Coalition Calls On Advertisers To Boycott Fox News Upfront

In an open letter to Madison Avenue's "media buyers," a group of more than 40 media industry watchdogs and public advocacy groups called on advertisers and agencies to bypass Fox News' annual upfront advertising sales season.

"We understand that the annual television upfront is an important part of the advertising sales period for major advertisers," reads the letter, which was signed by groups including Black Lives Matter Global, GLAAD, Indivisible, Media Matters and Move On.

"The top networks present themselves in the best light possible to advertisers and media buyers in order to sell out their advertising inventory for the year ahead," the letter continues, noting: "Media buyers who aren’t watching Fox News daily are an easy target to get duped by the network’s empty promises of feel-good and fact-based reporting. Instead, protect your client’s brand and reputation so that they are not ruined by Fox News’ gross mismanagement, volatility, and extremism."

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The letter goes on to point out that major corporations and brands are increasingly  taking public stands against extremism and attacks on American democratic institutions, and cites numerous references Fox News has made to undermine public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is not the moment for business as usual. In this case, advertisers don’t even need to put their money where their mouth is. All they need to do is refrain from partnering with and funding an engine of violence and extremism like Fox News. It’s the lowest possible bar — but a pivotal moment to stand on the right side of history," the letter continues, adding that Fox News apparently soft-peddled or hid some of its most extremist content and personalities, explicitly citing the omission of Tucker Carlson, during its upfront presentation to advertisers.

"The upfront presentation is an important inflection point," the letter concludes, noting that "Fox News has already made clear what you can expect from the network next year: more Tucker, more lies, more extremism, and more racism. Use this inflection point to quietly part ways with Fox News."

In response, a Fox News spokesperson provided a statement, asserting the boycott will have no impact on its upfront advertising sales: "Fox News is about to close out its fourth consecutive year delivering new records in advertising revenue, so clearly Media Matters’ predictable ongoing partisan attacks have zero impact outside of their irrelevant echo chamber on social media."

6 comments about "Coalition Calls On Advertisers To Boycott Fox News Upfront".
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  1. Ben B from Retired, May 18, 2021 at 7:44 p.m.

    Those groups can't back up any of those claims and Media Matters doesn't care about media since they don't hold CNN or MSNBC to the fire like they do Fox News. Fox News didn't lie about COVID I didn't see it when I watched Fox News which I don't watch primetime and Tucker all his ads are just My Pillow and some other buy direct TV ads. I know if I own an ad company I wouldn't cave to groups like those on the left or the right.

  2. Michael Abramson from Dominant Trait replied, May 19, 2021 at 12:15 p.m.

    It sounds like you are saying that what they say daytime is the opposite of what what they say prime time which may be the case and perhaps the daytime is not so bad. However you CANNOT remotely argue that their prime time shows are dishonest, racist, and hurtful to a fair democracy. Isn't that enough to say no. If not, I don't what is. 

  3. Ed Papazian from Media Dynamics Inc, May 19, 2021 at 12:18 p.m.
  4. Michael Abramson from Dominant Trait replied, May 19, 2021 at 12:30 p.m.

    Sorry - my comment was replying to Ben's comment, not to Joe or the article directly. 

  5. Maria Johnson from Self, May 19, 2021 at 1:42 p.m.

    Leftists are hell bent on trying to control eveything and everyone, its fun watching them huff anf puff on the treadmill to higher gas prices, inflamed race relations, balloning debt, border crisis, homelessness and crime, people leaving blue states for red states, biological males competing against females, higher gas prices, dependence on forign oil again. I got my popcorn out for this shit show. 

  6. Ben B from Retired replied, May 19, 2021 at 7:28 p.m.

    CNN & MSNBC are dishonest in prime time as well Michael. And Fox News isn't hurtful for a fair democracy nope it isn't enough to say no. 

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