There's been a lot in the news lately to take attention away from a couple of whackjobs and their violent wishes for the American People. Not to say Palin, Honduras, the Public Option, Al Franken, and (most importantly) Iran aren't significant news stories. They are.
In case everyone forgot, or missed it, here is what Michael Scheuer said on Glenn Beck's "news" program on 6/30:
"the only chance we have as a country right now is for Osama bin Laden to deploy and detonate a major weapon in the United States. Because it's going to take a grassroots, bottom-up pressure, because these politicians prize their office, prize the praise of the media and the Europeans. Only -- it's an absurd situation. Again, only Osama can execute an attack which will force Americans to demand that their government protect them effectively, consistently, and with as much violence as necessary."
I have still heard no apology and no attempt to take what was said back.
So the action must march on.
Just to catch everyone up (in case you missed both of my diaries from the end of last week)-
here are diaries ONE and TWO
I have been using Foxnewsboycott.com for all of my Fox Sponsor Information (Phone Numbers/Websites/Mailing Addresses).
I have been using the following email template:
I would like to request, after what was stated on Glenn Beck's Program on 6/30/09, that you cease your advertising on the Fox News Channel. My family and I will not buy any of your products and services, or products and services from any of your parent or subsidiary companies, until you do.
In case you weren't aware, this is a direct quote from the show, in which a terrorist attack is wished upon the US in order to advance a violent political agenda:
"the only chance we have as a country right now is for Osama bin Laden to deploy and detonate a major weapon in the United States... Again, only Osama can execute an attack which will force Americans to demand that their government protect them effectively, consistently, and with as much violence as necessary."
here is a video of the exchange so you can see for yourself - http://www.youtube.com/...
there has been no rebuke, and no apology from anyone at or related to fox news for one of the most horrifying things i have ever heard someone say on TV (especially as a native NYer who lost 2 close friends on 9/11). Only actions taken by those who fund fox news (it's advertisers) can stop this kind of terrifying rhetoric from appearing on the channel again.
I appreciate that your goal is to advertise to the right audience, but I would sincerely hope that this kind of speech is something your company does not condone, and will try to distance itself from. There are many other avenues for broadcasting that will not tie you to this kind of madness.
have a good day and thank you for your time.
sincerely,
<my name>
As of this moment (and noting I got NO responses Friday through Sunday) I am still waiting to hear from the following companies:
Best Buy
Travelocity
Ditech (my email was forwarded to the Marketing Department for consideration)
Travelocity
Remax
ProtectmyID.com
Office Depot
American Express
Franklin-Templeton Investments
Chattem Chemicals / Capzasin
Yahoo!
Tyson Foods
State Farm Insurance
WebMD
Terminix
Rosetta Stone
AT&T
CDW
Centrum
Comcast - I called them and the told me to call corporate at 215-665-1700, where someone transferred me to an answering machine of someone yet to get back to me.
Hertz
Holiday Inn Express
Adobe
American Standard Companies Inc.
Hefty / Pactiv
National Collecter's Mint
Napster
Morgan Stanley/Smith Barney
Lunesta / Sepracor
Liberty Mutual
Hyatt
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Since yesterday afternoon, I have gotten the following responses:
Johnson & Johnson / McNeil Nutritionals / Splenda - Just like 99% of responses I got last week (and today, for that matter), this is a company who feels that, to them, they don't care about the programming they associate themselves with, just so long as they get their commercials run:
Thank you for contacting McNeil Nutritionals, LLC, makers of Splenda® No Calorie Sweetener. It is always important to hear from our consumers, and we appreciate the time you have taken to contact us.
Johnson & Johnson has chosen to advertise its products both in print and on television since these media are often consumers' primary source of information about new and established brands. The advertising agencies adhere to our strict codes of good taste and propriety in developing ad copy. Every effort is made to convey our messages with the utmost discretion. Also, before any ad is used, it is evaluated by consumer panels for effectiveness and audience acceptance. The final test of acceptance is, of course, consumer response once ads are published and the commercials are aired on television.
Although we regret your displeasure, we do value your comments. They will certainly be shared with the appropriate advertising and marketing management.
Again, thank you for your interest in our company. Should you have any comments or questions in the future, please contact us via our website or by calling our toll-free number 1-800-777-5363. Our specialists are available Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 8 PM EST and will be happy to assist you.
