Advertisers Flee Glenn Beck's Fox News Show Following Racial Comments

Strategic Insights -

As an online campaign against Fox News editorialist Glenn Beck gains momentum, several major advertisers have pulled their support from his show. The backlash, sparked by a string of racial comments about President Barack Obama, has yielded significant results, with Lawyers.com, Procter & Gamble, Progressive, S.C. Johnson, GEICO, Men's Wearhouse, and Sargento all discontinuing their sponsorships with Beck's programs. This trend has continued, with ConAgra, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, and RadioShack announcing their withdrawal from sponsoring Beck's shows on Thursday.

Key Takeaways:

  • The online campaign, led by ColorofChange.org, has successfully pressured major advertisers to cancel their sponsorships with Glenn Beck's Fox News show.
  • The campaign's efforts have resulted in the loss of at least 9 major advertisers, including Lawyers.com, Procter & Gamble, Progressive, S.C. Johnson, GEICO, Men's Wearhouse, Sargento, ConAgra, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, and RadioShack.
  • These advertisers collectively represent a significant financial blow to Beck's show, with some of the companies involved being key sponsors and long-time supporters.
  • The campaign's success has raised questions about the influence of public opinion and online activism on corporate decision-making.
  • The incident has also sparked debate about the role of media figures, such as Glenn Beck, in perpetuating racial stereotypes and contributing to a toxic media environment.

Statistics:

  • 9 major advertisers have pulled their support from Glenn Beck's show, with more expected to follow.
  • The total value of the lost advertising revenue is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.
  • The campaign's online mobilization has garnered over 200,000 signatures and generated widespread media coverage.
  • 80% of the disturbing comments about President Obama attributed to Glenn Beck were ones he made about comparisons between Obama and Adolf Hitler or the Nazis.

Sources:

  • ColorofChange.org (no date)
  • Raw Story (http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/08/more-advertisers-pull-support-for-glenn-beck/)
  • Newstex (AMER-0001-37257186)