Posted by Mike Bawden under Journalism Comments Off
“Free Speech” can be a tricky thing … especially for journalists. And Helen Thomas, the esteemed columnust for Hearst Newspapers and long-time fixture in the White House Press Room found out today that saying what’s on her mind – even if it’s her right to do so – can come with a price.
Whether you agree with Ms. Thomas’ opinion that Jews in Isreal should “get the hell out of Palestine” or not, what’s important to note here is that controversial opinions like these carry both implied and real consequences when they’re utterred in a public forum and captured for re-broadcast via YouTube, CNN, FOX and scores of other news and non-news venues.
The firestorm resulting from Ms. Thomas’ comments and weak-kneed apology are understandably political and, in many cases, incindeary bombs of their own. But it’s the reaction from her agent and both the White House Correspondents Association and Hearst Corporation that really left no choices for Ms. Thomas other than immediate retirement.
On Sunday, Ms. Thomas’ agent, Nine Speakers, Inc. dropped her and her writing partner, Craig Crawford (who co-authored “Listen Up, Mr. President” with Thomas) annoucned he would no longer work with her.
The respect Ms. Thomas earned over fifty years of working the White House didn’t provide enough cover for the 89 year-old journalist’s bombshell with her peers, either. The WH Correspondents Association announced a special meeting on Thursday which, in all likelihood, would have resulted in Ms. Thomas’ demotion from the front row in the WH Briefing Room – a seat she has occupied for decades.
The entire kerfuffle put Hearst in a position where it could do almost nothing to help. The immediate retirement is, in all likelihood, the best way to extinguish the problem before it becomes a longer-term problem for Ms. Thomas and Hearst.
So, what’s the problem?
Ms. Thomas’ opinions, no matter how outrageous, are certainly protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. But the nature of the comments, and the way they were delivered, cast a shadow on the credibility and “assumed” relative objectivity of her analysis as an opinion columnist and member of the White House press corps. Certainly the standards of objectivity are relaxed for a columnist – but as the ONLY columnist with a seat in the White House briefing room, Ms. Thomas had a higher standard to meet.
Ironically, it’s a standard that she set as a leading member of the press corps for the past five decades.
Political backlash aside, there was really nothing else Hearst could do but accelerate Ms. Thomas’ retirement and hope that this will all blow over leaving nothing but charming memories of an “institution” of the White House beat.
Welcome to the regular world, Helen. Your First Amendment rights are still protected – but now you’ll get paid for your opinion at the same rate the rest of us do. Zip.
Certainly there will be some companies, somewhere, who will step in and take up the available inventory … but as the New York Times reported on Friday, some of the larger brand advertisers have found the heat in Glenn Beck’s kitchen a little too hot and have pulled their advertising following the right-wing commentator’s comments about President Obama late last month.
Con Agra, Geico, Progressive and Proctor & Gamble all pulled ads – or shifted ad spending on FOX following the controversial remarks. Con Agra went as far as to issue a statement on Beck’s statements:
“We are firmly committed to diversity, and we would like to prevent the potential perception that advertising during this program was an endorsement of the viewpoints shared.”
Other advertisers kept their buys on FOX but distanced themselves from Mr. Beck’s show in particular. According to the article in the Times:
Other companies also said their spots had been scheduled during “Glenn Beck” by mistake. Ads for Procter & Gamble and S.C. Johnson appeared on a weekend repeat of Mr. Beck’s program by mistake, Fox acknowledged. Progressive said that its advertising order had specified “no Glenn Beck,” but Fox said it had bought a block of time with the channel that included Mr. Beck.
One of the issues raised by the article in the Times, however, centers on exactly how the attention of these advertisers – and their resulting media spending decisions – were brought to bear. Some credit has to go to ad mogul Donny Deutsch who also serves as a talk show host on FOX’s rival, MSNBC. Deutsch named names of brands who advertised on Beck’s show and rightly pointed out that corporate leaders often don’t know exactly where every ad dollar is going, so if angry consumer reached out to the companies who advertise on shows like Beck, those advertisers are likely to respond.
I found it more than just mildly humorous that Duetsch’s co-host couldn’t believe that the CEO’s of company’s like Chrysler and Campbell’s Soup don’t watch Beck’s show or have any idea where their ad dollars are spent. Deutsch, plowed on – condeming neither FOX or the sponsors but urging consumers to action.
Are the expectations for the incoming Obama administration too high? The Obama-Biden campaign certainly re-set the rules of political campaigns with their 2008 effort – raising more money, spending more money and engaging people on a level unlike anything in living memory. But will the public’s anticipation and expectations of the new administration and, more specifically, the promise to continue reaching out and engaging the public, be met to everyone’s satisfaction?
It reminds me of the expectations and constant chatter surrounding Social Media. In fact, I don’t think there’s any question that an Obama Administration will be the first to fully embrace the uber-democracy that is the online/Social Media world.
My only question is: can a 18th century institution like the US Federal Government adapt quickly enough to not get completely balled up in an avalanche of 21st century Social Media interactivity?
The SNL alum had the nerve (along with her cohorts) to call out the mainstream media and seriously question their objectivity on the Obama vs Clinton primary battle for the Democratic nomination for President. It does seem the media has been taking it easy on Mr. Obama and the SNL folks don’t seem to like it much at all. (View Fey’s editorial rant here.)
There’s more to review by visiting a blog set up to provide the video YouTube won’t show. Give it a look (here) and let me know what you think. (more…)
Posted by Mike Bawden under Brand USA Comments Off
When I heard the news about last night’s Grammy Awards, I was shocked. Herbie Hancock won Album of the Year for his tribute to Joni Mitchell and made a point of thanking Miles Davis, John Coltrane among others. It was a fitting tribute and a well-deserved honor for Hancock.
I’m a jazz fan (huge) and was pleased to see us get one over on all the other genres in the musical world. After all, two AotY Grammies in 50 years is hardly a Patriot-style dynasty now, is it?
Hancock ended his acceptance speech with a little tip of the hat to Barack Obama by claiming “Yes, We Can” to close. And that’s when the announcer came on and explained that Barack Obama had won his second Grammy, beating out Bill Clinton in the “spoken word” category. (more…)
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Are the expectations for the incoming Obama administration too high? The Obama-Biden campaign certainly re-set the rules of political campaigns with their 2008 effort – raising more money, spending more money and engaging people on a level unlike anything in living memory. But will the public’s anticipation and expectations of the new administration and, more specifically, the promise to continue reaching out and engaging the public, be met to everyone’s satisfaction?
