[BrandyHagz]

ok - I've seen the preview - I've gotten some emails - we're going to need this thread.

In an effort to keep ALL AC360 discussions in ONE place - we've created this.

Remember our Agency Rules when discussing the topic.

ALL threads created on the topic will be moved here for easy moderation!

[cjrogers]

Thanks, Brandy.

My husband is on the AC message board right now.... leaving a note of I don't know what... :!!!!

[Waiting4Celeste]

Is there a preview online... or even a mention of the program on the CNN website?
Maybe I am jsut tired but I don't see anything...

I am going to set my DVR right now.

[astra]

I'm confused too!

[hopeful4baby]

When is it going to be on???

[krafmatic]

Tonight (Wednesday, October 3rd) at 10:00pm EST

[MNStarr]

I wonder why there isn't anything on their website, unless I am not seeing it...

[sophia07]

The blurb I saw was very sensational and I do not expect a fair story. They always concentrate on the fraud and never about the poverty which is the reason for most adoptions. Their catchy title for the piece was was "The Business of Selling Babies in Guatemala".

I don't think I've ever seen a positive story about adoption on TV. It's always the sensational negative one.

[stephjoel99]

I just sent a comment knowing that they will compare the numbers b/w China and Guatemala. They ALWAYS do that. I basically said that you cannot compare those numbers because it is illegal to make an adoption plan for your child in China - that every child adopted from that country is abandoned, literally in a box, in a public place.

That if adoption plans were made legal in China, the numbers would be staggering. Also that only a small percentage of children are eligible for international adoption and the US is just one of several receiving countries from China. The US is largest "receiver" of children from Guatemala. I also said that the majority of adoptions are relinquishments like the US>

Doubt he'll print it, but maybe they will.

[Guatemom]

yes-if you go to the AC360 site (part of CNN's)-there is a section in the upper left of a beautiful Guatemalan baby that has a headline like "babies created for sale to americans"---you can't miss it.
I just sent the following email to the AC360 team. Doubtful I'll hear anything, but here it is anyway. I always enjoyed watching his show, so just the mere headline being worded like that was enough to jerk the rug from under me. Here's what I sent:
I am an American adoptive parent of a Guatemalan child, so obviously the blurb about your upcoming "special" caught my eye. As I am in the process of adopting my second child from Guatemala, I am sickened with the media sensation that shrouds the adoption processes. When I 1st heard AC360 was doing something specifically on Guatemala adoptions, I thought, "finally-the truth will be told. Not everything is corrupt there. There are flaws, but there are also flaws in the US system." Then I saw your blurb today, and once again I'm proved wrong--AC360 seems to have succumbed to the temptation of sensationalism, and I doubt highly that your "report" tonight will be "fair" at all. I'm guessing you'll conveniently leave out the part where most Guat adoptions happen by relinquishment (I'm assuming you have a dictionary so you know that does not mean for sale). Do you also know that adoptions happen mostly b/c of the extreme poverty? That women are still mistreated and abused like they were during the long civil war? And many times the only real hope for their children is adoption? Why don't you focus on the REAL issues here. As for comparing China adoption #'s to Guatemala-again couldn't you try to be fair? I'm so disappointed in you and your team. I'm sure you'll neglect to mention that most (if not all) China adoptions are the result of total abandonment due to Chinese birth laws. If their laws were different, ie-provided for the legal relinquishment of children-then I assure you the outcomes would be different. I sincerely hope that all these things will be presented fairly--but of course, that doesn't sell as much as false headlines as yours do, right?
Thanks for making things worse,
A once-AC360 fan

[CurlysGirly]

I posted the following comment to them:

As a long time AC360 viewer and adoptive parent of a child from Guatemala, I worried sick that your report tonight will only focus on the few bad apples that have given adoptions from Guatemala a black eye. PLEASE understand and report that this is not the norm! Do you realize what you are doing to the children of this poverty ridden yet beautiful country by sensationalizing your story? You are stigmatizing the children that are home with their forever families in the US (could you imagine reading online that you were bought and sold like a commodity if it wasn't remotely true??) and discouraging other Americans from opening their homes to these children. Please research the country's poverty statistics and do not take what UNICEF's side on this. Please don't let your loyal viewers and these wonderful children down!!

It looks like I will need to "bump" my blog post from last week tomorrow.

[Dad2TwoBoyz]

Well, it looks like AC360 took your comments to heart and listened. Their "blurb" about tonight's broadcast has changed tones considerably. It now says:

"Were babies created specifically for sale to Americans? Just one of the allegations made against a Guatemala adoption agency under fire while the destiny of dozens of babies hangs in the balance. Watch tonight, 10 ET."

...Much different than the original sensationalistic statement that was on the website earlier today.

Tom

[Dad2TwoBoyz]

Read the AC360 Blog about tonight's report here:

CNN.com - Anderson Cooper 360° Blog

[chester5]

Originally Posted by Dad2TwoBoyz

Read the AC360 Blog about tonight's report here:

CNN.com - Anderson Cooper 360° Blog

I was just going to post this, but you beat me to it. I personally feel this is an interesting read.

Thanks for posting it.

Edited to add: CNN is posting a lot of comments on the blog right now, including many by adoptive Guatemalan parents.

[swjp]

I sent a comment--I am so angry and heartsick about everything--I just want to crawl under a rock. Anyway, hopefully, with all of the comments being sent their way, they'll see that the situation is much more complex than what it seems they'll make it out to be.

Here's what I sent:

My comment is directed to the obvious bias of the upcoming Anderson Cooper 360 show that will air tonight on Guatemalan Adoptions. From the blog and the blurb on the site, it appears that Cooper will follow the path of lazy journalists looking for an easy score at the ratings table: sensationalize Guatemalan adoptions by focusing on the unethical adoptions while completely ignoring and underreporting on the thousands upon thousands of legal, ethical adoptions. I do hope that your researchers and writers have educated themselves on the complicated and daunting process we adoptive families face when we choose to adopt as a way to build a family. Most news outlets have portrayed the process as easy and quick as long as one has the money; it is much more than that. If your staff is unaware of the process, they can contact me, and I will send them a letter that outlines the steps adoptive parents take and that the U.S. and Guatamelan governments take to ensure that the birthmother wants relinquish the child and that there has been no illegal or unethical coercian of any of the involved parties.

Please distinguish yourself from the pack--present a balanced picture. It is necessary to bring to light the negative aspect of adoptions (what is happening in Guatemala can happen anywhere, including the United States, a fact that tends not to get mentioned), but please, please give equal time to the positive side.

Be aware that how you represent children's adoptions will affect these very children some day.