NY POST: TIMES GIVES LEFTIES A HEFTY DISCOUNT FOR 'BETRAY US' AD (Oops!)

[ProSense]

NY POST: TIMES GIVES LEFTIES A HEFTY DISCOUNT FOR 'BETRAY US' AD


MARKED DOWN:Sen. John Cornyn, at a
Senate hearing on Tuesday, holds up an
ad in The New York Times slamming
Gen. David Petraeus. MoveOn.org got
more than half off the regular price for
the ad.

Giuliani Also Gets Liberal Discount From Times

Marketers, Take Note: 61% Price Chop for Ad in Grey Lady if You Buy Standby

By Nat Ives and Ira Teinowitz

Published: September 14, 2007

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Rudy Giuliani got a lot of attention yesterday when he attacked The New York Times for giving MoveOn.org what he called sweetheart pricing on the group's "General Petraeus or General Betray Us?" ad. Mr. Giuliani expertly rode the right-wing wave of anger over what appeared to be a $65,000 bargain -- a $116,000 discount off the rate card.

The American Conservative Union went so far as to file a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission, claiming that MoveOn and the New York Times Co. violated the "Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, and the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002."

But at the end of the week, when his campaign took out an ad in the Times advocating the opposite point of view, Giuliani paid the going rate for a full-page standby ad in the Times: $65,000.

<...>

Standby basis
But MoveOn bought its ad on a "standby" basis, under which it can ask for a day and placement in the paper but doesn't get any guarantees. Standby pricing doesn't appear on the Times rate card -- but that kind of ad at a standby rate turns out to run about $65,000.

<...>

A campaign spokeswoman declined to say what the Giuliani campaign paid but said it was told by the newspaper that it was being charged the same standard rate MoveOn was charged. "This was an opportunity for the mayor to draw attention to what was an egregious ad that targeted Gen. Patraeus," she said. "It allowed us to defend him and point out that Democratic candidates have done nothing to condemn the MoveOn.org ad about an American hero."

more

[stillcool]

1. I love how this shit...

is worthy of discussion by the illustrious Senate. Perhaps they should stick to weighty issues such as this, if for nothing else than to stop them from pounding the life out of the Constitution and the rule of law.

[Breeze54]

2. Screw Giuliani!!

What are you? His campaign manager?

He's just jealous...and an asshole.

[ProSense]

6. Are you talking to me? Did you understand the post?

WTF?

[tularetom]

3. How the hell is Betrayus "an American hero"?

has he ever actually been in combat? It's my understanding that he was a desk jockey at the Pentagon for most of his Army career and that he somehow managed to avoid service in Iraq during desert Storm. He did however manage to get shot by a soldier at Ft Campbell where he was a battalion commander in the 82nd Airborne. Some years later he fractured his pelvis in a skydiving accident at Ft Bragg.

Hardly the biography of an American hero in my opinion.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. The word "Hero"...

Is much degraded these days, thanks to overuse.

[Breeze54]

5. Yes, he has been in combat, Bosnia ring a bell?

I don't know all of his history but I've heard he's planning
on running for President in 2012 and he has a Phd.

[rocktivity]

7. Sounds like somebody owes MoveOn and the Times an apology

That "right-wing wave of anger over what appeared to be a bargain" turns out to be a wild goose chase: the Time's standby discount rate is available to all advocacy groups. And of course it wouldn't appear on an advertising rate card--those are meant for potential COMMERCIAL advertisers.

:headbang:
rocknation

[cali]

8. Hysterical. Almost as funny as

the people on this thread who didn't read the OP and haven't got a clue.

[monmouth]

9. I'm sorry but.....$65K for an ad.....A bit much do you think? What's the justification?

[KharmaTrain]

10. It's Called The Marketplace

I don't know the formula the Times works with but 65Gs for a full page ad is a bargain. Just think of the number of eyes that see that ad...say the average copy of the NYTimes attracts 1,000,000 readers and 10% or 100,000 see the ad, that's still under $1 per "imprsesion". Compare that to nearly $25Gs for a one minute TV spot on the local NYC News or on a cable channel.

The justification, you ask? It's what people will pay. If you want your ad to be in a paper with the Times reputation, you're gonna pay the piper. Sure holds more weight than if they placed the ad in the Greenwich Village Shopper. IMHO, MoveOn got millions in free publicity...money very well spent.

[monmouth]

11. Okay, I understand and you are right. I guess it was "sticker shock"....

[KharmaTrain]

12. Television Is Far Worse

Think of the millions all the candidates are raising...it's almost all going to fill the kitties of Clear Channel, General Electric, Tribune Company and other major television owners...especially if you're running in a state with a major media market. Again, I think the millions of eyes that saw the spot via the "controversy" whipped up by the Repugnican spin machine was money very well spent. It's nothing compared to the millions thrown by right wing astroturf organizations...at least there's an alternative voice out there. I not only have been a long time donor to MoveOn, this week, I doubled down on my contribution in hopes they'll do more of these ads.

[monmouth]

13. I agree, would rather send MoveOn a check than the Dems that are calling right now...

[baldguy]

14. They follow the NYT ad policy & are eligible for a discount...?

I guess MoveOn should be charged full price just because the Post doesn't like thier political positions?