Response from General Mills re: Sinclair

[Clinton Crusader]

From: "Consumer Services-Help" <[e-mail]>
Date: October 19, 2004 4:56:17 PM EDT
To: XXXXXXXXX
Subject: General Mills' Position Regarding Sinclair Broadcast Group

Thank you for contacting General Mills.

Many consumers have written to share their views on this issue. Some have urged General Mills to use its influence as an advertiser to ensure that the media reports the news in an unbiased manner. Some have urged General Mills to continue advertising, and have threatened to withdraw support for our products if we alter our advertising plans. Passions run deep on both sides, particularly this close to an election.

<snip>

Our view in this area is clear. We believe one of the fundamental elements of our society is the freedom of the press. Companies such as ours, in our view, should not attempt to influence, control or pre-empt the content of news through the leverage of advertising sponsorship. To do so would undermine that fundamental freedom.

From time to time, any one of us as viewers may consider a particular news story to be inaccurate or imbalanced. News organizations do err. Judgment is not always well applied. One major news organization recently acknowledged that errors were made in stories relating to the current presidential election. When such errors occur, certainly a price is paid in terms of reputation. But errors and questionable judgment are an acceptable price to pay, in our view, to assure the presence of a free and independent media in our society.

As viewers, each of us is free to make a choice. We can choose to patronize or not patronize programs with our viewership. We can choose to patronize or not patronize particular television stations, or even entire networks.

Similarly, advertisers may choose not to sponsor certain broadcasts, a particular network or specific publications because of their journalistic standards and judgment. But advertisers should not attempt to control or pre-empt news programming prior to broadcast or publication. That, in our view, would be inappropriate.

In this instance, as in the example cited earlier, passionate voices are calling on advertisers to insert themselves into the election by threatening to boycott those who remove or who do not remove their advertising.

We choose to stand with freedom of the press.

We welcome the views that you and others have shared with us. You may rest assured that we will remind the networks we sponsor that the integrity of their reporting reflects on the companies that advertise during their broadcasts.

Hopefully, you will understand our views and the importance we place on a free press.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact us and share your views.

Sincerely,

General Mills

:cereal in the trash!!:
:kick:

[cthrumatrix]

1. freedom to Boycott General Mills.... they'll get the message..the hard

way

[Dinger]

4. Done

:mad:

[Catt03]

2. Boy....that's an "in you face" reply

I guess General Mills does not know the difference between freedom of the press and protection of freedom of the press.

Letter on it's way to Cheerios

[tedoll78]

3. No more Lucky Charms for me then.

I'll buy the stuff in the bag and learn to like it.

[chaska]

11. My body is glad to hear that there will be no more Haagen Daaz.

[gcomeau]

5. Suggest a reply along these lines.

I have recently become aware that you are defending advertising with Sinclair broadcast group as a stand for "freedom of the press".

It is no such thing. These are the words of Sinclair's OWN Washington Bureau Chief, Jon Leiberman, just before he was fired by Sinclair for exposing their tactics.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/19/politics/main...

"They're using news to drive their political agenda," says Leiberman. "I don't think it served the public trust."

In the interview published Monday, Leiberman, 29, called the planned Sinclair program "biased political propaganda, with clear intentions to sway the election."

"I really feel like I can sleep at night and I can be OK with my decision" to criticize Sinclair publicly," added Leiberman. "I know I stood up for the principles of objectivity. In journalism, all we have is credibility and objectivity."

Defending this BLATANT abuse of the public airwaves is NOT standing up for freedom of the press. It is ASSAULTING it. This is not a news program; this is a propaganda piece being forced ON a news program by their corporate owners.

You are not going to be able to excuse supporting this behavior with an empty appeal to the defense of journalistic integrity. Journalistic integrity is what inspired that Sinclair Bureau chief to speak out, and subsequently lose his job. THAT is defending freedom of the press.

What you are doing if you insist on supporting these people with your advertising dollars is undermining and destroying freedom of the press. And I will have no part of it.

Unless and until you decide to do the right thing you will receive no further business form me or my family. Or anyone else who values my opinion, which will be freely and widely distributed.

-Grant Comeau

Also, ask them how hard they were fighting for freedom of the press when Sinclair censored the Nightline tribute to the fallen soldiers in Iraq because they didn't want to risk negative political impact on Bush.

They're sending the response you got out as a form letter. 3 other people have posted it that I know of. Hit them back and let them know we're not buying this crap.

[TexasSissy]

6. No more General Mills for me! I'll look at labels to make sure a product

isn't made by Gen. Mills. I'm sure they make a lot more than cereal.

[kikiek]

7. I sent the a message saying I was boycotting them too. Told them

I found their response inadequate and insincere.

[zaj]

8. For the lazy: "We support our President Bush"

Being on the South Beach Diet certainly helps me boycott.

[debatepro]

9. There products

We probably need to start a master list:

8th Continent
Betty Crocker
Big G Cereals
Bisquick
Bugles
Cascadian Farm
Cheerios
Chex
Forno de Minas
Frescarini
Fruit Snacks
Gardetto's
Gold Medal
Green Giant
Häagen-Dazs
Hamburger Helper
Jus-Rol
Knack & Back
La Salteña
Latina
Lloyd's
Lucky Charms
Muir Glen
Nature Valley
Old El Paso
Pillsbury
Pop Secret
Progresso
Totino's/Jeno's
Trix
V. Pearl
Wanchai Ferry
Wheaties
Yoplait/Colombo

[Clinton Crusader]

13. Would you believe the only thing in my house from this list is

Old El Paso? ONE can of refried beans! LMAO!
:kick:

[NJCher]

10. my former employer

and as such, no surprise. A letter goes out to them tonight. I've not patronized them in years, simply because I know firsthand what slime they are.


Cher

[BUSHOUT]

12. Duplicate. Check out this thread...has contacts and brand listings...

Go get 'em! And kick it while you're there...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1113220

[senseandsensibility]

14. I e-mailed them

and called them on their freedom of the press nonsense. If they believe in freedom of the press so much, why didn't they object when Sinclair refused to run ABC's reading of the war dead names? Something tells me they're only concerned with right wing freedom of speech.

[mia]

15. Former Stepford wife says down with Betty Crocker!

Say NO to "Mini Pumpkin Spice Cakes with Orange Glaze"!




More General Mills products...


Progresso

Old El Paso

Betty Crocker Fruit/Grain Snacks

Big G Cereals

Betty Crocker Main Meal / Side Dish

Green Giant

Gold Medal / Betty Crocker Mixes

Family Flour

[MADem]

16. This is the same shit they sent out before

They don't seem to understand the difference between "political hit piece" and "freedom of the press." Fuck them and their stale Cheerios.

[autorank]

17. Boycott GM! It may take a while but it's worth it, and healthy too!

[NJCher]

18. thanks for the line, MADem

Here's my letter to my former employer:


I am a former employee of General Mills (marketing manager) and was embarrassed and appalled when I learned you are continuing your advertising support of Sinclair Broadcasting. You seem unable to distinguish between a political hit piece and and freedom of the press.

Over the years we have been regular users of some of your brands, particularly Old El Paso, Progresso, and Gold Medal.

I've made up "wallet cards" of your brands and sent them around to my friends and family and asked them not to purchase these brands anymore. Our business will go to people who support true American values.

Shame on you. I'm embarrassed to have ever been associated with your company.


Cher