Rejected : Rashad Robinson, ColorOfChange.org

I’m stunned.

I was planning to email you today to tell you about the next step in our campaign to convince FOX to drop the television program COPS. We were going to unveil ads to be placed in The Hollywood Reporter and AdWeek calling on advertisers to pull their support of the program.

But before I could, AdWeek and The Hollywood Reporter rejected our ads.

Trade publications like AdWeek and The Hollywood Reporter are delivered weekly to Hollywood executives and potential advertisers and we need to get this into as many other publications as we can before FOX executives meet in May to announce which shows get renewed for next season. Will you join us?

Please click here to contribute $15 today to help us keep pushing FOX and its advertisers to stop profiting from a reality so costly for the Black community.

Nothing in our ad was lewd or profane, it simply told the truth about how media have profited from the dehumanization and over-incarceration of Black people. The rejection of our ad by two notable media outlets makes it clear how powerful the corporate forces we’re up against are.

Research has shown that programs like COPS create warped perceptions of Black folks and communities of color¹ and the criminal justice system.² This relic should have never made it to air — let alone survived for 25 years.

The truth is that for 25 years COPS has glorified the failed “War on Drugs” by taking viewers on a ride-along with officers as they patrol and harass people in low income neighborhoods across the country. COPS has turned the criminalization of Black folks and other communities of color into entertainment for millions — all while lining the pockets of Fox with advertising dollars.

This rejection shows us how much harder we have to work to get FOX to drop COPS. We are committed to spreading our ads far and wide — until the only thing that gets rejected is COPS.

Please click here to contribute $15 today to help us turn up the heat on FOX and its advertisers.

Thanks and Peace,

–Rashad
   April 25th, 2013

P.S. We need to turn up the heat ahead of the network upfronts next month, which is when the networks and advertisers will be making a lot of their big decisions. Please click here to contribute $3 and help us get these ads out to let them know how toxic COPS is for our community.

References

1. “Opportunity for Black Men and Boys: Public Opinion, Media Depictions, and Media Consumption” (.pdf), The Opportunity Agenda, 10-01-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2114?t=6&akid=2904.1174326.8og3Gr

2. “How television influences social institutions: the case of policing and criminal

Media Matters for America ~~~ Update

 

Conservative media are turning especially ugly recently by promoting Islamophobia, embracing conspiracy theories, and making cruel statements about Gabby Giffords. We also have a special look at the campaign against disability benefits. John Whitehouse Twitter: @existentialfish Ugly Islamophobia, Even For Fox In the wake of the Boston bombings, Fox News has been overrun with Islamophobia, from anti-Muslim guests to Brian Kilmeade‘s rants about some people not deserving Constitutional rights. But the nadir of this ugliness was Fox host Eric Bolling declaring that Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) was “the Muslim apologist in Congress” and is “very dangerous.” http://mm4a.org/11iwuEz How The Press Should Cover The Bush Legacy The George W. Bush Presidential Library is set to be dedicated today. Media Matters investigative reporter Joe Strupp spoke to presidential historians and veteran reporters for insight on how press should cover the Bush legacy. Their advice was clear: Tell the whole truth, and don’t whitewash the “very bad things.” http://mm4a.org/14S28ix Republicans Give Fox The Benghazi Report It Wanted House Republicans this week released a new report on the attacks on the Benghazi consulate. The explicitly partisan report conflicts with the independent, nonpartisan review previously done by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen and Amb. Tom Pickering. Matt Gertz explains how Fox News built the report in the first place: http://mm4a.org/11iAWD3 Get The Facts On Disability Benefits The media has recently waged a concerted campaign against disability benefits. Unfortunately, that campaign has been filled with myths and lies. We’ve put together the complete resource debunking all of this hogwash. This is one of those pieces you’re going to want to bookmark and return to: http://mm4a.org/11GzevK FEATURED VIDEO Matt Drudge promised that this would be the “year of Alex Jones.” We’ve put together a harrowing look at what that would entail: http://youtu.be/JSOkoY9wkb4 CONSERVATIVE MEDIA AND BOSTON From the New York Post to Glenn Beck to Sean Hannity, conservative media failed their audience in their coverage of the Boston bombings. Eric Boehlert sorts through the smörgåsbord of conspiracy theories and false allegations: http://mm4a.org/XLpnp4 GABBY DESERVES BETTER After Gabby Giffords published a New York Times op-ed excoriating the Senate for blocking legislation on gun violence, The Wall Street Journal‘s James Taranto said on NRA News that he did not believe Giffords has the ability “to produce 900 publishable words.” http://mm4a.org/13qMCW4 IMAGE OF THE WEEK Fox Asks If Students Should Work For Their School Meals

Burma : Welcome to West Wing Week

 

West Wing Week: 11/22/12 or “Hello Burma!” bywhitehouse

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that’s happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President made an historic trip to Thailand, Burma, and Cambodia, attended the East Asia Summit, and pardoned the National Thanksgiving Turkey at the White House with the First Family.

