RE: a VERY unethical practice?

From: Bob Gordon <bgordon_at_theautochannel.com>
Date: Wed 04 Sep 2002 11:49:37 -0500

Dear Pesach an our other Jewish members;

L'Shanna Tova Happy New Year.

Non-ethical advertisers are never picky about how they generate traffic
or leads. They obviously opt to buy bulk traffic and not quality
traffic, to them its only a numbers game...it’s the amount of traffic
generated...and if their methods and lack of honesty piss people off
..so what!

Back in the old days of traditional media, the management of the
newspaper or magazine or the station had/took the responsibility to
monitor and keep their own house in order. They felt that lies and
cheating reflected not only on the non-ethical advertiser but on their
core business as well...viewers and readers deserved and expected a high
level of truthfulness in both editorial and advertising.

Management and ownership recognized that its impossible to create the
aura of a 100% honest publication if they accept and publish or air
advertising from crooks and cheats and companies that skate on thin ice.

Broadcasters and publishers would NEVER disseminate advertising that
contained unsubstantiated or un-provable claims or puffery...all ads and
commercials had to pass inspection before they were seen by the public.

If a pizza place tried to put an Ad in the yellow pages that claimed
"Liugi's Pizza is the Best", the publication would not allow it but
modified the ad to say something like: "Liugi's Pizza One Of The Best".

Today's lack of professionalism and low commercial morality, is a
reflection of both the economy...and the gutless simpletons who are
running the media companies. These guys and gals are always under their
CFO's microscope and will not stand up to a paying customer even if they
are crooks.

When you have weak management who are more interested in short term
results and don't care a snoot about protecting the franchise or long
term vulnerability, who can blame anyone for stooping to accept and
disseminate crap!

Another bunch of idiots is our politically appointed FCC...until those
know nothings changed the law, Broadcasters could only own or control 7
Radio and 7 TV stations and were made to be serious about broadcasting
for the public good...but no more, when a group owner like clear channel
can own 8000 plus radio stations, who can monitor them?

Just look at Adelphia, AOL, and other newcomers to the media business
and see why the fish rots from the head down.

Unfortunately this is another case where, freeing a market only freed
the owners from a responsibility to serve the public.

Shame on our politicians and shame on us!

Bob Gordon
The Auto Channel




Received on Wed Sep 04 2002 - 11:49:37 CDT