Clear Channel, and "Rally For America"
[Sent this for Dave Farber's list a day or so ago, but it didn't make the cut]
Years ago, in futile attempts at spreading skepticism, I would often dig into whatever "hot story" was making the rounds of the Net. Now I've come to realize that is a mug's game. Whatever puny reach I have, it is less than the smallest whimper in the mighty media echo chamber.
These rallies are not exactly grassroots. But they are being flacked at a level far below top management. The idea does seem to have started with Glenn Beck, then gone up to a few like-minded radio stations, and been pushed relatively tepidly by a subsidiary of Clear Channel, "Premium Radio Networks". But, it's PR opportunities being taken, and jumping on the bandwagon, as opposed to a top-down directive. That's not a surprise, in the middle of a war.
One of the earliest press releases is at:
http://www.clearchannel.com/documents/press_releases/20030227_Rad_GlennBeck.pdf
And a more recent press release (my emphasis):
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030320/lath061_1.html
Press Release
Source: Premiere Radio Networks
"Glenn Beck's Rallies for American Troops to Be Held This Weekend in
Fort Wayne and Richmond"
Look, if this were a corporate directive, in no way would they be putting Glenn Beck's name on it, as part of the title.
By Seth Finkelstein | posted in journo | on March 28, 2003 11:25 PM (Infothought permalink) | Followups
