Common Cause Blog :: MySpace Refused Our Ad

MySpace Refused Our Ad

By Dawn Holian Iype
Posted on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 10:32:19 AM EST

With just one week left to send messages to the FCC about media ownership, we thought we'd try to reach out to the next generation of media activists by posting an ad on MySpace.

But they said 'no'.

MySpace told us that they "won't allow that to be shown."

And that's exactly the problem: Big Media (MySpace was bought by NewsCorp in 2005) has too much control over what the public hears, sees and watches.

We still have time to get the word out -- if we act fast. Tell us where you think we should be advertising. Vote in the poll or leave a comment.

Or, help us do an end-run around the censors at MySpace. Post our ad on your MySpace page, or on any blog or website you're involved with.

Poll

Votes: 1993
Results : Vote Link : Polls

Tags: Media and Democracy, MySpace, media ownership (all tags)

MySpace Refused Our Ad :: 44 Comments

suggestion

LiveJournal now allows ads.

by rainne on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 01:06:43 PM EST

recomendation on "other" to place ad

BuzzFlash!!

by dominick j on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 01:09:23 PM EST

Other place to put ad

opednews.com is a huge progressive site and has cheap ad rates.

by Mark E Smith on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 01:19:20 PM EST

MySpace Ad

Mark, you got it right and I bet Rob would give the ad top billing!

by nelswight on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 02:24:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

"No More Media Consolidation" Ad

Placing this ad or blogs online is akin to preaching to the choir. These efforts need to be directed at the larger national audience that is unfamiliar with the controversy. Infortunately tyhat probably means broadcast (and its attendant cost).

gcomvid

by gcomvid on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 01:21:10 PM EST

I agree with gcomvid

Ideally, it's important to advertise to the base first. Then, gcomvid is right, the broader community needs to be made aware of the issue in an informative way. The way we speak among ourselves is different than the way we bring others into the fold. Certainly, the web is one avenue. But, there's still nothing like mass media for reaching the "masses." Network TV, though less of an influence than in years past, is still, to many, the fastest way to reach the most people. And, yes, Common Cause may run into the same issues they did with MySpace. But, it's worth a try. Reaching the base? How about advertising on The Daily Show? Keith Olbermann? AND, the web, AND Air America (it's still alive). I think they need to try and place their ads to reach the most possible people. Of course, as another blogger said, that costs $$. Newspapers, unfortunately, have been declining for years. NY Times and Washington Post are another way to reach the thinking base. It largely depends upon the goal - to contact the FCC? Tell the base. To inform the masses so that they learn what's happening? That's important, too. That's where the mass advertising is important. Otherwise we of the base become marginalized...

by storydrum on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 10:50:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

site suggestion for Media Monopoly ad

Citizens for Legitimate Government:

http://www.legitgov.org/

by TampaDave on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 01:22:34 PM EST

Media ad

True - to send to the "choir" AND to 'other-thinkers.'
Try ALTERNET for space.

JVB

by jvb456 on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 01:28:19 PM EST

Object to Media Consolidation

Post the news about rejection by MySpace, and the ad contra consolidation, on

Salon
Vanity Fair
American Progress Action Fund
Michael Moore
True Majority

by SlayClif on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 01:29:10 PM EST

Where To Place an Ad

YouTube: "Everybody" goes there at some time in their internet life.

by prcmd on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 01:30:17 PM EST

advertise on Google.com

Everyone uses Google.

by candy on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 01:39:14 PM EST

place ad

place on local newspaper sites especially for larger cities in each state.

by layoung on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 01:41:46 PM EST

nytimes.com for myspace ad

put myspace ad in nytimes.com

i don't read any of the choices and
washingtonpost.com is a disgrace

by phelanm on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 01:51:47 PM EST

Rupert

You guys do great work. But it makes sense to me that My Space wouldn't post an ad directly attacking their owner. The guy that rejected your ad is just making sure his head doesn't roll, so it's a bit unfair for you to characterize it as "outrageous"!

But keep pushing the ad in other places. Just be smart where you put it.

by glicker on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 02:05:58 PM EST

MySpace Ad

MarkESmith is right on!
Rob Kall's OpEdNews is just not the site because it's PROGRESSIVE, but because his readership is so diverse. Try it, you'll like it!

by nelswight on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 02:19:53 PM EST

myspace is still vulnerable...