Media Matters for America

 

We have a few things to share with you this week, but mostly I just want to say thanks from myself and everyone atMedia Matters.John Whitehouse Twitter: @existentialfish For Thanksgiving, One Fox Pundit Mocks Those Going Hungry The food stamp challenge exists to raise awareness of the many Americans are going hungry, even during the holidays. But Fox pundit Andrea Tantaros continued the network’s crusade against food stamps by mocking the program, saying “I should try it because, do you know how fabulous I would look?” Jeremy Holden examines Tantaros’ appalling comments and the culture at Fox News that attacks those who can’t afford to feed themselves. http://mm4a.org/10dnaTx Image Of The Week It was a year ago that Fox found a War on Thanksgiving. The Party Of Roger Ailes Many Republicans are trying to blame their party’s loss this year solely on Mitt Romney. But as they try to distance themselves from Romney’s comments about the “47 percent” and “gifts,” Fox News is doubling down on the lies. Eric Boehlert explains how Republicans don’t have a Romney problem – they have a Fox News problem. http://mm4a.org/S8lI1V Fox’s Benghazi Cover Up After David Petraeus testified on November 16, Rep. Peter King held a press conference aired on CNN and elsewhere where he said that the CIA approved the Benghazi talking points the right-wing had attacked Susan Rice for using. But when King appeared with Megyn Kelly later that day on Fox, Kelly completely ignored the revelation: http://mm4a.org/Sy47gw

FEATURED VIDEO Rupert Murdoch complained about the way “Jewish owned press” were covering the conflict in Gaza. CNN’s Howard Kurtz found the statement “stunningly offensive” and noted that it reflects badly on Fox News. Kurtz also criticized Murdoch for daring to instruct the press in light of the phone hacking scandal: http://mm4a.org/10tmU1U JUST AN INFOMERCIAL NOW As some Wal-Mart workers prepare to strike on Friday in order to fight for better wages and affordable healthcare plans, Foxaired a fawning interview with a Wal-Mart executive. The reason for the strikes was not even mentioned. But stunningly, the segment was actually sponsored by Wal-Mart: http://mm4a.org/URfV3H RUSH DECLARES HIMSELF IRRELEVANT Rush Limbaugh usually isn’t shy about declaring himself a big shot within the Republican Party and conservative movement. He touted his power numerous times in the run up to the election. But when Republicans lost, Rush suddenly declared himself powerless: http://mm4a.org/QUiwbv

HubbleSite Update: Holiday Greetings

 

		November 21, 2012
Image galleries, games, scientific revelations, and the entire Hubble archive await at: hubblesite.org		Holiday GreetingsHubbleSite holiday cards are back! Send celestial season’s greetings to friends and family with these free, printable cards. Choose from an array of designs that highlight the joys of the holidays through the natural beauty of the universe. VISIT: HubbleSite Holiday Cards This feature is available at: http://hubblesite.org/gallery/holiday

a message from leader Harry Reid

Everybody’s busy. With work, school, activities, grocery shopping, running to events, conference calls, email — we’re on the move, all the time, sometimes barely taking a moment to see what’s around us.

It’s important in our always-connected, fast-paced world that we all take some time to slow down and appreciate all we have. That’s what Thanksgiving is for: Taking a day to recognize the people and things in our lives that we’re thankful for.

I wanted to let you know today I’m very thankful for all your support.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Have a wonderful holiday.

Harry Reid

Jamie Rappaport Clark, Defenders of Wildlife

Thankful Moments from 2012 This year marked a great step forward in the return of bison to the Great Plains.

 

Let’s not sugarcoat it — these are tough times for wildlife lovers. But even the darkest times have inspiring moments.Thanks to you and other steadfast wildlife lovers, we have some important victories to celebrate from this past year. Here are three things we are thankful for here at Defenders:Make Way for Bison! We took a giant step in 2012 toward returning wild bison to the heart of their historic range in America’s Great Plains. Sixty one pure American bison from Yellowstone National Park made a 500-mile journey to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Eastern Montana. The move marks the beginning of efforts to restore wild bison herds of 1,000 or more to areas where they once thundered in the millions.

