Editing WNET (section)

===Inaccuracy and improper influence===
In June 2015, a media furor forced WNET to postpone the third season of ''[[Finding Your Roots]]''<ref name=PBSSuspendsFYR>{{cite news|last1=Dowd|first1=Kathy Ehrich Dowd|title=PBS Suspends Finding Your Roots Amid Ethics Concerns Following Ben Affleck Controversy|url=http://people.com/tv/finding-your-roots-pbs-suspends-show-following-ben-affleck-controversy/|newspaper=People|access-date=July 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043237/http://people.com/tv/finding-your-roots-pbs-suspends-show-following-ben-affleck-controversy/|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=SuspensionFYR>{{cite web|last1=Garcia|first1=Tonya|title=Suspension Was the Only Option for PBS in 'Finding Your Roots' Controversy|url=http://www.adweek.com/digital/suspension-was-the-only-option-for-pbs-in-finding-your-roots-controversy/|work=Adweek|date=June 26, 2015 |access-date=July 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201083726/http://www.adweek.com/digital/suspension-was-the-only-option-for-pbs-in-finding-your-roots-controversy/|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> when the [[Sony Pictures hack]] revealed via hacked emails that a subject of the series, [[Ben Affleck]], had lobbied for material relating to a relative owning slaves be removed from the show.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Steinberg|first1=Brian|title=PBS Says Ben Affleck Had Undue Influence on 'Finding Your Roots'|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/pbs-ben-afflect-finding-you-roots-1201527439/|website=Variety|date=June 24, 2015|publisher=Variety Media Inc.|access-date=July 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628214148/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/pbs-ben-afflect-finding-you-roots-1201527439/|archive-date=June 28, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Those edits, which violated PBS ethics standards,<ref name="PBSSuspendsFYR" /><ref name="SuspensionFYR" /> brought strong criticism from the media to WNET and the producers of the show. PBS issued a statement saying "the series co-producers violated PBS standards by failing to shield the creative and editorial process from improper influence, and by failing to inform PBS or WNET of Mr. Affleck's efforts to affect program content". The statement promised the episode would be withdrawn from distribution and that the series would employ "an independent genealogist to review all versions of program episodes for factual accuracy".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bentley|first1=Anne|title=PBS Conclusions of Finding Your Roots Internal Review|url=https://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/pbs-conclusions-of-finding-your-roots-internal-review/|publisher=PBS|access-date=July 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803075230/http://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/pbs-conclusions-of-finding-your-roots-internal-review|archive-date=August 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> After the suspension of the series, ''[[Adweek]]'' commented: "The network clearly understands that its integrity has been thrown into question by this controversy. Even if they understood where the producers of the show were coming from when they decided to entertain the request, PBS and the veracity of all that's included in their documentaries, requires decisive action that conveys just how serious this infraction was".<ref name="SuspensionFYR" /> The series returned to the air in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Steinberg|first1=Brian|title='Finding Your Roots' To Return To PBS After Ben Affleck Controversy|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/finding-your-roots-pbs-ben-affleck-1201621127/|website=Variety (US Edition)|date=October 19, 2015|publisher=Variety Media LLC|access-date=July 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628191628/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/finding-your-roots-pbs-ben-affleck-1201621127/|archive-date=June 28, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>