One of the crazy things about Myspace is that anybody can post any graphic to just about anybody else's page, in their guest book... why not simply post your graphic, maybe along with a mention about how Myspace is owned by the same right-wing extremists who own Faux News (and with a link to a page with more explanation about how your 'media consolidation' ad was censored by them), and post it to the pages of thousands or tens of thousands of Myspace users? Their site is DESIGNED for 'social networking', after all, and this is certainly "social networking" at its finest. :-) It wouldn't be particularly difficult (Google?) to find myspace pages which would be supportive of your cause to post your graphic to...!

I think you also ought to consider advertising on AirAmericaRadio's site, and probably also get their talk show hosts talking about your case. (And for that matter, too, Nova's "Mike Malloy Show" too!)

I think you should also get support from numerous other Internet-based news organizations which are widely syndicated (formally and informally) such as Citizens for Legitimate Government, Truthout, MoveOn.org, etc.

You also ought to consider setting up a video webcast channel (as Democracy Today has done) on the freeware Democracy Player (http://www.getdemocracy.org), which would allow you to (for free!) distribute periodic video news releases widely and freely. The Internet allows just about anybody to set up their own news syndication networks, easily and cheaply.

The way, ultimately, that we get around the whole "media consolidation" issue is to simply make their "consolidated" right-wing media IRRELEVANT (or at least a great deal LESS relevant) by putting our attention to media that THEY do not, and can not, control... rather the way TIME noticed. If we simply IGNORE (and don't watch, listen to, or visit) their media outlets... then THEY are the ones who ultimately are left owning outlets that simply aren't worth anything, since nobody goes there anymore!

by gep2 on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 02:20:51 PM EST

No More Media Consolidation

Try: PBS, NPR, www.FreedomFromWar.org, Democracy Now, Air America.

by cnast on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 02:23:20 PM EST

CC ad refusal

How about N.Y.Times, Google or Youtube

by bsamlacy on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 02:36:36 PM EST

ad placement

Google, maybe other search sites as well.
Amazon takes ads also.

by SteveReden on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 02:54:06 PM EST

Media Consolidation Ad

Place the ad in established press and on blogs where it will be seen by people who do not already agree 100% with everything we say.

Laird Cummings New York City laird@psnyc.com

by LairdCummings on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 02:58:37 PM EST

Where to advertise

I'd recommend both AlterNet and Progress Report

by lmmaloney on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 03:13:28 PM EST

Think outside the box!

gcomvid has it right. Don't waste resources putting the ad on all of these very progressive sites. Instead it should be put on more conservative periodicals websites or sites with more general appeal. Or if it is financially possible it should be run in print. This is an issue that has universal appeal no matter your political leanings. No one wants a small group deciding for them what is or what isn't relevant news.

by SusanDesmond on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 03:21:18 PM EST

Blocked blog entry?

I just now tried to add this issue to my mySpace blog, and it seems that their blog-posting system is down right now. Has anyone else had this problem? When did it surface? Before or after CommonCause sent today's 'MySpace censored our ad' email?

Surely it's a mere technical outage and not an intentional effort to prevent these types of postings... surely... but I have to wonder.

by speeed001 on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 03:34:42 PM EST

Where to advertise (MySpace refusal)

I agree with the guy who said MySpace probably refused because they didn't want to directly attack their boss. But that's no reason for you not to still try to place it. Also, the person who said "myspace is still vulnerable" has an excellent point (at least one).

Otherwise, to reach a wide audience, I'd say put it on Google, Ebay, or some of the, yes, entertainment sites, like E!Online or Perezhilton.com. You'll certainly reach a different audience.

by Sandydog on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 04:18:44 PM EST

MySpace

I gladly put it on my own MySpace. Thank you for the code to do so. i don't know how to insert link in other places. One truly great network where this needs to be shared is with the Care2.com. It is a huge network of people who care - actively- about causes!
Thank you~

Angel Faith The Angel Power Emporium

by AngelFaith on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 04:33:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

what about facebook.com?

by Sarah Robertson on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 04:20:06 PM EST

Public forum on media ownership

Is Common Cause participating in a public forum on media ownership January 18 in Philadelphia?

Media Tank is organizing an unofficial public hearing for the public to learn more about media ownership and put their comments on the public record. The event will be streamed live on the Internet.

Media Tank will be joined by Democratic FCC Commissioners Jonathan S. Adelstein and Michael J. Copps as well as a panel of speakers from local media and civic organizations who will address aspects of media ownership, diversity, and consolidation. After the panel discussion, the public will be invited to offer their views on the issue.

The forum will be at Temple University and moderated by Concetta M. Stewart, Dean of Temple University's School of Communications and Theater.

