TV channels consult White House

Around 25 people from the entertainment world met officials

US TV stars and executives have met White House officials to see how they can help the war on terror.

Participants said they were meeting to see what "Hollywood could do for the nation".

The two-hour session concentrated on how the media could enhance the country's image and portray the government's message to its own people.

Among those attending was Oscar-winning actress Sally Field and other members of the entertainment establishment.

Sally Field: Working with the White House

Bryce Zabel, chairman of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, said: "We all share the mutual interest of wanting to do whatever is best for our country, and communication is a powerful tool.''

The discussion dealt mainly with refining "our country's message" both for domestic audiences and to the world at large, he added.

CBS Television president Leslie Moonves, who also attended, said no specifics emerged from the meeting on Thursday.

The meeting was a step towards the formation of an ''arts and entertainment task force'' to link the Bush administration and the entertainment community, said trade paper Daily Variety.

Future initiatives could include using existing communication systems to improve global understanding and to pass on necessary information on such issues as biological weapons, it said.

Others at the meeting included industry executives Peter Roth, president of Warner Bros TV, Sandy Grushow, chairman of Fox Television Entertainment Group, Jerry Offsay, president of programming for Showtime cable TV network, Colin Callender, president of films for cable network HBO Field and actor Ron Silver.