FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: MELINDA SHELTON, DIANE MINOR

NOW WATCHES O.J. SIMPSON APPEARANCE ON DATELINE NBC; NOW PRESIDENT PATRICIA IRELAND ALSO INTERVIEWED

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1995


NOW's national leaders and activists all over the country will be watching carefully to see how fairly and accurately Dateline NBC covers the issues involved in a three-hour special on O.J. Simpson tonight. These issues include O.J. Simpson's history of domestic violence and criminal justice system's failure to address it; the racism and sexism apparent within the L.A. Police Department; and the impact of the trial on abused women and on plans by Congress to cut funding for the new Violence Against Women Act programs.

National NOW has repeatedly and publicly criticized NBC Sports and Hertz for giving O.J. Simpson lucrative contracts after he admitted to and was sentenced for wife beating. However, NOW recognizes a news organization's interest in interviewing a highly visible public figure who is not being financially compensated for the interview.

NOW President Patricia Ireland was interviewed for tonight's Dateline NBC program before NBC announced O.J. Simpson would appear. NOW has been assured by NBC that Simpson is appearing during an hour that does not include any sponsors, that he is not being compensated in any way and that no conditions have been set on the content of the interview.

Ireland will also appear live from Washington, D.C., on tonight's broadcast of Dateline

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