Depite what journalist Bill O'Reilly said today about MoveOn.org receiving a special discount rate for their NY Time's Genral Petreaus display ad, based on the fact that the Times is in bed with Moveon.org and George Soros.
Referring to a report from ABC's Jake Tapper, he said that Moveon.org received a 65% discount as a "family discount," because the Times and Moveon are in bed with each other; that "if you're a left-wing smear site the Times will give you a discount." My guess is that his 65% discount came from a misread of a right wing web site.
Problem is, Bill O'Reilly could get the same rate OR LOWER!
So says, Katherine Mathis, Vice President of Corporate Communications at the Times.
"It has nothing to do with ideology," said Mathis today, "It has to do with the day it appears and how it is placed."
The Times advertising department categorized the Moveon's ad as an "advocacy" (cause and appeal) ad, and the rate isn't based on which side of the political aisle you're on. It depends on any number of factors, includingwhether the ad is in color or black&white and manner of placement.
Bill said that others who advertise in the Times are going to be up in arms to find out how Moveon.org. received the special rate.
All they have to do is contact the Times. They'll be glad to take your money and place your ad. If you want to leave the day and section placement a bit loose, you might get the same rate or better than MoveOn did.
Even you, Bill.
BTW, Bill said his people can't get an answer from the Times. I made one call.
Spreading a story before he substantiates it. Some journalist.
Steve Young is author of "Great Failures of the Extremely Successful" www.greatfailure.com and his weekly Sunday column appears every Sunday just to the left of Bill O'Reilly's in the L.A. Daily News
