The New York Times Apologizes for MoveOn.org Ad

Authored by Scott Goldberg on September 24, 2007 - 4:24am.
General David H. Petraeus speaking before CongressClark Hoyt, public editor of the New York Times, wrote in a column yesterday that the newspaper made a mistake when it gave MoveOn.org, an organization dedicated to ending the Iraq war, a $77,508 discount on a full-page ad targeted against General David H. Petraeus.  MoveOn paid $64,575 for an ad that typically costs $142,083. 


General Petraeus had spoken before Congress and warned of the perils associated with a rapid withdrawal of forces from Iraq.  MoveOn’s headline asked, “General Petraeus or General Betray Us?”


“The ad infuriated conservatives, dismayed many Democrats and ignited charges that the liberal Times aided its friends at MoveOn.org with a steep discount in the price paid to publish its message,” wrote Hoyt.


He went on to admit that his investigation into the special ad rate was requested by FreedomsWatch.org, a group advocating national defense, because it was not offered a similar discount.


The executive director of MoveOn.org, Eli Pariser, commented on the incident, saying his group had called three days before the ad’s placement and received the quote of $65,000.  “We paid this rate before, so we recognized it,” he said.
 

Pariser also added, "While we believe that the $142,083 figure is above the market rate paid by most organizations, out of abundance of caution we have decided to pay that rate for this ad.''

Comments

NYT: The Essence of Journalism

Wow, stellar reporting once again from our trusty old New York Times.....

This headline ("The New York

This headline ("The New York Times Apologizes for MoveOn.org Ad" at the time of this posting) is a travesty. The apology is for the pricing, not at all for ad itself, as the headline's wording clearly implies.

New York Times apologizes for Moveon.org ad

Who cares if some consevatives got their feelings hurt? who cares how much they paid for the ad? tha fact that people are dying is the point.how many have to die befor someone cares?

That is completely besides

That is completely besides the point! And didnt you ever think some of those in Iraq ARE Conservatives themselves? Its people like you that are the reason why we cant reach an agreement. If you dont care how we feel, why should we care how you feel? And learn how to type, your message is full of errors.

Change the subject? No way!

As usual, the GOP, the right wing pundits and the worst administration ever tries to CHANGE THE SUBJECT. But it is very clear that this tactic no longer works and is fooling no one. We've seen it too many times before: It begins when a media outlet, journalist, civil servant or private citizen criticizes the GOP's failed policies, unwinnable war and insane spending. Then comes the predictable kneejerk reaction to attack, attack, attack and try to kill the messenger. It is such a transparent strategy that it's amazing it even gets coverage. Face it, Bush is done, Iraq is lost and the only sensible next step is to investigate, prosecute and punish these crooks for rigging elections, war profiteering and too many crimes and scandals to count. I don't know a single Republican that is not deeply ashamed of their party and now solidly on the side of their fellow patriots intent on voting Democrat, turning off Fox News and making sure the names Bush and Cheney live in infamy in American history. Call your Repub friends and welcome them back to reality and help the country heal.

I know plenty of Republicans

I know plenty of Republicans who arent "deeply ashamed". Who are you trying to represent the whole group?! Just because this President has made some decisions that have been very disappointing, and he has been supported by many Democrats in the past, doesnt make anyone I know "deeply ashamed." You should be deeply ashamed for being so uneducated and assuming you know it all. I am a Republican and even though I wish things didnt turn out the way they are now, that doesnt mean that I am changing my whole viewpoint on life- because becoming a Democrat would be just that. However, if Bush was able to run for President again, I admit that I would not vote for him.

They have become their own worst enemy.

I didn't agree with the ad. I think it was completely thoughtless, and lacked any kind of pertinent information on ending the war. But if the NYT wants to give a group a discount who is anyone to say anything. This is a free country. The paper is privately owned and operated. Outside of how justified the readers were in being upset with the ad. Its nobody's business who gets what discounts. I say let them keep the 60K+. It will not undo the damage they have done to them self. Not to mention when the proud cut and run naysayers start to get shunned by people that were once on their side they will only try to lash out even more outlandishly then before. This should get interesting and funny and likely not in that order.

The New York Times

The New York Times Apologizes for MoveOn.org Ad? What a deceptive headline!! They have apologised for the price asked, not for the article. This has created a negative impression on me and will affect my trust in the veracity of your 'headlines' in future.

Response to article and Stevejbons

This is a free country and I support free enterprise. But when is it a good idea to slander an American Soldier. Never is the answer. If you look at what General Patraeus has said you can tell he is being as straightforward as can be. I am a conservative Christian American man. I do not vote any party blindly. Every man should be held accountable for what he does not just what he says. Stevejbons, you are very angry and I do not think you can back up what you have written. GOP is not trying to change the subject but trying to hold the feet to the fire of an organization that is not giving the same consideration to different views. This administration may have made some missteps in Iraq but I will nver disrespect the office in the manner you have stated. What you say is "the worst" depends on what you mean. Pick a point and debate it, pull your emotions out of it and use your brain to connect your thoughts. We can disagree with government and I do but I truly believe Bush and Cheney are trying to keep us safe from radical muslims that are trying to do harm to you and me. Email me when you want to discuss in a civilized manner. Fair and Balanced!

the good general did exactly

the good general did exactly what that ad said: he lied to you. this is a textbook case of a man more interested in keeping his job then telling the truth. not that i blame him, he is caught in a bad position. but you should know better then to listen to someone like this..

He did betray us and his uniform

Patraeus lied. That was a betrayl. The Pentagon uses a formula to distinguish sectarian killings (bad) from other deaths (not important). So, all deaths from car bombs are excluded. As one intelligence analyst quipped “if a bullet went through the back of the head, it’s sectarian. If it went through the front, it’s criminal.” So the number of dead is down, as long as you only count certain kinds of dead people. 600,000 estimated dead Iraqis. 2,000,000 refugees and we're stuck occupying a country where Sunnis and Shites have hated one another for centuries. Oh yeah - and as Alan Greenspan admitted the other day - the invasion was about oil... Duh.

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