AM 950 misplaces integrity; claims advertiser is "progressive"

[SomeGuyInEagan]

Despite the story which came out two months ago about how Coborn's Delivers is decidedly NOT progressive (see story below, from MPR in September), I just got an email message from AM 950 station manager and owner Janet Robert titled, "Holiday Gift Buying Guide from Progressive Businesses." On that list ... you guessed it, Coborn's Delivers.

It's one thing to take their money for advertising, but let's not completely sell out your integrity until you absolutely have to. The other advertisers on that list should be concerned.

Great work, AM 950. Stephanie Miller, Ed Schultz, Tom Hartmann ... I am sure they would be proud.

MPR story from 9/16/09:

"Coborn's president urges employees to oppose health care bill

St. Cloud, Minn. — The president of Coborn's, a St. Cloud-based grocery chain, is urging his employees to oppose health care reform legislation.

In an internal memo (pdf), Coborn's president and CEO Chris Coborn asks employees to e-mail or write letters to legislators opposing two pieces of legislation. He said the proposed health care reform bill and a union organizing measure are serious threats to the future of the company."

entire story at:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/16/coborns-health-care/

[Love Bug]

1. Janet Robert is a member of Feminists for Life

She used to censor the local hosts, too, asking them to avoid abortion as a topic, so I don't consider her a progressive at all.

[mascarax]

2. Is that why Nick Coleman disappeared?

Or maybe it was another censured topic.

They have tons of questionable ads (and I don't listen that much, short commute) - I suppose they won't pay a decent advertising salesperson.

[Love Bug]

3. That may have something to do with why Coleman disappeared

I don't know. I suspect they get some of their ads from some kind of service and aren't careful about screening them first. After all, even on DU objectionable ads appear sometimes.

[Mister Ed]

4. I'm not sure they get to pick and choose.

Last year, Stephanie Miller and her cohorts had to apologize repeatedly for airing ads in favor of the hateful Proposition 8 in California. They explained, with great embarrassment, that FCC rules prevented them from turning away those advertisers.

But at least they decried Prop 8 constantly on their show. They didn't try to portray those advertisers as "progressives".

[SomeGuyInEagan]

6. Agreed. It's one thing to take advertisers' money ...

... it is entirely another to then solicit on their behalf, portraying them as "progressive" when in fact they are working against progressive values.

It taints all other businesses on that list. And degrades the station's integrity (I know, it is the media ... media and integrity don't mix well ... I used to work in the media and should be properly jaded by now, but these stations are trying to be a cut above FOX, after all).

[geardaddy]

5. I've heard ads for Sprawl-Fart on her station n/t