bbGiven what has been described as McClatchy’s six-figure publishing deal with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, this headline caught my eye:

Franklin Graham pans movie about his father

Seems Billy’s son has no use for media he does not authorize — and presumably does not share in the profits. Is this really news? And if it is, shouldn’t the paper’s financial arrangements with Franklin Graham rate a mention?

Put another way, if McClatchy is counting on a big payday with the sale of memorializing books and special editions on occasion of Billy Graham’s passing, how likely is the company to criticize or get on the other side of Franklin Graham on any issue or topic? At a minimum this relationship should be disclosed when reporting on issues relating to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association so that readers can make up their own minds.

The movie in question, Billy: The Early Years may well turn out to be dreck when the public gets a look in October. But a pre-emptive negative review loudly amplified without the benefit of context has not exactly convinced me that the film will reek.