TIMES GIVES LEFTIES A HEFTY DISCOUNT FOR 'BETRAY US' AD

NY Post ^ | September 13, 2007 | CHARLES HURT

[presidio9]

The New York Times dramatically slashed its normal rates for a full-page advertisement for MoveOn.org's ad questioning the integrity of Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq.

-SNIP-

According to Abbe Serphos, director of public relations for the Times, "the open rate for an ad of that size and type is $181,692."

A spokesman for MoveOn.org confirmed to The Post that the liberal activist group had paid only $65,000 for the ad - a reduction of more than $116,000 from the stated rate.

A Post reporter who called the Times advertising department yesterday without identifying himself was quoted a price of $167,000 for a full-page black-and-white ad on a Monday.

-SNIP-

[TWohlford]

“I imagine there are a number of companies out there today who are going to be re-assessing the rates they are willing to pay to the NYT.”

In advertising, there are published rates, and then there are the rates that advertisers really pay for a newspaper (or radio, TV, banner, etc) ad.

If I was purchasing ad space, I’d certainly look at this story, and call up my ad rep and demand to know why I (presumably a customer w/ a lot bigger budget) didn’t get rates as low, if now lower, than the one that MoveOn got.

[George W. Bush]

I suppose the Times can discount however it likes, being a private entity. Fortunately, McCain-Feingold only gags the voters, not the libmedia on this stuff.

[GulfBreeze]

Wow, I guess the cows at moooooveon actually demanded that their rate be based on REAL circulation numbers. Amazing.

[mnehring]

Another case of liberal projection. They always complain about the robber barrons tactics (in this case, the news paper owners), but they are doing the same thing. Billionaire leftist uses paper to mold public opinion to his way of thinking.

How is Sulzberger different than say, William Randolph Hearst?

[NCC-1701]

“...Meaning only they (the media) control information prior to elections....”

FR is a pretty good information source itself. The lsm no longer has a monopoly in information control. They can spin it any which way the want to. FR, and sites like it, can take that info, disseminate it, and find the real truth in it. That’s why FR is feared and hated in certain circles.

[TommyDale]

"Hmm... a conspiracy between the NYTimes and moveon.org?"

Exactly! Perhaps the prosecutors in New York would be interested in the investigation, as an added item to the new Hsu/Clinton/Democrat illegal contributions. Time to clean house again!

[MizSterious]

Gathering of Eagles should see about getting a deal like that. I’m sure the NYT would agree to be fair and balanced, aren’t you?

(yeah, that was sarcasm...)

[Suzy Quzy]

I think even some Democrats thought this was disgusting.....in my DREAMS!!!

[steveyp]

Given how much the Times is struggling, I doubt any advertiser is paying listed rate for any ad they place.

I’m personally thrilled at the discount and hope the fee is less than the cost to publish. I wish they would do it more often.

[Free State Four]

Citing the shared liberal bent of the group and the Times, one Republican aide on Capitol Hill speculated that it was the "family discount."

"I'm surprised they had to pay anything at all for the ad," the GOP staffer said. "They could have just asked the editorial page to run it and it wouldn't have cost them a cent."

Somebody in the GOP needs to identify this aide and give him/her a promotion. The guy has the cahones to say what most mealy-mouths in the GOP won't.

[presidio9]

And in mainstream media circles, the Gray Lady remains the newspaper of record, just as 60 Minutes is still the most important weekly TV news magazine.

[Condor51]

Since MoveOn.org is a 'non profit, tax exempt' outfit the Old Gray Whore can right off the $116,000 as a ‘tax deductible contribution’. On the same note, MoveOn has to claim it as a donation.

Too bad we don't have an AG, or Sec of Treasury that has the gonads to order the IRS to look at the books of both joints. ('heck' - they're still afraid to look at Jesse's Jagmo's books)

[Wil H]

That huge discount is money that moveon.org will now be able to use for donations to the democratic party

Who can then get the same discount from the NYT and make the money stretch even further...

[unixfox]

I wonder if the TIMES would give Free Republic the same discount. Hmmmm?

[MarineBrat]

That’s quite a sack of balls she’s got!

[presidio9]

Technically, I’m not even sure how much of an ethical problem, since eventually the Times will endorse the Democratic nominee anyway (at the moment, they seem to be leaning towards John Edwards, as far as I can tell).

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

” they seem to be leaning towards John Edwards, “
Leaning towards Edwards, and tappin’ their collective foot!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Brent Bozell just informed Fox and Friends that there’s more to these rates. If somebody gets the discount rate they must give up two things. Their choice of time and placement of the ad. The discounted ad is space available on the next convenient date for the paper and usually in later pages. He said that date and placement for this discounted ad is next to impossible, without the NYT giving more than tacit approval.

[Bob]

What is the "open rate" in the newspaper business? Anyone know?

You can think of it as the 'list price' on many products or the 'sticker price' on cars. It's the price that's quoted to potential customers prior to any sales negotiations that may take place.

[Cindy_Cin]

sickening