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(Raging Grannies Rip CBS A New One)
In rolling out what they claim is a new policy to begin broadcasting "approved" paid advocacy group advertisements, the CBS TV network is clearly taking the sensitive, low-key high road - airing the first such spot during the upcoming Super Bowl!
First one out of the box is an Anti-Choice propaganda spot from the Christian
Right group, Focus On The Family. They have paid CBS 3-million dollars for 30
seconds of access to untold millions of viewers worldwide. Their ad features
Florida college football star quarterback, Tim Tebow, telling a very personal
story about his own family, a story I won't go into detail about here - but
one that is already being questioned all over the Internet for its factual
veracity.
This is the same CBS that has repeatedly refused to run advocacy ads from
progressive groups like MoveOn.org. This is the same CBS that built a
then-unparalleled reputation back in the day for its tough, ethical, truth-to-power brand of TV
News Journalism.
From Edward R. Murrow to Walter Cronkite to Don Hewitt - there must be an awful
lot of "spinning in the grave" action going on in that CBS Newsroom
somewhere in the Great Beyond.
Yes, that was the News division,
and yes, this new policy and the way it's being launched are decisions being
made by the Business division. And yes, CBS is a private, for-profit company
that has a right to make its money in any way it sees fit.
Yet one would think that in addition to all the desperate bean-counters, there might still be a few stalwarts left at the network with the intelligence and integrity to ask: What about the damage being done to what for so long has been an honorable brand? What about damage to the notion that one of the
few "free" broadcast networks left should answer to a slightly higher
calling in its rightful pursuit of profits?
The bottom-line question - as posed and answered in, I warn you, somewhat graphic terms in
the short (1:15), fierce song parody video below - is:
What Does CBS Stand For?
