United: Do you really want to advertise on KSFO? They are tainting your brand
Dennis Cary, senior vice president and chief marketing and customer officer
Tony Cervone, director of Corporate Communications
United Airlines
Dear Dennis and Tony:
A series of your ads are running on KSFO radio station in San Francisco. They are live reads by one of the hosts, Tom Benner, known as "Officer Vic". (audio link of live read on March 31, 2009).
A few minutes later your United spokesperson, "Officer Vic" talked about President Obama having anal sex with Michelle Obama to avoid pregnancy. Listen to the clip of Officer Vic doing an imitation of the President having sex with his wife via "the port entry" or "the tunnel" and then using sound effects to make sure we all get the image. (audio clip).
When advertising on KSFO you can never trust what will come out of the mouths of the hosts before or after your ads run. Sadly this is only the most recent example in a long history of horrific comments. KSFO hosts have called for the death of Muslims, liberals, democrats and journalists. (see multiple audio links below).
Host Lee Rodgers has expressed his hate for all American airlines (except Southwest). He saves his specific hate for your Fly Away promotion partner Marriott. (audio link, this is a longer clip for context. If you want longer clips on any audio I'd be happy to provide them to you or your agency). I have also copied Marriott, your promotion partner, on this letter.
These hosts are now the voice of United to the SF Bay Area. You have chosen to associate your brand actively with this host and this station. Given that relationship, shouldn't they, as a vendor for United, be following your Code of Business Conduct? Your code says that it applies to all third party representatives such as contractors, consultants and agents of UAL Corporation. You require vendors to meet your own corporate guidelines when it comes to harassment or discrimination of people because of their race, religion or sexual orientation. After listening to the audio of KSFO hosts it will be hard to see how they can meet those guidelines.
Please do not simply dismiss these hosts as "shock jocks", they bill themselves as providing political news and talk and regularly have congressmen, senators and the head of the California Republican party on their shows. However their content primarily consists of death threats, name calling, discussions of torturing, shooting and mutilation of Iraqis. In the case of one host, the mutilation of his own children. They are also proudly pro-torture.
I understand some people find discussion of torture and blowing someones brains out funny. As an advertiser you'll want to first decided, after listening to their death threats for political opponents, torture fantasies for Iraqi's and anti-Muslim discrimination if their "humor" matches your brand.
I want to stress that if you choose not to advertise you are simply removing your paid support, you are not limiting their speech. This is about a corporate decision on who you choose to partner with based on your internal guidelines. If it helps you decide, imagine Officer Vic and Lee Rodgers wearing the United uniform and saying any of these things on TV.
To be fair, I encourage you or your agency to listen to the overall content of this show, you will likely determine the hosts of KSFO are tainting your brand.
Some advertisers, when they learn of the actual content of the show, are shocked and pull their ads, others choose to move them to the news portion of the show or to the feature portion like the Wall Street Journal report. I want to point out that neither of these locations are safe spots. The hosts make it a point to disparage their own network newscasts or use the stories as jumping off points for sick jokes or to disparage a company in the news.
For example listen to your United spokesman "Officer Vic" tell a story of a man's last meal. Notice how he wraps the McDonald's brand in his sick story of blood and death. (audio link)
Given this behavior and their history are you looking forward to the jokes if your plane is involved in a crash? Given Rodger's hate for all American airlines and their "humor" it is a strong possibility. And since your head of communications most recently came from the auto industry you might note how Wall Street Journal reporter Buck McQuillian uses a discussion of Ford as an opportunity to attack the auto industry. (audio link)
I know you work very hard to protect your brand, and you can't monitor all the places your ads go. Please don't allow the fine name of United to be dragged through the audio cesspool that KSFO has become. If you choose to continuing to support the hosts of KSFO after their lack of support of your quality brand, please let me know. I will be happy to continue to provide you with new horrific brand-tainting comments.
Thank you,
Spocko
cc;
John Tague, executive vice president and chief operating officer, United
Beth McGlasson, Marriott International, Inc
Amy McPherson, executive vice president, global sales & marketing, Marriott International.
David Rodriguez, executive vice president, global human resources, Marriott International.
Steve Jones, VP ABC News Radio, 212.456.5101
Daria Albinger, ABC News Radio WPLJ
Jim Kane, Deputy D.C. Bureau Chief, ABC News Radio
Mary McCarthy, Affiliate Relations, Citadel Broadcasting (KSFO/ABC Parent company) 212.456.5211
Wendy Davis, Media Post
AUDIO CLIPS
KSFO Radio Hosts, Lee Rodgers, Officer Vic, Brian Sussman (Morning host fill in) and Scott Cox (evening host fill-in)
Death on KSFO
"We'll trace you back, hunt you down and kill you like a mad dog."
