On the Sept. 16 I posted the following:

"Clear Channel, the world’s largest radio network, has sent out a list of some 150 "lyrically questionable" songs by everyone from the Animals to the Zombies to its radio stations, recommending that the songs not be aired."

The statement is true. The operative word is "recommending". However, as this traveled from blog to blog, even showing up in Slate and the New York Times, "recommending" was often seen as a ban from corporate offices.

Zoe had received email that told something else and she found this site that clarifies Clear Channel's actions.

Radio, Radio

Claim:   Clear Channel Communications banned their American radio stations from playing specified songs in order to avoid offending listeners.

Status:   False.

Origins:   It's not unusual in a time of sadness and mourning such as the one following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. that radio and television stations temporarily suspend the airing of material -- programs, songs, advertisements -- that might be considered insensitive or in bad taste. Just as an airline wouldn't show in-flight films featuring airplane crashes, especially after a particularly horrible airliner accident, so entertainment outlets generally opt to temporarily dispense with material dealing with death and disaster in the wake of terrible real-life events. So, many radio stations have recently invoked voluntary moratoriums on songs which refer to airplanes, crashes, violence, and death in their lyrics or titles.
(...)

Other than some rather questionable choices of songs, the only thing remarkable about this list is that so many sensation-hungry news outlets have attempted to spin it as an outrageous mandate by Clear Channel to "ban" certain songs from the airwaves.

Not only news outlets but also blogs. My only relief is that I posted it with the term "recommending". I will admit that I saw this as a ban and spoke to others, about this, in those terms.

It is important, *very* important, now that we continue to seek out the full story. It's easy to jump to conclusions in these emotional times.