Curses, Foiled Again: College Paper Punished For Anti-Bush Expletive

[Swede]

Colorado State University's student newspaper has lost $30,000 in advertising and had to cut pay and other budgets by 10 percent because of fallout from the use of a four-letter word in an editorial about President Bush, the Coloradoan reported Saturday.

In large type, the editorial included the words "Taser this (expletive) Bush." The editorial said it had the support of the Collegian's editorial board.


http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003645378

[MadHound]

1. Sorry, but as much as I agree with the sentiment,

It is a big no-no to publish four letter words, no matter what the context. There are much more effective ways to criticize Bush that hurling expletives at him.

But hey, everybody's got to learn a hard lesson sometime.

[northzax]

2. and free speech applies to the advertisers as well

if they don't want to be associated with it, they certainly don't have to pay for ads.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Bullshit.

There are newspapers all over the country that publish four letter words. Many of them college newspapers.

[MadHound]

4. And those newspapers suffer the consequences for those actions

Which is what happened here. Think about it, if you had a nice little ad for your pizza joint, or whatever, would you really want it associated with such language and controversy? Many would not.

And while there might be some college newspapers allow such language, many, many do not. These people knew the rules, made a mistake and are now paying the price. Perhaps they'll learn that while they do have the power of the pen, the advertisers have the power of the purse.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. More bullshit.

They're not pulling the ads because of a bad word, they're pulling the ad because it criticized Bush.

"Think about it, if you had a nice little ad for your pizza joint, or whatever, would you really want it associated with such language and controversy?"

You don't really think they're going to pull an ad because of a dirty word, do you? Wanna buy a bridge?

[MadHound]

14. Geez, give it up,

Everything isn't a conspiracy. Have you ever worked in any sort of media outlet, radio, television, print? Advertisers will indeed pull out, especially if you're printing expletives in 48 pt bold type across the editorial page. Haven't you ever heard of the seven dirty words? You can't say them on the air, and it is unwise to print them, especially in large type.

Frankly, their subject could have been anybody or anything and if they printed the same word, the same size, they would still have the same problem, pissed off advertisers. Having handled several contracts for radio advertisers, I can tell you that these people are always touchy about content. Make a mistake and they will pull out quick.

"Like many other comments here, I'm quite ashamed to see the official voice of my alma mater's paper choosing to express itself like this," wrote one commenter under the name Phil Mills. "Regardless of the Editors' opinion of our President, I would have hoped that they could have come up with something more eloquent and reasoned to express that opinion than this... this... bumper sticker."

That right there encapsulates it. Criticize Bush, sure, just do so in an intelligent, non-vulgar way.

[hfojvt]

6. One time the Minnesota Daily

had a picture of a naked guy on the front page, his little unit pointed straight at the reader. I wonder if he 'bought five copies for his mother'. Probably not, since it was a free paper. Had a circulation of 50,000. It's where James r Lileks got his start.

[hfojvt]

7. the expletive does not bother me

as much as the lack of substance does. There needs to be a little essay or a good rant, explaining why every red-blooded American should want to have sex with George W. Bush.

[FARAFIELD]

5. I agree

I was on a student Newspaper as well and I could have thought of a more articulate way to Bash Tipsy McDumbass. And the advertisers are within their rights as well. I liked it when it worked against IMUS (He said what he wanted and the advertisers acted the way they wanted)

[aikoaiko]

8. Free speech ain't free

[Bluestar]

9. George W Bush--inspiring profanity wherever he goes! n/t

[Cha]

11. Ain't that the

fucking truth!

[Cha]

12. It doesn't matter that bush uses Four Letter Words..

we don't get to! That's how Fascism WORKS.

[Pyrzqxgl]

13. I'd like to have a list of the businesses that dropped their advertising.

That way next time I'm in Colorado I'll know what businesses to boycott. You boycott Free Speech, I boycott you.