Saturday, June 03, 2017

Media Research Center Takes the One Step Forward Two Steps Back Approach

I usually think Brent Bozell is a good thinker even when I don't agree with him. But, his Media Research Center (MRC--which runs Newsbusters on my sidebar) stepped in it this time.

Bozell was upset because USAA stopped advertising on the Sean Hannity show. So, MRC mobilized people to complain to USAA.
Brent Bozell, president of the conservative Media Research Center, said he wasn’t surprised by USAA’s decision, “given the avalanche” of protests. His group was behind mobilizing that backlash, and said its members generated more than 1,600 phone calls to USAA within 48 hours.
“They did the right think in going back on that show,” he said, “and so long as the other side isn’t participating in personal smears, they should participate on those shows, too.”
Only he and MRC didn't investigate USAA's reasoning. USAA wanted to stay away from "opinion-based programs". So, they pulled advertising from Hannity but also Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews and Jake Tapper.
As some of you may know, we have recently come under scrutiny for pulling ads from “Hannity” on Fox News and other opinion-based programs, including: “The Rachel Maddow Show” and “Hardball with Chris Matthews” on MSNBC and “The Lead” with Jake Tapper on CNN. Our long-standing advertising policy has been not to advertise on opinion-based shows to avoid any suggestion of bias or support for one set of views over another. [from USAA 5/30/17 email]
Now, interestingly enough, though Bozell said USAA should participate in the other shows too, MRC recently launched an initiative to harass sponsors of shows specifically including those of Maddow and Chris Matthews.
"Today we are putting ten shows, and their major corporate sponsors on notice that we are watching their every move. Additionally, we will be publicly listing the advertisers of these programs and asking them to defend their decision to continue airing ads on these shows. Every time one of their on-air personalities go beyond political commentary and engage in smear and hate, we are going to unleash an army of activists to contact these advertisers by phone and through social media to ask them why they are advertising on programs that are so biased, repulsive and morally bankrupt." [emphasis added]
So, MRC's pressure resulted in renewed advertising for Hannity but also for Maddow and Chris Matthews. One step forward, two steps back. Not the smartest MRC strategy.

3 comments:

MAX Redline said...

I don't watch any of them, so the whole thing's irrelevant to me. I've not watched "hardboiled" or anything else where Tingles appears since he got that tingle in his leg during the Barry campaign. Never had any use for MadCow either, and Hannity has become more bloviator than anything in the years since Colmes passed. That latter show was actually interesting; somewhat like the KXL show with Kremer, Abrams, and Pasero.

Pasero actually developed the Kremer and Abrams format, which became the longest-running and best-rated weekend talk show in the PDX area. I think Mark Abrams developed health issues, and so for a time the show stopped. But now he's back with Rob Kremer and Jim Pasero on Sunday mornings. I caught some of it on my way back from the hospital today, and it seemed pretty good.

T. D. said...

Same for me on Chris Matthews, Maddow and Hannity.

Never listened to the Kremer, Abrams and Pasero show. Will try to give it a listen. Thanks for the tip. Glad this is your last visit for testing. Hope it's a good long time before you see the inside of a hospital for testing or anything else. Blessings on you, Max!

MAX Redline said...

Abrams is a hard lefty, has been for about 50 years. Kremer's on the opposite side, but the two have been friends for years. Pasero seems to try to just keep things moving before they get too far into the weeds.

Yes, I hope never to see the inside of a hospital for a good long time. Thanks!