The Information Center
008284227A
Although I am not sure (and I would like verification of this from any of you Kossacks in the know), I think the 0082.. number is the copy/paste form number, meaning they didn't take any time to respond, they just replied with "standard response x".
My response template (changed slightly to make myself sound less unhinged) was sent as a response. I am still waiting to hear back:
A non-response meant to brush my concerns over isn't sufficient when someone you pay advocates terrorism against the US in order to forward a political agenda.
I find your response to be incredibly patronizing and is a very poor attempt to divert away from the issue at hand. I understand how television works. Do you happen to know how these networks are funded?? it's not by me, it's not by the government.
I hope you understand -- it's by you- companies that pay them, in order to run advertising. it's not like Fox news randomly picked your company out of a hat, and is doing you a service by running ads for you on their network. You have chosen that they deserve your money. if they didn't have advertising revenue from your company, et al, they wouldn't be in business (or else they'd be forced to markedly change their business model). So, as nice as it is that you can say you aren't complicit, the fact is you are funding them to make that kind of insidious and disgusting comment that trivializes not only the sacrifices of our troops, but of the valiant men and women that lost their lives on 9/11.
As of right now, you find it perfectly fine that they said this. Additionally, as of right now, you will continue to give them money so that they can advocate this type of horrifying, violent action against innocent citizens of this country. As of right now, you are complicit in this statement because your money made it possible for them to broadcast it.
please don't play ignorant or stupid with me. and please don't assume i am either of those two. Saying you purchased the time and aren't responsible for the content of the program and/or network is greedy, callous, and tremendously irresponsible.. It also demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of how television, advertising, and the media work as a whole.
Remember a couple of weeks ago when Olive Garden pulled their advertising from the David Letterman show because of a joke he made?? Taking away a network (or program) that's gone too far's funding is actually the ONLY way to effect them.
My request wasn't that you go back in time and prevent yourself from funding fox news last night (as if i thought you paid minutes before an ad aired, - or, better yet, that they check what they say with all advertisers). My request was that this specific incident should be more than enough to stop future funding. Unless, of course, you have no problem advocating terrorism against the US so that you can make more money. I'm just glad to have that on record.
LL Bean - Short and to the point. I am waiting for some kind of response from the "appropriate department"
Thank you for contacting L.L.Bean this afternoon.
I have forwarded your email and concerns to the appropriate department.
Sincerely,
<an insignificant name>
L.L.Bean Customer Service
800-441-5713
One new thing I have started doing is responding to these emails, quickly, to let them know I expect a response from whoever the email got forwarded to:
Thank You. I look forward to receiving an email from "the appropriate department" about the issue.
Until then, I will consider you complicit in the previous statement, and any future statements made in the same light, until you stop paying them money to make statements advocating violence against innocent American citizens.
Lexus - Standard "We love you, but we take no responsibility for the programming we fund" email.
Thank you for expressing your concern about Lexus advertising on the Foz News Channel. Lexus is sensitive to the opinions of our customers and we respect your position.
To reach our broad range of demographics, like most advertisers, Lexus television spots air across a broad range of programming, including network and cable news, talk shows, sporting events, prime-time shows, late night television and morning shows, and the internet. While we go to great lengths to ensure our name is associated with the kinds of quality programming our Lexus customers enjoy, our ads should not be interpreted as endorsing the views of any show or the views espoused by the characters or actors, hosts, guests or callers on any show.
As an advertiser, Lexus does not control the content of scripts nor does it censor programming for networks.
We are proud of our track record in corporate and social responsibility and are committed to maximizing Lexus efforts in this area across all of the markets and communities in which we do business. It is not only the right thing to do - it is our responsibility. For more information please visit: http://www.lexus.com/...
We appreciate you taking the time to write and thank you for your interest in Lexus.
Yes, She did type "Foz" News. I think that's a beary common mistake. Wakka Wakka Wakka!!!
SC Johnson / Scrubbing Bubbles :
Thank you for your email. We value your comments and are sharing them with the people responsible for our advertising.
Regards,
Pillsbury / General Mills: An extremely solid non-response. I give them credit, they give me a lot of irrelevant details hoping that I'll back off.
Thank you for contacting General Mills regarding our television advertising for General Mills products.
