Should the Media be responsible for the accuracy of their Ads?

Fox News Says Yes

Without seeing the ad in question, I can't form an opinion. The premise of the story is that Fox News won't air an anti-Alito ad. Critics say because they are right wing, They say because they aren't certain as to the accuracy of the ad.

I have no problem with that. If they have legitimate concerns over the accuracy of the ad, I think they probably shouldn't air it. Just make sure that's your policy all the way around, left right or center.

I know that in our industry, ads are your life blood. They are how you pay your bills, its certainly how my salary is paid. But there are definetely ads you shouldn't air. In my opinion, news organizations shouldn't air ads that pose as news items. It undermines your credibility. I think that news organizations shouldn't air ads that they are know are false. Take for instance, an ad in our local paper a few months back, which featured a number of "concerned citizens" speaking out against a program which wanted to move to their town. The program was a camp for city kids who never get exposure to the country, but the ad was under the context of the program as a drug rehabilitation type program. The paper printed the ad, but did a story on the program itself.

That's a reasonable approach i guess, setting the record straight via your news reporting. But you are still taking money in order to publish something about a person or group that YOU KNOW IS FALSE. That doesn't sit right with me.

Its probably fortunate for my company that I don't have any control over THAT end of the business.

In the mean time, hopefully my check comes today.