General Mills Bullshit Answer

[Jon8503]

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.

Whenever possible, General Mills does strive to preview the programs on which our advertising appears. We do so to assure that we do not advertise on programs inconsistent with the family-oriented nature of our products. This works well with entertainment programs produced and available for advance screening, but pre-screening of news broadcasts is usually not possible.

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

[still_one]

1. i already responded to them

1. it is NOT a news story
2. no more general mills products in my house

[Frances]

3. I called and said the same thing you did

I have to check my cabinets now because Iwon't buy General Mills again.

[liberalmuse]

2. What is their email again?

My letter was kicked back and I want to re-send. Thanks in advance!

[Jon8503]

4. General Mills Email Address

Here is the way it came into me. Go get them."Consumer Services-Help" <[e-mail]>

[liberalmuse]

7. Thanks all!

And now to fire my missive. :D

[Sparkly]

5. [e-mail]

I sent this yesterday:

General Mills,

It's not a "free press" when it's illegally pushing campaign propaganda the night before a presidential election.

It's not a "free press" when media consolidation is abused for political purposes.

It's not a "free press" when lies and libel pose as journalism, harming the individuals accused.

It's not a "free press" when the democratic process itself is poisoned by underhanded, illegal tricks like this one.

This is much more than simply "imbalanced" or "inaccurate" -- it is ILLEGAL political propaganda and it's harmful to American democracy! Nobody should be "free" to engage in defamation of character; "free" to ignore campaign finance laws, or "free" to breach the public trust. You aren't sponsoring a "free press," you'r sponsoring a free PASS for the Republican party.

I've enjoyed General Mills cereal nearly every morning for many years now, but I've purchased my last boxes of Cheerios and Fiber One. Shame on you.

Sincerely,

[liberalmuse]

9. Excellent!

I just resent this. It's kind of snotty, but it was the best I could do right now:

To GM Customer Service;

It has come to my attention that General Mills is one of the advertisers supporting Sinclair Broadcasting Group's intended smear piece on Sen. John Kerry on election eve. While I support freedom of the press, I do not support highly partisan media corporations such as SBG trying to influence an election with propaganda. SBG does not produce anything resembling 'news'.

Let's be honest. SBG is not 'the press' and General Mills isn't supporting the First Amendment. What SBG and General Mills are supporting is borderline fascism. This is reminiscent of the same type of influence corporations and media loyal to certain political parties tried to weld in Europe in the 1930's. As an American who reveres The Constitution, I am appalled to see this happening here in this country.

If it is General Mills intention to support and fund fascism, then I can no longer support General Mills. I consider any company funding SBG at this time as one attempting to subvert democracy. I will refrain from purchasing General Mills products indefinitely, along with any product that General Mills is affiliated with.

[CindyDale]

6. Is corporate America really this dumb?

Does General Mills really believe that this issue has something to do with "freedom of the press"? It has nothing to do with print; it's about the use of public airwaves. These people are just as confused about the issues as Bush himself is.

No wonder that corporate America has gone to pot if its management is this lame. Why do they always put the dumbest people in charge?

Cindy

[Laelth]

8. Not a Free Press Issue

When you politely write back to these guys, know the law.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press"

Think about it:

Is General Mills Congress?

Is Sinclair Congress?

Are WE Congress?

No, no, and no!

General Mills and other companies who hide behind "freedom of the press" obviously have no respect for us, think we're ignorant, and think they can pull the wool over our eyes.

Don't let them. Write back and remind them of what the constitution says. Also remind them that FCC regulations and Federal Election Laws clearly prohibit using the public airwaves for free political ads. and prohibit in-kind contributions to political parties.

The law is on our side! The whole "freedom of the press" issue is a smoke screen.

:mad:

-Laelth