The Microsoft Corporation is under fire because its Encarta encyclopedia calls the death of at least 600,000 Armenians during the last days of the Ottoman Empire the first genocide of the 20th Century. This is certainly not a radical assertion. Most historians agree with that characterization. But after the Turkish government objected, Microsoft’s Encarta reportedly told some of its authors to consider the so-called other side of the story. The authors say they were told, by Microsoft, that if they did not agree to certain revisions the company would publish it with Microsoft’s revisions and without their names.

Guests:

• Gary Alt, Editor in Chief of Encarta. He has more than 20 years in the encyclopedia business. Microsoft would only participate in the show if they did not have to be on at the same time as Professor Suny. As a result, Gary Alt will be on hold listening to the show. He will then respond.
• Ronald Suny, Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. He authored the piece for the Encarta encyclopedia on the Armenian genocide.
• Peter Balakian, author of the memoir Black Dog of Fate: An American Son Uncovers his Armenian Past. He is Donald and Constance Rebar Professor of the Humanities at Colgate University in New York.