SwiftVets.com

[hiyall]

The press is NOT acting independently when they run news shows that use forged documents or bogus facts in a transparent attempt to impact a Presidential election. It is contrary to my family's values to hold up a corrupt news organization as admirable, independent or worthy of support.

In addition, I doubt that you would allow your advertising to run on a show with gratutitous nudity, profanity or sex nor would you hire a known convicted felon as your spokesperson. Please correct me if I am wrong.

The argument that CBS is an independent press is specious on its face due to its performance this election cycle.

I stand by my decision to avoid all sponsors that enable CBS News to thrive.


On Thu Nov 04 09:21:07 PST 2004, Consumer Services-Respondents <ConsumerServicesRespondents@genmills.com> wrote:

> Thank you for your email concerning CBS News and 60 Minutes.
>
> We note with concern your strong reaction to CBS News programming.
>
> General Mills has a standing policy of previewing in advance whenever possible
> the programs on which our advertising appears. The purpose of this policy is
> to assure that we do not advertise on programs that are inconsistent with the
> family-oriented nature of our products. While this policy works well with programs
> produced and available for advance screening, the production schedule inherent
> in news makes pre-screening impractical or impossible with regard to news broadcasts.
>
> Any viewer may, from time to time, consider a particular news story to be inaccurate
> or imbalanced. News organizations do sometimes err, and CBS has publicly acknowledged
> that errors were made in this instance. CBS News and Mr. Rather have expressed
> regret and, certainly, a price has been paid in terms of reputation.
>
> As viewers, each of us is free to make a choice. We can choose to patronize
> or not patronize particular programs with our viewership.
>
> But one of the fundamental elements of our society is the independence of the
> press. Errors and questionable judgment are an acceptable price to pay, in our
> view, to assure the presence of a free media in our society.
>
> To withdraw from sponsoring news programming to avoid potential controversies
> - or to attempt to influence or control the content of news through the leverage
> of our sponsorship - would, in our view, undermine that fundamental freedom.
>
>
> We welcome the views that you and others have shared with us on this issue.
> You may rest assured that we will remind the news organizations we sponsor with
> our advertising that the integrity of their reporting reflects on the companies
> and products that advertise during their broadcast.
>
> Hopefully, you will understand our views on this matter - and the importance
> we place on a free press.
>
> Thank you again for taking the time to contact us.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> General Mills Consumer Services
_________________
I'm a Texan, and no one has ever accused me of speaking English.

[Anker-Klanker]

General Mills was a major advertiser on Sinclair Broadcasting, weren't they? I know, I know, Sinclair let us down, but General Mills didn't. Unless I'm confusing General Mills with someone else, they do seem to stand on the high ground for freedom of the press.