Roadless Rule Upheld. The Supreme Court handed conservationists a huge victory when they rejected an appeal to the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, allowing this rule to stay intact. The provision, signed by President Clinton in 2001, bans road construction or timber harvesting in nearly 60 million acres of National Forest lands. The rule protects more than 1,600 vulnerable wild plant and animal species whose habitat would be at risk if road building was permitted.

A Lone Wolf Arrives in California. There has not been a wild wolf in California since the 1920s. That is until OR-7, a young male born in Eastern Oregon, made his way into Northern California’s Cascades region early this year. It was a landmark moment for wolf conservation, and for a while OR-7 was undoubtedly the world’s most famous wolf.

We here at Defenders cannot thank you enough for your passionate support in 2012. Let’s draw encouragement and renewed energy from these wins to meet the conservation challenges ahead!

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Sincerely,Jamie Rappaport Clark President Defenders of Wildlife

Black Friday …

 

NOTHING! PLEDGE TO BOYCOTT WAL-MART!Wal-mart workers routinely face unsafe working conditions, poverty-level low wages and intimidation and retaliation when attempting to speak-up or organize. This is why this Black Friday Wal-mart workers and their supporters are taking part in over 1,000 protests nationwide. These will include strikes, boycotts and direct actions to fight back against unfair and abusive labor practices. We need you to join in! Watch video and pledge to boycott Wal-Mart on Black Friday! Wal-mart workers are taking enormous risks in staging these actions and need your full support. Share this video and pledge with your family, friends and network. Together we can make an impact. Yours, Axel Caballero and the Cuéntame team. PS – Please help support our work. Cuéntame depends on your support to continue investigating issues and producing content. We are a non-profit and we take no money from the government, lobbyists, or corporations. You can contribute any amount here so we can continue to uncover stories that are important to you. Every dollar helps. Thanks!

Media Matters for America

Fox Spins Walker’s “Worst In The Nation” Jobs Record On Eve Of Recall
 In an effort to put a positive spin over Scott Walker’s tenure as Wisconsin governor on the eve of his recall election, Fox News repeated questionable jobs numbers released by Walker’s administration and pointed to the drop in the state’s unemployment rate to prove its case. In fact, data show that there are few things to cheer about regarding Wisconsin’s economic situation under Walker. Read More

Breitbart.com’s Fool’s Errand: Comparing ALEC To NCSL
 The right-wing website Breitbart.com is promising to “shine a light” on the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) in the coming days, a campaign that comes as corporate sponsors and lawmakers flee the right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Media should be cautioned that any efforts to compare the two organizations is without validity, given their contrasting missions, standards of transparency, degrees of corporate influence, and ideologies. Read More

Right-Wing Media Attack DOJ’s Effort To Protect Voting Rights In Wisconsin
 Right-wing media have attacked the Department of Justice’s decision to send personnel to Milwaukee to monitor the Wisconsin recall election for violations of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. But Congress authorized DOJ to monitor elections for violations of citizens’ voting rights, and the Bush administration DOJ often exercised this power. Read More

This Is Why People In Wisconsin Don’t Like Fox
 During a report from Madison, Wisconsin on the recall election of Governor Scott Walker, Fox’s Neil Cavuto said to Fox Business‘ Don Imus that “some people don’t like” Fox, adding: “I don’t know why.” Of course, people in Wisconsin have ample reason not to like Fox; the network has pushed a litany of falsehoods and distortions while covering both the Wisconsin recall effort and the state’s pro-labor protests. Read More

Media Matters for America: Wind, The Poor and FOX

Myths & Facts About Wind Power Following relentless attacks on the solar industry in the wake of Solyndra‘s bankruptcy, wind power has become the latest target of the right-wing campaign against renewable energy. But contrary to the myths propagated by the conservative media, wind power is safe, increasingly affordable, and has the potential to significantly reduce pollution and U.S. reliance on fossil fuels. Read More

Fox Mangles Data To Claim “The Poor” Are Getting “Richer” Fox’s John Stossel claimed that it’s a “myth” that “the poor are getting poorer” and that they are actually getting “richer.” In fact, incomes for the bottom fifth have shown almost no growth in recent decades, and the numbers Stossel used to support his argument were cherry-picked. Read More