Lee Rodgers, KSFO about supporters of Ron Paul (audio link)
"Officer Vic" KSFO, Joking about electrocuting New York Times editor Bill Keller
(audio link)
Brian Sussman, KSFO shooting the Dixie Chicks (with sound effects!)
(audio link)
"Officer Vic", KSFO Liberals are like cockroaches, cut their heads off
.(audio link)
Lee Rogers, KSFO Stomp protesters to death (audio link)
Cutting off Fingers and Other Body Parts on KSFO
Scott Cox, KSFO
"I would literally lop off the pinkie finger of either one of my children if they would let me drive those cars." (audio link)
Brian Sussman, KSFO talking about cutting off finger and other body parts during interrogation of Iraqi's (audio link)
Pro-Torture on KSFO
Brian Sussman, KSFO about shooting people in the knees during interrogation
(audio link)
Brian Sussman, KSFO
Waterboarding is not Torture, "No one ever died from waterboarding", it's just uncomfortable (audio link)
Lee Rodgers, KSFO Not apologizing for suggesting the torture and electrocution of a criminal following by "blowing his bleeping brains out." This shows the management support for these comments as well.
(audio link)
Death to Muslims and anti-Muslim bias on KSFO
Lee Rodgers, KSFO
Capture Muslims squeeze 'em for all the info they got and kill 'em (audio link)
Lee Rodgers, KSFO
We need to kill the Muslims in Indonesia, millions of 'em. (audio link)
Brian Sussman, KSFO
We need to kill at least 10 million Muslims because that is the percentage that are extremists (audio link)
Sexual Harassment on KSFO
December 3, 2008, ABC Radio hosts Lee Rodgers, "Officer Vic" and Wall Street Journal Reporter "Buck" McQuillian discuss the possibility of hiring outgoing Presidential Press Secretary Dana Perino to work at top conservative San Francisco station KSFO.
Rodgers talks about Perino coming to work sans clothing to show off her great rack (Windows Audio link, MP3, transcript)
Tony Cervone, director of Corporate Communications
United Airlines
Dear Dennis and Tony:
A series of your ads are running on KSFO radio station in San Francisco. They are live reads by one of the hosts, Tom Benner, known as "Officer Vic". (audio link of live read on March 31, 2009).
A few minutes later your United spokesperson, "Officer Vic" talked about President Obama having anal sex with Michelle Obama to avoid pregnancy. Listen to the clip of Officer Vic doing an imitation of the President having sex with his wife via "the port entry" or "the tunnel" and then using sound effects to make sure we all get the image. (audio clip).
When advertising on KSFO you can never trust what will come out of the mouths of the hosts before or after your ads run. Sadly this is only the most recent example in a long history of horrific comments. KSFO hosts have called for the death of Muslims, liberals, democrats and journalists. (see multiple audio links below).
Host Lee Rodgers has expressed his hate for all American airlines (except Southwest). He saves his specific hate for your Fly Away promotion partner Marriott. (audio link, this is a longer clip for context. If you want longer clips on any audio I'd be happy to provide them to you or your agency). I have also copied Marriott, your promotion partner, on this letter.
These hosts are now the voice of United to the SF Bay Area. You have chosen to associate your brand actively with this host and this station. Given that relationship, shouldn't they, as a vendor for United, be following your Code of Business Conduct? Your code says that it applies to all third party representatives such as contractors, consultants and agents of UAL Corporation. You require vendors to meet your own corporate guidelines when it comes to harassment or discrimination of people because of their race, religion or sexual orientation. After listening to the audio of KSFO hosts it will be hard to see how they can meet those guidelines.
Please do not simply dismiss these hosts as "shock jocks", they bill themselves as providing political news and talk and regularly have congressmen, senators and the head of the California Republican party on their shows. However their content primarily consists of death threats, name calling, discussions of torturing, shooting and mutilation of Iraqis. In the case of one host, the mutilation of his own children. They are also proudly pro-torture.
I understand some people find discussion of torture and blowing someones brains out funny. As an advertiser you'll want to first decided, after listening to their death threats for political opponents, torture fantasies for Iraqi's and anti-Muslim discrimination if their "humor" matches your brand.
I want to stress that if you choose not to advertise you are simply removing your paid support, you are not limiting their speech. This is about a corporate decision on who you choose to partner with based on your internal guidelines. If it helps you decide, imagine Officer Vic and Lee Rodgers wearing the United uniform and saying any of these things on TV.
To be fair, I encourage you or your agency to listen to the overall content of this show, you will likely determine the hosts of KSFO are tainting your brand.
