I posted yesterday about a list of companies which have instructed Premiere Networks not to run their ads on conservative talk radio shows, for fear of reaction from “a very small percentage of the listening public” (emphasis mine):
These advertisers have made a commitment to using radio, both network and local, in 2012. They help to underwrite the cost of sponsospecific programs and/or services. They’ve specifically asked that you schedule their commercials in dayparts or programs free of contknow are deemed to be offensive or controversial (for example, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Tom Leykis, Michael Savage, Glenn Beck,Hannity). Those are defined as environments likely to stir negative sentiment from a very small percentage of the listening public.
It is not clear whether this is a new development in reaction to the campaign against Rush advertisers, or something that has been in place for a while.
That same post noted the numerous companies which do business with Gawker Media, which through its flagship Gawker website publishes what its owner proudly terms sexual and mean content, including attacks on conservative female politicians among others.
It turns out that three companies are on both lists, meaning that they will not advertise on conservative talk radio for fear of controversy, but will advertise on Gawker or other Gawker Media websites: Ford, Sony and American Express.
The Sony ad campaign on Gawker is listed as one of Gawker’s Greatest Hits:
I e-mailed the appropriate media contacts at the three companies yesterday, specifically asking them to confirm their advertising policies with regard to conservative talk radio and Gawker, but none responded.
It appears that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, or in this case, the advertising boycott. Because liberal groups target advertisers on conservative talk radio, those advertisers only hear one voice and have been intimidated.
If Ford, Sony and Amex boycott conservative talk radio, I’d like to hear the rationale for advertising on Gawker. I’m not asking them to drop Gawker, just to explain to millions of conservative talk radio listeners why our business is not important to them.
Here are some contacts for the companies, so they can hear your voice (be polite):
Ford: @Ford (Twitter), Facebook, Sales/Advertising Contact Form, Investor Relations Contact Form, General Corporate Contact Form.
Sony: @Sony (Twitter), Facebook, Public Relations Contact Page.
American Express: @AskAmex, @AmericanExpress (Twitter), Facebook, Media Relations Contact Page, Investor Relations Contact Page.
Update 3-14-2011: A reader, in response to a complaint e-mail, received a response from Amex indicating Amex did not instruct Premiere Networks to avoid conservative talk radio. I have an e-mail into Amex seeking clarification specifically as to the memo and the Limbaugh show.
Amex finally responded, Amex denies being part of conservative radio boycott.
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Comments
Those are defined as environments likely to stir negative sentiment from a very small percentage of the listening public.
If it’s really all that small, why are they worried?
A great little Alinski-style tactic the Collectivists learned many decades ago was to project this BIG presence, using swell new technology and often bogus credentials. Rush as talked about it many times. Even easier now with social media and a relative few useful idiots.
Prof. or anybody… I am Facebook and Twitter non-compliant. (I’ve never trusted Facebook, and I can waste more than enough time without Twitter).
Could anyone help with regular old email addresses, please?
Go to the listed contact pages.
Ah, gotcha…!
E-mails launched, skipper! Thanks for the information!
While Ragspierre’s dislike of social media is understandable (I still have a constitutional aversion to it myself), I think we conservatives need to get over such hesitancy and take to new media en masse — and soon.
We’re already reeling from the fact that we ceded academia and old media over the past 4+ decades. We can’t afford to cede new ground as well.
I write as someone without a facebook page who has just now started using twitter. (Even as I type that, I kind of hate it!)
But this is where much conversation (however haiku-like) is taking place. And we need to reach minds, connect with others, and mount a resistance.
Just my two cents.
And, prof., great work in the original post. It’s going on offense (collegially, as is your wont), and we desperately need that.
Thanks Professor for highlighting this double standard and for giving us a way to make our views known to these advertisers.
Like Ragspierre, I do not Twitter or facebook, but I will email my displeasure.
Me, too. Just did it. I’m on Facebook, minimally, but am really Twitter illiterate, so emails are my solution.
I’m going to send a message in Japanese to Mr. Kurata, Sr. PR Manager, Sony Tokyo Liason.
がんばります !!
In the market for a new car within the next year, Ford was the only domestic auto company on the list – they just came off.
I sent Ford a message very close to this topic. I too am in the market for a replacement vehicle, having watched their current advertisements I too have given Ford serious consideration. Not only for myself but for our nationwide fleet of vehicles.
Once I receive their answer, I will then choose which company to use. Ford like each of the companies which have made a habit of supporting false liberal ideas and ideals are being placed on notice that we as conservative Americans are sick and tired of the lies being created. If these companies which have been primarily built with conservative dollars want to continue to grow and not disappear then they need to listen to us; not the weak left.
A powerful third party computer back up company pulled their advertising dollars from Rush’s show, after a quick board meeting, our company cancelled all of our contracts with them nationwide. While our contracts were only were tens of thousands of dollars, we have learned that many other companies are pulling away from them.
We as conservative Americans no longer have to support any company that decides that liberalism is a better way of life than what our values are. By not supporting these companies at home, at work, at school, for nights out, new vehicles, whatever the case may be, they will better understand our value system is backed with our purchasing dollars and not empty threats like the weak kneed media and liberal socialist tend to spew with no true effect.
God Bless America!
Along this same line, I recall reading an article in The Wall Street Journal 8-10 years ago that noted that while Fox News was delivering the largest audience and the target demographic ad agencies were refusing to pay full rates for TV spots due to their disapproval of the Fox message.
This is the AGENCIES, not the companies. Companies just want to make money. Agencies are 95% Obama supporters – I run a conservative web site and have worked at Big Media, this is a fact. You should be contacting the COMPANIES to tell them that their agencies are doing them a disservice and they should be replaced. It’s time to put this kind of behavior in the open and be sure the companies know there is a cost to employing people who use their jobs to promote political agendas at odds with those of their customers.
