Staples, Inc. will no longer advertise on Sinclair Broadcasting Group

[alexisfree]

January 4th, 2005 5:03 pm
SinclairAction.com praises Staples, Inc. for not renewing advertising on local Sinclair Broadcast Group station

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=845
Media Matters

January 4, 2005 (Washington, DC) -- Media Matters for America today announced that Staples, Inc. will no longer advertise on local news programming on Sinclair Broadcast Group TV stations nationwide. Citing an effort to be responsive to customer concerns about Sinclair's injection of partisan conservative politics into its nightly newscasts, Staples, Inc. attributed its decision in part to the response the company received from customers visiting the SinclairAction.com website.

On December 14, Media Matters for America -- supported by MoveOn.org, MediaChannel, Working Assets, Robert Greenwald (director of the film Outfoxed), Campaign for America's Future, Free Press, and AlterNet -- launched the SinclairAction.com site as part of a nationwide campaign to expose the conservative slant of Sinclair's television news programming. The groups have focused their protest on Sinclair's airing of "The Point," a daily conservative news commentary read by Sinclair vice president Mark Hyman, while providing no opportunity for progressive counterpoints. The groups asked activists to contact advertisers on the 62 TV stations Sinclair owns or operates to enlist them in the campaign to get Sinclair to provide balance to "The Point."

On the heels of the www.SinclairAction.com nationwide campaign, the website has recorded more than 113,000 visitors and approximately 36,200 emails sent to advertisers.

Staples, Inc. recently replied via email to consumers who registered concerns about Sinclair newscasts, stating: "As a result of Staples' ongoing review of its advertising media buy activity, Staples will no longer be airing advertising on any Sinclair station's local news programs as of Jan 10, 2005."

"As stewards of the public airwaves, Sinclair Broadcast Group has a responsibility to provide balanced programming," said David Brock, President and CEO of Media Matters for America. "We applaud Staples' action, which gives a big boost to our effort to encourage Sinclair to provide balanced coverage."
:yourock:

[JI7]

1. they realize the boycott was not limited or temporary

they thought they could get away with just pulling advertising during time of broadcast of the Right wing propaganda.

i'm hoping a lot of the loss in various businesses has to do with boycotts rather than people losing money. especially since i hear many liberal leaning or businesses with better labor standards are doing pretty well. so it does kind of indicate it's an organized long term effort.

[slay]

2. Awesome!

Propaganda machines like Sinclair should never be supported.

[NYC]

3. We CAN have a voice.

:hi:

[Ernesto]

34. Well.................. yeah

How else can we explain walmart's "koonta kinty" smilely face adds on PBS?

[brainshrub]

38. Wal-Mart: Offering opportunity for thousands of employees.

I gag every time they air those ads on NPR or PBS.

[Pam-Moby]

4. What wonderful news....I will start buying again from "Staples" n/t

[Lorien]

12. You may want to look up their record on political contributions

it's a major GOP corporation.

[Pam-Moby]

13. well, I will not be going to staples after all. thanks.....n/t

[beam me up scottie]

5. AWESOME!

:party: :toast:

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. This is great news! Can you suggest a site where...

...we can go to register support to Staples for what they've done? I definitely want to do that. It's good to feel that our voices were heard and the MSM can't just distort everything with full impunity even if they live in Bush cartel pockets.

Thanks for reporting this. It's a good high note to end the day on. Time to turn off the computer before I read something else depressing!
:boring:

[mefoolonhill]

7. Staples - comments

Here's the link where you can give Staples some love....

http://www.staples.com/content/help/Contact/other_quest.asp

[Lorien]

11. Still a major GOP donator

according to "Open Secrets", but it's a start.

[sherilocks]

28. In an imperfect world

weighing in Staples withdrawal of its advertising from Sinclair and its 39% contributions to Democrats, I will resume buying from Staples.

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/contrib.asp?Ind=N03

[Nothing Without Hope]

15. I will do it tomorrow and pass the word to friends

...and thanks!
:hi:

[flygal]

21. I do that too

I either go in the lounge or search for a thread with good news before signing off

[Nothing Without Hope]

35. Yes, that helps keep spirits up. And I can suggest a book, too

Continuing to fight on when you're sad and distressed is hard, and ending the day on that note is worse. So you develop refueling strategies. Our mutual one of looking for positive threads is one of the many DU benefits. As you can tell from my username, I don't want to lose all hope.

By the way, if you'd like to read something longer than a thread that will lift your spirits, not a new agey "cheer up, life is lovely" one but a true story of something that has been going on for over 20 years on the bleak plains of Colombia, I have a suggestion: "Gaviotas: A Village To Reinvent the World," by Alan Weisman. You can find it here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890132284/qid=1104950184/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/002-1668139-9812006

It's one of the most hope-inducing books I've ever read, and it's all real. One of their ultra-cheap, ultra-efficient solar-powered hot water heaters was installed in the White House by Jimmy Carter (and removed during Reagan's admin). The real heart of the story isn't just all the amazing creative engineering, it's what happened INSIDE the people in and around this community and their children. A better world is possible.

