NY Times- Standby rate for fellow travelers

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

RE:  Complaint Filed with the FEC Over "General Betray Us' Ad

K-Lo at NRO points out the latest defense of the "fellow traveler" discount that the NY Times gave MoveOn is that it was a Standby rate. Hmmmm, once again I worked for Capital Newspapers and sold political and every other type of advertising for them. I am fully conversant in the way newspapers sell ads.

A standby price for this full page ad in the front section would mean that they not only couldn't sell the space at full price, but none of the hundreds of commissioned sales folks could sell it at all. Standby pricing is for spots that can't be filled, mostly in the back of Home and Garden or the Classifieds, rarely in the front section of the NY Times.

Now understand that all the sales reps know what ads are going where ,so they know what space is available. They would all have known that MoveOn had the space reserved, but the game is that if any of them have a client that will pay more than Standby rates, then they get the slot. That is why it's called Standby. So to believe the Times, not one of the hundreds of top shelf advertisers they deal with daily would have taken the $116k discount that MoveOn got? Ya' know having seen the fight for commissions and sales goals first hand I am calling BS.

This was a complete bone to MoveOn, and it was not business as usual. This would have required the approval of the head of advertising and would have been known to the publisher because it cost them money to do it. I can't say if it was illegal because the legal vermin have made right and wrong incomprehensible to non-acolytes, but it's certainly wrong as rain.

I hope they burn.

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» All the Crude Ideological Ranting that's Unfit to Print from Publius Pundit
As you may know, on September 10th the George Soros-funded moonbat propaganda campaign known as "MoveOn.org" ran a full-page add in the New York Times attacking General Petraeus as a traitor because he failed to agree with MoveOn's position... [Read More]

Comments

[Tammi]

Yeah, Right.... sales people - on commission - with the opportunity to offer that kind of discount - not making the calls?

You're right. I call BS.

Go Get 'Em Uncle Jimbo!

[Cincinnati_Bob]

To me there is little difference between the MSM and the democrat party. They are one in the same. I personally believe the Dem party is keeping the MSM in business - paying the bills - as I don't believe they have a profitable business model.

But also imo, there is no question they are Bls to the wall, no holds barred, promote the Dems and hurt the Republicans.

I saw a picture of Obama the other day in a story relating to the Petraeus testimony and the picture of Obama made him look like Jesus Christ at the last supper. I'm not kidding. There was a halo of light around his head, and he had his hand up like he was performing a miracle of some kind. It was an AP Washington story printed by the Boston Herald.

They are all out promoting the clintons (they are the only ones really running) by omission, mis-direction and sometimes outright lies.

[LL]

You were spot on, sugar.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09132007/news/nationalnews/times_gives_lefties_a_hefty_di.htm

[Uncle Jimbo]

I do love being called Sugar.

Cordially,

Uncle J

[Cannoneer No4]

Watch this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RNPpy2DDrjU

Keeping MoveOn On the Ropes

[Cannoneer No4]

Now that's counterpropaganda/a>. 'bout damn time.

[Blackfive]

Nice shot, Sugar.

[Tammi]

Ew, B5!!! Ew!

Uh....Ew!

[Arch]

Bob has a good point. The NYTimes is not doing too well in the world of subscribers, loosing about 4% per year. Since ad revenue is priced on market value - who and how many you reach - the donks may well be keeping the Grey Lady afloat. It's really too bad. That newspaper used to be excellent.

[Marieanne]

Give em hell, Uncle Jimbo! WHO LOVES YA, BABY.

[Some Soldier's Mom]

yeah, nice work, Sugar Sugar!

Saw MM mention your complaint on Fox today... but what will that mean for the Guiliani ad? I assume the price will double if the NYT is found to have "donated" illegally? Is it still illegal if they give EVERY political cause/party/group the same discount -- you know, as a public service? (hope you don't have coffee out yer nose)

[David M]

Trackbacked by The Thunder Run - Web Reconnaissance for 09/14/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.

[The Wolf]

Sugar-

You forgot the (MYRIH) or, in this case, (MYBIH).

-Wolf

[Ghost of Habu, The Pit Viper]

NYT got way, way stupid this time around. They went & got stupid in a way they haven't done previously. This time they let their political advocacy cross over into the business side of the NYT. Big time issue, here - and this is going to create a problem that is going to create some serious blowback for NYT management (if that's what you want to call it).

Basics:

(1) The New York Times uses a two-tier stock structure. There's been a whole lot of storms and fury over this two tiered system having outlived its usefulness.

(2) Under The New York Times Company’s dual-class voting structure, the holders of Class A Stock — notably, public investors holding more than 99% of the company’s value — elect only a minority of seats on the board, four out of 13. The holders of Class B Stock — investors holding less than 1% of the company’s value — elect a majority of seats on the board, the remaining nine out of 13.

Guess where the majority of the voting stock is?

Ok, now what does this have to do with this whole moveon.org ad?

Only this. That cushy deal that got put out there for moveon.org affected the business side of the NYT house. Not the editorial/news side - THE BUSINESS SIDE. That sweetheart deal is money left on the table, not going into public shareholder pockets. Makes for very unhappy public investors.

Put money down on many, many questions from the investment community to the NYT business side types. Like, "How many times has this happened before", and if it's happened before, does this mean a serious softening in ad sales/placements, or is this a weakness in sales/marketing staff that hasn't yet been addressed, or what particular ad purchasing segments of the marketplace are purchasing less ad space, etc., etc., etc. The questioning could easily become legendary - but it would be perfectly legitimate.

NYT management just opened themselves up to some serious questions from the investment community. And those folks are utterly relentless - and completely unforgiving.

After all, this isn't about politics now - it's about MONEY. And when it's about money, politics goes to the sidelines faster than you can blink. Particularly with the NYT already being on a financial downward trend.

Stupid, stupid, stupid - don't ever let politics affect the business side of the operations.

[Dan Brown]

Hi,

Thought this news might be of some interest to your readers:

NEW moveon,org TV ad coming out on monday sept 17th...basically calling president bush a traitor.

Catch it here:
MoveOn.org TV Ad

For general david betray us fans or not:
General David Betray Us

Have a great weekend!
Dan

[purplepenquin]

Uncle Jimbo, I also worked at CapNewspapers (then known as MNI) in a couple different departments, but my last gig there was in layout. For those who don't know what that involves, among other things I would decide where all the ads went for each issue. Most ads are not guaranteed placement for a particler page. Most of the choices of where they went was made by me, and me alone.

Also, many times an ad would be yanked at the last moment due to credit/billing issues, and we would have to use a standby ad to fill the space. Ironically, it was usually the companies paying extra for a back page or page 3-5 that ended up beign yanked. Guess who got to pick which ad to use in their place? Not the head of advertising, but rather the stoner working at the layout desk.

I'm willing to bet this has more to do with the guy or gal making $10/hr than the publisher at the top...if you're gonna be mad at anyone, take it out on the layout dept.

[WesternBlot]

It would be fairly easy to check on past advocacy ads to see if nyt makes a habit of this.