The Politics Of Newspaper Ads

In a stunningly short period of time (36 hours), BlogsforTerri, with the help of over 200 bloggers, raised in excess of $10,000 in order to place an ad in a Florida newspaper clarifying some apparent myths that have been repeated in mainstream media regarding Terri Schindler-Schiavo's health status, access to treatment, and prognosis. What a great idea!

Originally BlogsforTerri had planned to place the ad in the St. Petersburg Times; however, when the Times saw the ad, they reportedly insisted on changes to it. BlogsforTerri then announced online that the St. Petersburg Times was censoring the ad:

After speaking to the Times' advertising department, we were informed that they would consider running our advertisement only after we agreed to edit its content. We explained to their representative that we possess copies of court documents that back each statement. She was not interested in backing down, however, and insisted that the edited version be run.

Out of respect for the many bloggers and readers, who contributed their own money, out of respect for the truth, and out of respect for Terri Schiavo, it has been decided to cancel the St. Petersburg Times Advertisement. The advertisement MUST and WILL run in its complete and uncensored format. 

Ironically, our purpose for paying for the advertisement was to bypass the mainstream media who continues to suggest that this is a "right-to-die" issue.... BlogsforTerri had heard "rumors" (and at this point it is nothing more than rumor), that the St. Petersburg Times had planned a "head" job against Terri in their editorial section this weekend and that our ad could possibly have contradicted content in that editorial.

Perhaps the post struck a chord with the newspaper (and well it should have) because shortly afterwards, BlogsforTerri reported the following:

Mr. Myers told me that the St. Petersburg Times was prepared to run the BlogsforTerri ad exactly as it was originally presented, without the changes that they had earlier insisted upon(I received the required changes by email as did the Schindler's press office). I was told that they were not censoring the ad and that they didn't want the blogs using the word censorship when in fact they were now willing to run the ad, and defin[i]tely wanted to run the ad this Sunday as originally requested by BlogsforTerri.

It seems to me that the newspaper wanted the ad censored edited, but didn't want anyone to know about it, lest it affect their public image, perhaps. Kudos to BlogsforTerri for maintaining their integrity and reporting the truth to fellow bloggers. If you go to their site, you can read the ad copy, which will be running this weekend in the Tampa Tribune's "Metro" section.

Notice which of the two papers received a link from me. Please click through to the Tampa Tribune as a small "thank you" for giving ad space at a more-than-reasonable cost and without censorship, leaving enough money over to seed funding for a second major ad.