How does AAR keep from being corrupted by corporate money?

[porkrind]

They sell advertising for revenue, right? How do they keep the fascists at bay? Will they eventually keep from criticizing some company just because they accept their advertising dollars? In the real world it seems difficult to make a profit and stay ethically pure. I hope they can do it.

[Eric J in MN]

1. Most of their ads are public service announcements.

If the message of adopt-a-cat-from-an-animal-shelter or stay-in-school seeps into the programs, it's ok with me.

[porkrind]

2. They have lots of real commercials...

Cortislim, malt-o-meal, etc.

[Eric J in MN]

3. Air America shows comment on what is in the newspapers.

If there is a controversy regarding the companies which make those products in the newspapers, maybe the controversy won't be discussed on Air America, but we can still turn to the newspapers.

[high density]

4. Air America's audience isn't going to listen to fascist radio

That's the Limbaugh audience. If Air America becomes a WABC clone for some reason (and there's no reason to believe that they will), then the station is going to lose the liberal base, their ratings are going to plummet, and then nobody is going to buy ads... (Slightly like the Foxification of CNN that seems to be happening.) So I'm not sure what to say other than that it's a privately owned network that was set up by liberals, so I think they'd just shut the network down before they let the fascists take control of it.

[pretzel4gore]

5. Maybe DU could raise cash to buy ads there?

i'd contribute to that....there's tens of thousands of us.....the ads could also promote other liberal radio shows and websites that need it

[Eric J in MN]

6. When "Air America" started, I asked the administrattors

about that, and they said that they didn't want to buy ads.

They thought that people who donated for a "Democratic Underground" ad wouldn't donate during the regular fund-drive.