Ever since General Mills first became a major television advertiser more than forty years ago, we have sought to advertise on programs that are compatible with the family-oriented nature of our products and services. To that end, General Mills has had in place, long-standing corporate advertising policies.
These include:
· We review, prior to actual broadcast, every prime-time television network program on which General Mills commercials are scheduled.
· These programs are pre-screened for content as well as for optimum placement of our commercials within each program.
· We pay particular attention to made-for-television movies and avoid those with sensationalized titles and subject matter.
· We remove ourselves from programs that we judge are likely to offend a major portion of the viewing audience.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Consumer feedback regarding both our products and our advertising techniques is valuable.
We appreciate your loyalty and hope you will continue to choose our products.
My response was the following:
Thank you for your response.
I am curious, though, If this is, indeed, the case how you missed a doozy such as this. You either
1- need to hire more people for this job
2- need to hire better people for this job
or
3- don't find anything wrong with someone advocating a terrorist attack on the US for the purposes of advancing a violent international agenda.
I would like to know less about your standards for advertising and more about what you will do to respond to this. Until you do something, you will no longer have any loyalty, and I will no longer buy any of your products (nor will any member of my family, and several friends I have recruited. I am also posting all of these responses on the internet across several blogs and websites so that everyone knows that you're more interested in revenue than in making things right).
Additionally,
1- My email wasn't asking what your standards were, they were asking for action. As such, this email is wholly inadequate
2- My email was regarding broadcasting on Fox News. Which is a cable channel. Not a prime-time network television program.
---- are you saying that you do not give the same due to cable television, or off-peak broadcasting? That you don't really care about off-peak or cable broadcasting, even though you fund it just the same?
3- Or, are you saying that you did indeed review this, but decided it wouldn't offend a majority of the viewing audience? I'm pretty sure, if this were the judgement made, that it is very far off the mark.
I look forward to your response.
Reckitt Benckiser / FINISH - Basically, we're just trying to reach the maximum amount of people, but the public keeps asking us not to fund this stuff, so we're looking into it. Further proof that WE NEED MORE ACTION KOSSACKS!!!!!
Thank you for contacting us regarding our commercial advertisement shown on Glenn Beck's Broadcast.
Reckitt Benckiser inc. does not advertise on television programs based upon any point of view or the content matter of the television show. Advertising time is purchased on the basis of reaching an estimated number of household and the type of audience.
While we do not believe it to be our role to censor the content of television programming, we are mindful of the increasing public concern that television programs should not exceed the bounds of good taste.
To this end, we have advised our advertising agencies and their representatives to avoid programming that is not in good taste, or which may be viewed as offensive by the majority of consumers. We are interested in encouraging the broadcasting of good quality television programs.
We appreciate the time you have taken to contact us and thank you for expressing your viewpoint with us.
My response was my template. I am waiting to hear back.
Pfizer -
Thank you for taking the time to contact Pfizer. We received your email regarding advertising placement and we appreciate the opportunity to share our perspective and policies on advertising with you.
In placing our advertising, we choose programs that are most likely to reach people who might benefit from messages about our medicines and the diseases they treat, while meeting our high standards for ethics and quality. We do not participate in or control the programming decisions made by a network and, as such, please understand that our advertising placement in a show is not in any way an endorsement of the show’s content or editorial position.
Our main focus is to make all consumers aware of important information about health and wellness and the best way to do this is through a broad range of advertising environments.
We hope this clarifies our advertising policies and guidelines for you.
My response was my standard template. I was very, VERY close to telling them that "if it is, indeed, the case that you are trying to reach the people who need your medicine the most, please dramatically increase the amount of mental health advertisements you have on the Fox News channel, and I think I can call it even"
Stupid Professionalism.
IAMS-- They told me they don't fund "Fox News". But that they do.
We appreciated your feedback, and we take your comments very seriously.
I have shared your views with our Marketing Team.
Iams is not a sponsor of "Fox News". The appearance of our commercials
on any particular show indicates neither our approval nor our
disapproval of the content. When we purchase airtime from a media
market, we do not always have program by program control of where our
advertising will be placed. Also, advertisers are usually not given the
opportunity to review the program content in advance.
