SwiftVets.com

[Fort Campbell]

OK I think this one is perfectly clear. Regis has asked Sinclair to pull their ads form STOLEN HONOR.

______________________________________________________

Thank you for your email regarding Sinclair Broadcasting Group. We
have received numerous emails from individuals regarding this issue; some threatening to boycott our company, and some encouraging us not to buckle to this threat.

Regis Corporation does not participate in political or religious
activities. Simply put, we cut hair. We employ over 53,000 people,
many of whom are paid on commission, and rely on that income to support their families. By boycotting us, you are hurting individuals - our
employees and their families.

We have notified Sinclair Broadcasting Group not to air our advertising
during or adjacent to any political programming. That is the right
thing to do. To take any further action would be inappropriate, and not in
keeping with our responsibilities to our employees and our
stockholders.

In return, we are asking you to remove our name from your boycott list.

Remove it? I'm putting them ON my Boycott list.



Thank you.

REGIS CORPORATION


Letter sent to Sinclair Broadcast Group

VIA FACSIMILE

October 14, 2004

Mr. David D. Smith
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, MD 21030

Dear Mr. Smith:

I am writing regarding a matter of deep concern. We have received well
over 1,000 e-mails from consumers threatening to boycott our salons due
to anti-Kerry political programming your stations are planning to run.
The argument is that since we advertise on some of your stations, we are
supporting this programming. To be clear, we do not condone or
participate in political activities. These divisive activities are best left to
individuals.

Therefore, we are demanding that your stations not run any of our
advertisements during or adjacent to this political programming. In
the event this reasonable demand is not adhered to, we will hold your
company completely responsible for any damages we sustain.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

REGIS CORPORATION

[Anker-Klanker]

Let's get this straight: Regis cuts hair, and does not support freedom of the press or freedom of speech. Is Regis only going to cut Democrats hair from now on? Maybe they should put a sign on their door stating that is their policy.

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

[Anker-Klanker]

N3, I'm not so charitable. Let's parse some of their words in the letter to Sinclair:

[Fort Campbell]

I guess I'll boycott them by myself then because Regis did say remove our ads from this program.

I recieved this one from General Mills this afternoon and I think it was written for the benefit of the Democrats. See the difference in the wording?

__________

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

[Anker-Klanker]

Fort Campbell: I liked that one! It's apolitical, but makes the case for Freedom of the Press. I liked their little dig at RatherGate, and wish they (or someone) would suggest that if nothing else the "Stolen Honor"-based program should be seen as an offset to the very biased programs that have already been shown (i.e., upholding the principle of duty and responsibility of the press, along with freedom).

[Fort Campbell]

Yes,, AK, I thought General Mills wrote a much better response. I'll buy their products.