October, 15 2009, 04:30pm EDT
CNN Runs Away From Its Dobbs Problem ... Again
Most trusted name in news refuses to air Drop Dobbs ad
WASHINGTON
Today, Media Matters for America
responded to news that CNN has refused to air a new advertisement from America's
Voice and Media Matters calling
out the network for giving Lou Dobbs a prominent platform.
"CNN
is willing to stand behind Dobbs, but it hides from legitimate
criticism," said Eric Burns, president of Media Matters. "The most trusted name in news isn't willing to critically
examine one of its pre-eminent
hosts. Dobbs' record speaks for itself. He isn't worthy of the
platform CNN gives him."
To watch the ad, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmgN83Cs49s
BACKGROUND:
America's Voice and Media
Matters announced today they purchased ad time on CNN to air an ad calling
out the network for continuing to give Lou Dobbs a prominent platform. The ad was set to air on October 21
and 22, during CNN's heavily promoted Latino
in America series. Shortly after that announcement, Media Matters
learned that CNN was rejecting the ad. America's Voice is a partner with Media Matters in the Drop Dobbs
campaign, which calls attention to Dobbs' long history of reporting marred by baseless conspiracy
theories, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and undisclosed conflicts of interest.
In
August, Media Matters bought a
week of ad time on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News in Washington,
D.C., New York,
and Atlanta to
air an ad calling on CNN to credibly address Dobbs' repeated promotion of
birther conspiracy theories. As reported on The Huffington Post, "[F]ive
of the six cable providers contracted for the project have informed the group
that they are declining to put the spot on CNN."
For more information on the Drop Dobbs campaign, please visit: www.DropDobbs.com.
Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.
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