Superb idea!
IDK something doesn’t smell right, this whole idea engaging in the tactics of the left to forward short term goals gives me a bad feeling.
And if its not short term then its long term organized warfare, #war and in it to win it.
IF we conservatives are defenders of capitalism and the free enterprise system it seems a bit hypocritical to advocate the sanctity of private property, the freedom of contract etc. and then organize to smash the machine.
To challenge Obamacare on the notion that contracts entered under duress have long been held to be invalid.
Then organize to assert duress on private parties engaged in free contracts.
We are conservatives, we conduct positive campaigns to win hearts and minds and change outcomes for the betterment of all, not devolve to level of your opponents, the lowest common denominator.
Please correct me if I’m wrong here.
You’re not wrong.
Thanks for posting that link to Ford Corporate. They sure got a piece of my mind. My family has been driving Ford cars and trucks for 30 years.
I’m afraid Liberals and their corporate lemmings are going to be on the losing end of this advertising battle. It comes down to profits, not ideology.
Bad News:
Carbonite is down over 5% while NASDAQ is up over 32 points.
CARB is the only stock on my tech watchlist that is down today.
It’s down big time … it set a new 52-week low today of $7.90.
Bad news, my Friend.
I personally cancelled my service contract with them. The next day I called for a Board of Directors meeting, all contracts nationwide were cancelled by the end of the business day.
We have learned that many other conservative companies are doing the same. As conservative businesses we get to decide which companies we will use to spend our hard earned dollars with.
It is time to stand up to the lies being spread by the left and the weak kneed news media by hitting them where it hurts them the most for a change, hit their pocket books. Rob their bank accounts of our spending dollars and support companies who share our value systems.
God Bless America!
@OcTEApi, time is of the essence. We aren’t engaging in a fight in the school yard, with liberals. Our country’s future is at stake, the minority is taking over the majority. This is a modern day mutiny to fight for the preservation of the U.S. Constitution.
It’s come time for loyalty and allegiance. Time to get off the fence over Religion and Politics. Fight for who you are and what you believe in. If not than sit back and take it.
Premiere Source: Totally Bogus that 98 Advertisers are Targeting Hannity, Beck, Levin
http://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2012/03/premiere-source-totally-bogus-that-98.html
Sent e-mail to Ford asking the question; received this reply:
Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company. We appreciate the time you have taken to write us.
Thank you for your interest in Ford. Ford Motor Company and Ford Customer Service Division do not advertise during, just before or immediately following the Rush Limbaugh Show. Ford Motor Company does not purchase advertising on this show. We have not been able to determine whether one of our ads has been mistakenly aired by local radio stations during his broadcast, or if one of hundreds of our independent dealers might have secured a spot.
We appreciate your feedback and have documented it for further consideration in the future. We value all people – regardless of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and cultural or physical differences. Ford Motor Company adheres to strict content rules for advertising and we communicate our standards to our media partners. In the case of non-live broadcasts, we pre-screen programming for content and make appropriate advertising adjustments. In cases when are not in control of an artist’s live performance, we continue to monitor and inform our advertising partners about our content standards and provide them both positive and negative feedback from our consumers.
If you are in the market for a new Ford or Lincoln vehicle and would like to learn about the current incentives available or receive a brochure, please contact our Marketing Program Headquarters at 1-800-334-4375. We are here Monday – Friday, 9 A.M. – 6 P.M. EST to assist you. When you call we can also set up a demonstration drive at a time and dealership of your choice to experience the vehicle first hand.
Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company.
Sincerely,
Candice
Ford Motor Company
Ford Marketing Program Headquarters
My return email:
Candice
Next time, read the e-mail you receive before you assume what it says and provide a canned response. Since you have “documented it for further consideration in the future” you can go back and re-read it. If this kind of attention to detail is representative of Ford, I wonder why anyone would buy their product.
cc: Alan Mulally
I just received a response from American Express:
“We appreciate you reaching out to us to address this situation. We would like you to know that at no time did American Express or our media buying agencies send a letter to Premiere Radio Networks or its parent company, Clear Channel Communications, providing any direction concerning adverting placements, and specifically related to conservative radio programming. As a result of your communication, we have reached out to our media partners to correct any miscommunication and reconfirm that that they are not limiting the placement of our advertisements.”
Interesting…
Only in America is a confessed slut, professed prostitute, and her pimps rewarded for advancing their regressive behavior.
Oh well. As long as the pimps offer promises of a Leprechaun (and their pot of gold) to every voter, then the sluts (and mimbos — thanks, Seinfeld) will continue to prostitute themselves.
Well, that’s obviously not quite true; but, Democracy has indeed brought out the baser human nature in many people. It seems that not every individual is suitable for responsible liberty.
I have never written to any company to complain about their policies before. I’m getting fed up with this crap, however, so I’ve decided I will write a very personal note to every single company making politically motivated ad pulls from here on out.
I sent the following to Ford:
53% of Americans want Rush fired? Yet another falsehood created by the liberal media! If it is only 53% of those polled it proves that even 47% of those polled in their own poll do not believe in their skewed attempts to create a fake poll to prove their lying points.
The last three years the media has gotten a free ride to lie to America and to the world, soon the change will be upon them and their ability to lie to everyone will fail. America is more than tired of the lying media. As technology continues to change and advance, the truth will surface. Everyone of these companies will vanish, gone out with the rest of the trash that currently threatens America.
The winds of change are upon us, this time Hope and Change belong to Americans who are ready to return our nation to a Constitutional Republic.