Best to you.

[Kire]

8. "local news programs" only?

does this mean they will be advertising during the Wonderful World of Disney?

[DianeG5385]

9. That means I'll be shopping there soon! n/t

.

[Lorien]

10. We CAN make a difference; visit the the DU "Economic

activism and Progressive living" group for more ways to fight against the conservative corporate takeover of America.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[alexisfree]

14. is very true one donw an here are more to go

http://www.sinclairaction.com/contact_static.html

[GetTheRightVote]

16. Added my own comment, thank you for the posting, NewStaplesCustomer

:kick:

[HamiltonHabs32]

17. Great News

Good to see boycotting worked for once

[lpricanprynces]

18. WTF? My company is on the list

I didn't know they advertised on Sinclair. I'm sending a letter to the corp office to voice my concern as an employee.

Thanks for the info.

[NorthernSpy]

19. Yay! Remember that good decisions need to be reinforced.

Despite their political contributions record, this is a victory, and a little positive reinforcement may be in order. I do need some office supplies...

[Dr Fate]

20. Unlike most top DEMs, Brock is a hero & a fighter.

I'd love to see some house-hold DEMS take on the media too- but they are apparently too frightened of clowns like Judy Woodruff, Wolf Blitzer or Sean Hannity.

Perhaps I'll write in Brock or Moore in 2008.

[Merlin]

23. Absolutely right. He's a Dooer not just a Dreamer.

More of us DUers need to become Dooers too.

[Dr Fate]

40. I've been a "doer" for years- but most DEMS wont back me up.

I've been backing up DEMS for years- but they wont back me up.

I'm useful to them when they need money or someone to knock on doors- but I'm ignored when I want my values represented.

[zann725]

22. Outstanding! And it's just the beginning!

n/t

[Cooley Hurd]

24. It appears Mark Hyman just had his testicles...

...STAPLEd to the wall!:thumbsup:

Now, let's patronize Staples in support for its excellent judgement!

http://staples.com

[DeepModem Mom]

25. kick

[rucky]

26. As a business-owner, Staples has just earned themselves a loyal

customer - for life.

[yorkiemommie1]

27. wow of all the companies i emailed to say i was boycotting them

staples was the ONly one to engage in an exchange w/ me. they actually had a real person emailing me. we went back and forth a couple of times and i told them it was their responsibility to KNOW what their outlets were airing. good for them.

[ms.smiler]

29. We have a family owned business and I purchase several hundred

dollars worth of supplies every month. I've been boycotting Staples and shopped elsewhere, so I'm very pleased to have contributed something to this successful effort. I know how many dollars they missed from me so I'm curious what this cost them on a collective basis. Our dollars do get their attention!

[0007]

30. Fantastic

[indepat]

31. Let this be only the beginning of a movement that will impact Faux, et al

[henslee]

32. Good on'em. Kick. And don't forget Staples cool uncond. return policy!

[planetc]

33. Oh, splendid. I already liked them as a business. n/t

[yardwork]

36. They've got my business!!!

[Proud2BAmurkin]

37. Beautiful. KICK

.

[Redstone]

39. Hooray, hooray

Hot damn. There's hope for America yet.


Redstone

[Rainscents]

41. Hooray!!!

I will shop again too!!!

[MADem]

42. My CYNICAL TAKE

Staples=MITT ROMNEY. He's on the board, he did the restructuring of the company, and he is the asshole governor of MA.

Why do I think this is a Mitt-ish effort to, by association, divorce himself from the insane policies of BushCo and make himself an attractive alternative for switch hitting democratic voters? Because I think that Mitt is gonna run for the nomination in '08, and if he can associate himself with the Ah-nuld style GOP, he thinks he has a better chance of success. After all, where will the far right, the fundies, and the ignorant go? The GOP can afford to move left and have those idiots follow, grumbling but going along just to stay in power. And Mitt can APPEAR to be to the left of Bush (and the country will be well sick of him by the end of this latest, stolen term), but that's not saying much of anything.

Mitt's an asshole, and a dangerous asshole, because he has one or two more brain cells than the current idiot in charge. I'm not on the Staples bandwagon, sorry...just can't do it!

[Skittles]

43. OUTSTANDING, I HOPE IT HAPPENS MORE

the fact is, conservative propaganda not only offends me deeply, I feel it is helping to destroy America and her future - and OUR FUTURES. I'm fed up and I will refuse to do business with companies that advertise in midst of their garbage. Mr. Brock is correct - the media has a RESPONSIBILITY to proved balanced programming and if they won't do it we have to make them pay a price.

[David Zephyr]

44. Kick

[maduroftime]

45. I know where I will be shopping now

n/t

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

46. They may still give to GOP candidates... that is fine, and their

right.
But the Sinclair perversion of OUR airwaves has to be stopped.

I think it is a ballsy move, and I am proud of them.

[Califooyah Operative]

47. I didn't know mark hyman was the sinclair vice president.....

I thought he was just a random hack who appeared on local news, I always find my self pissed off at his ignorant right wing talking points. Shows you the reach of the right wing media...