Please contact us anytime through our E-mail Us Now page located on our
web site at www.IAMS.com. Or, look for instant answers on our web site
FAQ. We would also welcome your call Monday through Friday from 9:00
a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time at 800-675-3849.
Thank you again for letting us know how you feel.
I sent IAMS an email politely asking me exactly how their advertising and sponsoring dollars work.
Infiniti / Nissan - Apparently, being offended by people advocating a terrorist attack on the US is just my problem. They are really, really sorry that I was offended.
Thank you for your email to Infiniti dated 07/02/09.
We at Infiniti are very concerned about acceptable advertising environments for programs. Like other advertisers, Infiniti does not participate in the development of scripts for TV. We do have both a professional screening service and our advertising agency monitoring the general content of programs carrying the Infiniti message.
We recognize that people have different standards as to the acceptable content, and we are sorry that you found this program in particular to be unacceptable. We appreciate your time and concern in contacting us.
Standard Template Response, Ahoy!
Nationwide Insurance - one of the quickest and worst reponses yet.
Nationwide schedules television advertisements for anticipated regular network programming. We do not have control over the content of a particular network broadcast. Our advertising schedule is not determined to support or promote specific points of view that might be reflected in programming. We appreciate your concern and value your feedback.
Another standard template response from me
1-800-Pet-Meds- I just became a fan of 1800PetMeds. I mean that sincerely.
I am sorry about the poor choice of words by Glenn on Fox. I personally do not agree with his show at all. We actually do not pick shows, but run on remnant which means at any given time our commercial could show on cable.
I will tell you that when we do have the opportunity to pick specific shows like on radio, we have stayed away from this kind of media and specifically away from this show.
Thanks for your concern,
My email was simply a thank you.
For those of you who don't know what "run[ning] on remnant" means--
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Remainder advertising (also known as remnant or last minute advertising) refers to the advertising space that a media company has been unable to sell.
Depending on the medium, it could be ad space or time. Often it can be bought at a steep discount. Advertising time and space is a perishable commodity. If it is not sold, it is lost, used for a "house ad"; or given away for public service announcements or some other non-revenue producing filler. However, instead of taking a loss for unsold airtime or ad space, media outlets will often take far less than their usual retail fees to unload their remnant space. This means advertisers can buy what is typically expensive media for a great deal less money than normal. Although the space and/or time is sold at a steeply discounted rate, media sellers benefit as well, monetizing inventory that would have otherwise gone to waste.
the Positive: fox news can't sell some of it's advertising!!!
Nissan (not Infiniti) - same old, same old.
Thank you for your letter to Nissan North American Inc.
We at Nissan are very concerned about acceptable advertising environments for programs. Like other advertisers, Nissan does not participate in the development of scripts for TV. We do have both a professional screening service and our advertising agency monitoring the general content of programs carrying the Nissan message.
We recognize that people have different standards as to the acceptable content, and we are sorry that you found this program in particular to be unacceptable. We appreciate your time and concern in contacting us.
S(tandard) T(emplate) R(esponse)
Ford - didn't I get this email 100 times already??
Thank you for contacting the Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center regarding Ford's advertisement during Glenn Beck's show.
We believe one of the most effective ways to connect with customers and generate mass awareness of our products is through television advertising. The purchase of commercial time during television programming is mot making a judgment on the specific content of the show but simply attempting to reach out to customers. Ford Motor Company values the opinions of our customers worldwide and will continue to place advertising on programs that reach and appeal to our diverse customer base.
We sincerely hope that we have clarified any concerns in this regard. We thank you for the time that you have taken to write us with your feedback.
Sometimes e-mail communication does not allow us to gain additional information that may be helpful in responding to your inquiry. Should you feel that we have not adequately addressed your questions, please feel free to contact us via telephone at (800)392-3673 between the hours of 8am and 5pm, local time, Monday through Friday. Hearing-impaired callers with access to a TDD may contact 1-800-232-5952.
STR
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That's all for now, Kossacks. I hope you've been sending your 5-10 emails a day!!! We can't let this go!!!!
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UPDATE #1-
I really have to get out of my house for a couple hours. But I got another response from 1-800-PET-MEDS. And, Damn People, I wish they all went like this:
I do not like Fox news. Unfortunately, they lean more toward sensationalism than true journalism. I am glad that you are voicing your concern.
that was the entire email I received from her. Awesomeness!