Elizabeth Smart is at center of media maelstrom

A media blitz surrounding the Elizabeth Smart case is raising questions about the impact of national TV exposure on a teenage crime victim — and provoking a high-stakes game of one-upmanship among television networks.

NBC's Katie Couric says the young Utah kidnap victim's first television interview was conducted with her parents' consent and included nothing that might traumatize her. Her interview with the 15-year-old Elizabeth, who was allegedly snatched at knifepoint from her Salt Lake City home and rescued nine months later, will be televised Friday.

"Part of her healing process is her ability to make decisions and do what she wants to do, obviously with her parents' consent," Couric told The Associated Press. "I guess different parents would make different decisions, but I think Ed and Lois (Smart) have her best interests at heart, and I don't think they would exploit their daughter."

The interview is one in a flurry of TV events timed to the publication of "Bringing Elizabeth Home: A Legacy of Faith," by Ed and Lois Smart. The Doubleday book is to be released Oct. 28.

Elizabeth — accompanied by her parents — also was interviewed last week by Oprah Winfrey for her syndicated talk show. The Winfrey appearance will air next Monday, the day before the book goes on sale. And CBS will air a television movie about the kidnapping, "The Elizabeth Smart Story," on Nov. 9.

In response to Couric's interview, CBS moved quickly to air "Elizabeth Smart: America's Girl," a one-hour special on the making of the movie that included an interview with Smart's parents. The interview, broadcast on Saturday, was produced by CBS' entertainment division (Smart's parents were paid for their participation, unlike with Couric's NBC show), not its news division.

That, in turn, had Doubleday fuming.

"CBS misled the Smarts and misled Doubleday regarding the timing of the movie promotion," Doubleday executive vice president for publicity Suzanne Herz is quoted on the Web site for The Drudge Report. "We were all shocked and disappointed that they would break their verbal agreements."

Citing Daily Variety, The Drudge Report said Tuesday that CBS had agreed not to promote the TV movie until after the book campaign had begun and Couric's exclusive had been aired. Daily Variety said a CBS spokesman denied any such agreement had been made with the publisher.