Reply RE; Sinclair from General Mills

Consumer Services-Help <cshelp@genmills.com> to me
More options 4:56pm (3½ hours ago)

Thank you for contacting General Mills.

Many consumers have written to share their views on this issue. Some have urged General Mills to use its influence as an advertiser to ensure that the media reports the news in an unbiased manner. Some have urged General Mills to continue advertising, and have threatened to withdraw support for our products if we alter our advertising plans. Passions run deep on both sides, particularly this close to an election.

Whenever possible, General Mills does strive to preview the programs on which our advertising appears. We do so to assure that we do not advertise on programs inconsistent with the family-oriented nature of our products. This works well with entertainment programs produced and available for advance screening, but pre-screening of news broadcasts is usually not possible.

Our view in this area is clear. We believe one of the fundamental elements of our society is the freedom of the press. Companies such as ours, in our view, should not attempt to influence, control or pre-empt the content of news through the leverage of advertising sponsorship. To do so would undermine that fundamental freedom.

From time to time, any one of us as viewers may consider a particular news story to be inaccurate or imbalanced. News organizations do err. Judgment is not always well applied. One major news organization recently acknowledged that errors were made in stories relating to the current presidential election. When such errors occur, certainly a price is paid in terms of reputation. But errors and questionable judgment are an acceptable price to pay, in our view, to assure the presence of a free and independent media in our society.

As viewers, each of us is free to make a choice. We can choose to patronize or not patronize programs with our viewership. We can choose to patronize or not patronize particular television stations, or even entire networks.

Similarly, advertisers may choose not to sponsor certain broadcasts, a particular network or specific publications because of their journalistic standards and judgment. But advertisers should not attempt to control or pre-empt news programming prior to broadcast or publication. That, in our view, would be inappropriate.

In this instance, as in the example cited earlier, passionate voices are calling on advertisers to insert themselves into the election by threatening to boycott those who remove or who do not remove their advertising.

We choose to stand with freedom of the press.

We welcome the views that you and others have shared with us. You may rest assured that we will remind the networks we sponsor that the integrity of their reporting reflects on the companies that advertise during their broadcasts.

Hopefully, you will understand our views – and the importance we place on a free press.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact us and share your views.

Sincerely,



General Mills

_______________________________________

So my reply reads:

To err is human, to forgivem, Divine; so therefore I am not forgiving you for sponsoring a biased piece of propaganda, masquerading as news, run against a major party political candidate close to the election day . Your assertion that errors are made a priori suggests that you lready know that this is a piece of fiction and thus your response accentuates your errors. If I were to say that driving drunk is a terible crime before I get into a car intoxicated, that irony will mitigate agaisnt me when I am brought to justice, as your favorite President likes to say.

I will change all breakfast cereals in my house and every other foodstuff or product which bears your name for four years. At the end of that time, I will re-evaluate whether I wish to patronize your product line again. For the sake of your shareholders, I hope you can withstand the loss of revenue from like-minded folks for that length of time.

So, curl up 'round your TV and enjoy a bowl of Post Toasties everyone! Let's see what the Wall Street Journal says when your sales figures go down a notch or two for the quarter.

I'm not going to waste time responding...just not going to purchase general mills products.

I responded in much the same way and we're not buying any of their products. Boycott time.

General Mills Products
* 8th Continent
* Betty Crocker
* Big G Cereals
* Bisquick
* Bugles
* Cascadian Farm
* Cheerios
* Chex
* Forno de Minas
* Frescarini
* Fruit Snacks
* Gardetto's
* Gold Medal
* Green Giant
* Häagen-Dazs (choose Ben & Jerry's)
* Hamburger Helper
* Jus-Rol
* Knack & Back
* La Salteña
* Latina
* Lloyd's
* Lucky Charms
* Muir Glen
* Nature Valley
* Old El Paso
* Pillsbury
* Pop Secret
* Progresso
* Totino's/Jeno's
* Trix
* V. Pearl
* Wanchai Ferry
* Wheaties
* Yoplait/Colombo

I hate having to boycott me lucky charms, but such is the price you hace to pay for an unbiased media. :(

Thanks, PCIntern. It'll be fun watching that I don't buy this company's products. It'll sharpen up my shopping skills!

http://www.dragongoose.com

Damn, I eat Post cereals. Does Post advertise on Sinclair?

Adding General Mills to my "no buy" list.

they also make Fiber One.

and you have no idea how much i depend on my fiber one.

i'm gonna be one uptight mofo for a while until i can find an effective replacement.

x(

Agreed. That letter is patently offensive. This is not a free speech issue. It's a violation of the public trust issue. They have good lawyers on staff, and they know we're right.

In effect, this letter says: "Screw you folks on the left. The guys on the right are more important."

Unacceptable. :mad:

-Laelth

I used to go through about a box of Cheerios a week. No longer. And I WILL write to express my disappointment.