
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, December 23, 1994                   TAG: 9412230159
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

GINGRICH BOOK DEAL QUERIED

Democrats challenged Speaker-to-be Newt Gingrich on Thursday to justify accepting ``an unprecedented, unheard-of'' $4.5 million book advance from the media empire of Rupert Murdoch. Gingrich said simply, ``Conservative books sell. I can't help it if liberal books don't sell.''

``If this is not a gift, if there is no quid pro quo, Mr. Gingrich ought to tell us,'' said House Democratic Whip David Bonior. The White House, too, said the timing of the deal raised questions, coming right before Gingrich takes over as House speaker.

Bonior noted that ownership of Murdoch's Fox TV network is being investigated by federal regulators, the main issue being whether acquisition of TV stations that made up the network's foundation violated foreign ownership limits. Rival network NBC has raised questions about that before the Federal Communications Commission, and both Fox and NBC have written to members of Congress seeking support for their positions.

``Mr. Gingrich needs to tell the American people: Does he intend to push legislation in the next Congress that would lift the ban on foreign ownership of U.S. TV stations?'' Bonior said.

Murdoch's News Corp. Ltd. is based in Australia, but he is a naturalized American citizen.

White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers said the book deal with HarperCollins is the first time a public official received such a huge advance - pegged at $4.5 million by congressional and publishing sources.

by CNB