The February 15, 1981 was a Sunday under the star sign of ♒. It was the 45 day of the year. President of the United States was Ronald Reagan.
If you were born on this day, you are 45 years old. Your last birthday was on the Sunday, February 15, 2026, 136 days ago. Your next birthday is on Monday, February 15, 2027, in 228 days. You have lived for 16,572 days, or about 397,730 hours, or about 23,863,810 minutes, or about 1,431,828,600 seconds.
Date: 15 February 1981
Television journalism could be greatly enhanced if the three major networks adopt the suggestion of Roone Arledge, the president of ABC News. He wants all documentaries and special news programs removed from the prime-time ratings game.
Date: 16 February 1981
By C. Gerald Fraser
C. Fraser
Walter Cronkite, within a month of his retirement as the country's leading television news personality, will participate in ceremonies of the 1979-80 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University awards in broadcast journalism. The awards are given annually to radio and television stations for producing local, national and public-affairs programs that are judged outstanding. Making the presentations will be Mr. Cronkite, who retires as anchor of ''CBS Evening News'' on March 6; Hugh Downs of ABC News's ''20/20''; Jim Lehrer of the Public Broadcasting Service's ''MacNeilLehrer Report''; George Plimpton, editor of Paris Review, and Jessica Savitch of ''NBC Update'' and the Saturday ''NBC Nightly News.''
Date: 15 February 1981
Max Robinson, the co-anchor on ABC's ''World News Tonight'' who was quoted as having told a college audience Monday that ABC News had discriminated against him and other black journalists, issued a statement yesterday claiming the report, by The Morning Union in Springfield, Mass., was a ''distortion of my remarks.'' The newspaper has said it stands by its story.
Date: 15 February 1981
By Paul Lewis, Special To the New York Times
Paul Lewis
A plan to create a new international organization to licence journalists and insure that they comply with the ''generally accepted'' ethics of their profession will be introduced here on Monday at a meeting organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The proposed body, the Commission for the Protection of Journalists, would issue identification cards to reporters on dangerous assignments in war zones or working abroad. It would also judge complaints about their professional conduct and could withdraw the identity cards, making it difficult and perhaps impossible for them to work in many countries. The proposal is opposed by the Western governments and news organizations, which regard it as infringing on freedom of the press. It is supported by Communist and radical third-world nations pressing for new arrangements that would legitimize governmental control over the flow of information under Unesco auspices.
Date: 15 February 1981
Tomorrow in Paris, third world, Communist and Western experts will resume discussion of a controversial ''new world information order,'' a restructured system of world communications sought by many developing countries to promote their political and economic goals. Western governments and news organizations vigorously oppose the plan, fearing it will bring increased interference with freedom of the press. But in October, officials of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, where the third world enjoys large voting majorities, were authorized to draw up concrete proposals. Outvoted Western delegates, while remaining critical, agreed that further study should proceed on the form a new order would take. Unesco is preparing a journalistic ethics code, possibly to be enforced by licensing of reporters. To explore what is at stake, Paul Lewis of The New York Times Paris Bureau talked separately with Frank Campbell, Information Minister of Guyana (where a conference of nonaligned countries will discuss the subject in May), and with Leonard H. Marks, former director of the United States Information Agency who is secretary-treasurer of the World Press Freedom Committee. Excerpts from the interviews follow: Frank Campbell
Date: 15 February 1981
By Joseph H. Cooper
Joseph Cooper
In a suit that has national implications for press freedom, the Reader's Digest Association on Tuesday is to ask the United States District Court here to enjoin the Federal Election Commission from investigating the preparation, dissemination, and promotion of an article about a political figure. The Commission, in undertaking an inquiry, seems to be proceeding from the following ''syllogism'': A. The Federal Election Campaign Act makes it unlawful for any corporation to make a contribution or expenditure in connection with any Federal election or primary. B. Many of the newspapers and magazines that carry articles and editorials about candidates for Federal office (including the Presidency) are owned and published by corporations. C. Thus, monies spent in the preparation, dissemination, and promotion of such articles and editorials are illegal political contributions. The issue involves an article, ''Chappaquiddick: The Still Unanswered Questions,'' that appeared in the February 1980 issue of Reader's Digest. In preparing the article, Reader's Digest commissioned and paid for two studies that provided the basis for questioning Senator Edward M. Kennedy's version of the fateful 1969 auto accident that led to the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. The magazine publicized and promoted the article by making available to television networks and stations videotapes illustrating the studies' results.
Date: 15 February 1981
By Michael Wright and Caroline Rand Herron
Michael Wright
Cynthia Dwyer, unregretful and still, in her husband's word,''irrespressible,'' returned to the United States last week, deported by Teheran after nine months in prison that ended with a conviction for spying. Mrs. Dwyer, a part-time book editor from a small town near Buffalo, flew to Iran in April as a freelance journalist to write sympathetically, her family said, about the Iranian revolution.
Date: 16 February 1981
By Jack Larsen
Jack Larsen
To the Editor: As a Zimbabwe watcher since 1975 (when I met one of its present ministers), I would question the impact of your coverage of that troubled country, particularly your editorial of Jan. 20 commenting on the Cabinet shake-up. here are few bright spots for ''our side'' in Africa. Zimbabwe could lean our way, but its promise can be dimmed by the smoke screen emitted by South Africa and its rich and powerful friends.
Date: 15 February 1981
The Long Island Coalition for Fair Broadcasting Inc. was formed in response to the failure of New York City-based television stations to meet their obligation to cover the news and public affairs of special local interest to 2.8 million Long Islanders. Doris Weinschenk, a former staff member of Channel 21, Long Island's PBS station, argues (Letter to the Long Island Editor, Jan. 25) that since Channel 21 gives in-depth coverage without the sensationalism of the city-based news teams, the Coalition should give up its efforts to pressure for more coverage from the media giants next door.
Date: 16 February 1981
International The failure of the guerrilla offensive in El Salvador has led several governments and political parties in Latin America to reconsider their unconditional support for the Marxist-led Democratic Revolutionary Front. The front for the first time has come under strong pressure from its traditional allies to to seek a political solution to its conflict with El Salvador's civilian-military junta. (Page A1, Column 1.) More factional fighting in Zimbabwe between former guerrillas loyal to the political parties in Prime Minister Robert Mugabe's Government seemed less likely. The guerrilla force known as the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, which is tied to Mr. Mugabe's party, was disarmed and trucked out of Entumbane Township, near Bulawayo, where fighting broke out last week, taking about 300 lives. (A1:3.)