Some advertisers, when they learn of the actual content of the show, are shocked and pull their ads, others choose to move them to the news portion of the show or to the feature portion like the Wall Street Journal report. I want to point out that neither of these locations are safe spots. The hosts make it a point to disparage their own network newscasts or use the stories as jumping off points for sick jokes or to disparage a company in the news.
For example listen to your United spokesman "Officer Vic" tell a story of a man's last meal. Notice how he wraps the McDonald's brand in his sick story of blood and death. (audio link)
Given this behavior and their history are you looking forward to the jokes if your plane is involved in a crash? Given Rodger's hate for all American airlines and their "humor" it is a strong possibility. And since your head of communications most recently came from the auto industry you might note how Wall Street Journal reporter Buck McQuillian uses a discussion of Ford as an opportunity to attack the auto industry. (audio link)
I know you work very hard to protect your brand, and you can't monitor all the places your ads go. Please don't allow the fine name of United to be dragged through the audio cesspool that KSFO has become. If you choose to continuing to support the hosts of KSFO after their lack of support of your quality brand, please let me know. I will be happy to continue to provide you with new horrific brand-tainting comments.
Thank you,
Spocko
cc;
John Tague, executive vice president and chief operating officer, United
Beth McGlasson, Marriott International, Inc
Amy McPherson, executive vice president, global sales & marketing, Marriott International.
David Rodriguez, executive vice president, global human resources, Marriott International.
Steve Jones, VP ABC News Radio, 212.456.5101
Daria Albinger, ABC News Radio WPLJ
Jim Kane, Deputy D.C. Bureau Chief, ABC News Radio
Mary McCarthy, Affiliate Relations, Citadel Broadcasting (KSFO/ABC Parent company) 212.456.5211
Wendy Davis, Media Post
AUDIO CLIPS
KSFO Radio Hosts, Lee Rodgers, Officer Vic, Brian Sussman (Morning host fill in) and Scott Cox (evening host fill-in)
Death on KSFO
"We'll trace you back, hunt you down and kill you like a mad dog."
Lee Rodgers, KSFO about supporters of Ron Paul (audio link)
"Officer Vic" KSFO, Joking about electrocuting New York Times editor Bill Keller
(audio link)
Brian Sussman, KSFO shooting the Dixie Chicks (with sound effects!)
(audio link)
"Officer Vic", KSFO Liberals are like cockroaches, cut their heads off
.(audio link)
Lee Rogers, KSFO Stomp protesters to death (audio link)
Cutting off Fingers and Other Body Parts on KSFO
Scott Cox, KSFO
"I would literally lop off the pinkie finger of either one of my children if they would let me drive those cars." (audio link)
Brian Sussman, KSFO talking about cutting off finger and other body parts during interrogation of Iraqi's (audio link)
Pro-Torture on KSFO
Brian Sussman, KSFO about shooting people in the knees during interrogation
(audio link)
Brian Sussman, KSFO
Waterboarding is not Torture, "No one ever died from waterboarding", it's just uncomfortable (audio link)
Lee Rodgers, KSFO Not apologizing for suggesting the torture and electrocution of a criminal following by "blowing his bleeping brains out." This shows the management support for these comments as well.
(audio link)
Death to Muslims and anti-Muslim bias on KSFO
Lee Rodgers, KSFO
Capture Muslims squeeze 'em for all the info they got and kill 'em (audio link)
Lee Rodgers, KSFO
We need to kill the Muslims in Indonesia, millions of 'em. (audio link)
Brian Sussman, KSFO
We need to kill at least 10 million Muslims because that is the percentage that are extremists (audio link)
Sexual Harassment on KSFO
December 3, 2008, ABC Radio hosts Lee Rodgers, "Officer Vic" and Wall Street Journal Reporter "Buck" McQuillian discuss the possibility of hiring outgoing Presidential Press Secretary Dana Perino to work at top conservative San Francisco station KSFO.
Rodgers talks about Perino coming to work sans clothing to show off her great rack (Windows Audio link, MP3, transcript)
1 Comments:
I do not take issue with your concern, or your method of contacting many pertinent parties, but please do not blemish your own advocacy by erroneously including Scott Cox in your group of target offenders.
He has about zero relativity to those other persons, provides radio audiences with an honest break from the usual fare found on right-wing radio stations, and is genuinely a man of fair play, tolerance and insight.
I have never met the man in person and I don't even know what he looks like. But for various reasons, I have been able to gather a good sense, over 10 years, of Scott Cox dating back to his days working at a tennis club.
He does not know me, or know of me, but as an ardent radio fan, and former DJ and talk show host, I can assert an honorable analysis about some radio personalities.
Scott Cox may not be your cup of tea, but he does not deserve to be painted with your rather aggressive brush of condemnation on this matter.
Thank you for the opportunity to add my view.
--- JES
jims.jets@gmail.com
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