In a reversal, NBC gives freedom a chance

After initially balking, NBC said it would air a spot from conservative group Freedom’s Watch that thanks U.S. troops for their efforts overseas. In a statement, NBC said, “We have reviewed and changed our ad standards guidelines and made the decision that our policy will apply to content only and not to a referenced Web site. Based on these amended standards, the Freedom’s Watch ad will begin to run as early as Sunday.” Maybe NBC got tired of ringing up holiday refunds. Liberal groups like MoveOn.org will probably kick up a fuss, maybe even run some ads of their own—which is exactly how discourse in a capitalist Democracy should work. (If the media skirmish pays for more episodes of Celebrity Apprentice, all the better.) When these sorts of partisan messages start appearing on children’s report cards, then it’s time to worry. But that could never happen here.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

December 10, 2007 | Permalink