• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, June 11, 2014

Speaking at MediaPost’s Content Marketing Insider Summit, Fara Warner, editorial director of AOL Tech, talked about a recent series of stories looking at businesses in U.S., called “This Built America,” where Ford Motor is a sponsor.

In one piece, focusing the company Shinola, which is based in Detroit, the story talked about how company’s headquarters was "in the shadow of the former GM headquarters”.  Warner was asked by AOL's program director -- who was in contact with Ford Motor executives -- if it was possible to take out the words GM out of the story. 

She said: “No. Because it’s a fact. If I take it out, Ford will think they can ask me for anything. And I can’t do it. It’s slippery slope... They bought my church and state.” 

Ford eventually was okay with it.