Server: Microsoft-IIS/3.0 Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 06:17:27 GMT Content-Type: text/html Accept-Ranges: bytes Last-Modified: Fri, 25 Jul 1997 21:15:17 GMT Content-Length: 5920 Statement Regarding 20/20 Program of 2/21/97

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Statement of Tyson Foods Regarding Misinformation on ABC'S 20/20 Program of 2/21/97

On February 21, 1997, the ABC program, 20/20 ran a segment about construction of a new airport in northwest Arkansas. We at Tyson have serious problems with the way the show characterized our support for the airport. Not only were the "facts" as presented just wrong, the sins of omission were even worse.

Tyson Foods, like virtually every other business and most individual citizens in this part of the world, does indeed support the construction of a new airport in northwest Arkansas; but not for the reasons given by 20/20. Tyson and Wal-Mart are only two very visible companies headquartered in northwest Arkansas, a region that is one of the fastest-growing areas of our country. The show depicted the location of the airport as Highfill, Arkansas, population 84, neglecting to mention that over 250,000 people live within a 40 mile radius of Highfill. All new airports, logically and by necessity, are built outside metropolitan areas and somewhat "in the country."

Because of its geographical location and the topography of the region, the existing commercial airport in Fayetteville, Arkansas is severely restricted in its capacity to expand. It is located in a valley which makes expansion or lengthening of its runways impossible, and causes frequent closure due to weather. As a result, the need to build a new regional airport has been obvious to community, political and business leaders in the area for 40 years or more. Initial efforts started in the 1960's with former U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright. Representative John Paul Hammerschmidt {R} was also instrumental in the planning stages. The suggestion that the airport is being built because of President Bill Clintonís influence is journalistic sensationalism. Additionally, the local support for the airport was demonstrated in 1992 when over 74% of the voters in separate elections in five cities and two counties voted to support construction of the airport.

The suggestion that Tyson Foods supports the airport so that we will be able to ship chickens internationally by air freight is preposterous. Tyson currently ships to 57 countries worldwide, but we do not ship by air. We ship the product frozen in containerized ocean-going vessels. It is not now and will probably never be feasible to ship the enormous quantities of product we sell overseas by air. If it were, we would already be doing so from Georgia, where we have four processing plants within a two-hour drive of the International Airport in Atlanta. That we only produce 10% of our chickens in northwest Arkansas is an important fact which was ignored by 20/20.

Tyson's support for the new airport is no different than that of everyone else from the area. We will not benefit from it in any way different from that of all individuals and businesses in the area, and should point out that we Arkansans are taxpayers, too. However, it is probably also material that the federal money going into this project comes not from taxes, but from user fees paid into the FAA's Airport Trust Fund.

We at Tyson did refuse to go on camera and be part of what we (correctly) anticipated to be a "hatchet job." But we did talk with the producers at length. They were fully aware of everything we've mentioned herein. That they neglected to include so much information is an indication their report is simply not credible.

We will be glad to answer any further questions you might have. Please call the numbers below or e-mail: nicholsone@tyson.com

Archie Schaffer, Director of Media, Public and Governmental Affairs

(501) 290-7232

Ed Nicholson, Corporate Public Relations Manager

(501) 290-4591