You can find out more at the Media Tank web site, http://mediatank.org/

by jqpublick on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 04:32:44 PM EST

Philly Media Reform Forum

Yes -- Barry Kauffman, the executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania, will be testifying there. We're also planning to alert our members in the Philly area about the forum. Thanks for helping spread the word!

by Dawn Holian Iype on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 04:47:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Placing Refused Ad

Try NEW YORK TIMES, CRAIGSLIST.ORG and ROLL CALL or similar "Capitol Hill" paper.

by steve7138 on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 05:31:07 PM EST

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and America's Media

Rupert and our American Media have way way too much control! What happened to free speech! Oh yea, Bush and his dirty war came and the American Media followed him waving the freaking flag and telling us we weren't Patriotic if we did not support killing and bombing innocent people. I do not watch tv news, the newscasters are all about themselves all ego and salary based, welcome to corporate America. Money talks!

by Eileen McGuinn on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 05:50:58 PM EST

facebook

I second the nomination for facebook.com . If the goal was to hit the audience that uses myspace, facebook is probably the next closest thing when it comes to college students. I believe it's fairly inexpensive too, although that may only be for local ads.

by abkadefgee on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 06:28:52 PM EST

My Space Censors Ad - Second Motion for Care2.com

I second the motion for Care2.com, and one reason why is that I have a homepage there with many, many good friends who are very much interested in media censorship. This issue will be sure to give Care2.com's membership of over 6 million worldwide users, many of them rabbid activists, the chance to post thousands of Common Cause's Media Consolidation ads. They would be proud to have this ad on their network, and several group hosts would post it on their group's special host announcements section, as well.

The Internet is the Last Frontier for the First Democratic Media

by evacox1 on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 07:12:45 PM EST

The Liberal Blog Advertising Network

Go to the Liberal Blog Advertising Network and place one ad that will appear on many, many blogs. It does not cost that much compared to other media and gets your message in front on literally MILLIONS of progressives.

It is at:
http://web.blogads.com/advertise/liberal_blog_advertising_network

We need to support each other. Please do not ask dedicated bloggers to run an ad for free.

by DaveJ on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 08:16:25 PM EST

Media Consolidation

I'd place the ad with IWON.COM

by diamondv on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 09:06:31 PM EST

Myspace Censorship

I second anyone who said youtube.com

P.S. I already posted the ad on my myspace page and posted a bulletin for my friends to do the same. Just doing my part.

David Jonh

by djohnnyk on Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 01:03:46 AM EST

myspace censorship

My vote is for dating websites like match.com and plentyoffish.com

They attract many hits and should be very useful in generating interest

by Oasis on Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 01:27:38 AM EST

MySpace Censorship

Many of the suggestions above sound good but they all seem to target sites that are already geared towards progressive thinking individuals who already know something about the issue. If the goal is to gain exposure to intelligent, college-educated people who may be receptive to this cause but not aware of the details, why not stick with the original idea of posting to a site that's similar to MySpace? Examples include Facebook.com and Friendster.com. Just a thought....

by Randogg on Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 03:52:14 AM EST

Suggested Adsites

www.javaranch.com - jobs discussion board

I got censored at the java ranch for talking about age discrimination in the US of A

www.programmersguild.org

by oakleaf on Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 09:40:10 AM EST

myspace marketing

Well, why don't you set up your own myspace page so you can place your ads there? Take the power of myspace marketing.

It's hard to ignore Myspace knowing how large the community is.

by jamescooper on Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 11:56:11 AM EST

myspace ad

How about Logoonline,com

by pbgator69 on Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 01:28:34 PM EST

youtube

youtube is a great place for viral propogation of information. You may need to make your ad into a movie filetype, but once you do, post it on there from a few different user accounts with lots of keynames

by suzannejb on Fri Jan 12, 2007 at 07:06:40 AM EST

big media ad

Murdoch's "MySpace" refusal to run ad should be given fullest possible publilcity. Can you connect your e-mail content to the likes of digg.com and/or del.icio.us?

I'd be glad to create a free page at one of the sites I "web-master" (e.g., http://bushelectionfraud.tripod.com).

by auntnini on Fri Jan 12, 2007 at 04:52:43 PM EST

"Other" category

I vote for Facebook.com.

by amandaleht on Fri Jan 12, 2007 at 10:49:44 PM EST

reply

washingtonpost.com. weight loss

by sehebre on Mon May 21, 2007 at 12:43:41 PM EST

You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account just by filling out the form below. It's quick and free.

MySpace Refused Our Ad

By Dawn Holian IypePosted on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 10:32:19 AM EST

By Dawn Holian Iype
Posted on Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 10:32:19 AM EST