need to know. Compound this with the inpact of these same forces in our elections (the corruption of how campaigns are financed), the American public doesn't stand a chance. Thank you Frontline. Thank you public television.

milwaukee, wisconsin