Politics halt here: Why we won't advertise candidates
Joy Pavelski
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: Opinion
The Collegian advertised for Barack Obama's presidential campaign four weeks ago, then denied them two further ads worth $600 total for last week and today.
As long as our editors have studied at Hillsdale College, the paper has not received political ad requests. So we treated the first Obama ad (a little gas-pump-like man beneath the words, "I'm voting because I make two gallons of gas an hour") like all others: if someone wants to buy space, smashing. We need the money.
But last week, that changed. The campaign then wanted us to print a picture of Obama above the word "Vote." Then I got it, the editors got it, and we weren't sure we liked it. And I decided on new Collegian policy against printing political ads.
Believe me or not, it's not because Obama wanted to pay nearly our week's entire printing cost. Hillsdale and I align closely with conservatism, which means we are as likely against McCain as for him. C'mon - we printed a full-color Obama spread in our first issue.
It took me two weeks and several discussions with wiser people to discover why political ads in my newspaper unseat my mind. Here's why.
First: newspapers are where a community reads and discusses what happens and why. Bumper-sticker slogans tend to circumvent such discussion.
Second, it seems imbalanced that more money and media know-how should so heavily influence elections. I recognize that this comes with politics, but resent a group trying to manipulate The Collegian so. Candidates should win because people approve their policies, not because more people recognize their names and vacuous slogans.
Combine those for an additional reason against: a campus newspaper truly fulfills its purpose of promoting local discourse with self-generated opinions from readers - that's you - rather than purchased mass-messages from a cross-country political machine.
And, like it or not, The Collegian reflects Hillsdale College - students, teachers and administrators alike. Even if we don't intend it, do we want to appear pawns of politics from either side? I don't.
As long as our editors have studied at Hillsdale College, the paper has not received political ad requests. So we treated the first Obama ad (a little gas-pump-like man beneath the words, "I'm voting because I make two gallons of gas an hour") like all others: if someone wants to buy space, smashing. We need the money.
But last week, that changed. The campaign then wanted us to print a picture of Obama above the word "Vote." Then I got it, the editors got it, and we weren't sure we liked it. And I decided on new Collegian policy against printing political ads.
Believe me or not, it's not because Obama wanted to pay nearly our week's entire printing cost. Hillsdale and I align closely with conservatism, which means we are as likely against McCain as for him. C'mon - we printed a full-color Obama spread in our first issue.
It took me two weeks and several discussions with wiser people to discover why political ads in my newspaper unseat my mind. Here's why.
First: newspapers are where a community reads and discusses what happens and why. Bumper-sticker slogans tend to circumvent such discussion.
Second, it seems imbalanced that more money and media know-how should so heavily influence elections. I recognize that this comes with politics, but resent a group trying to manipulate The Collegian so. Candidates should win because people approve their policies, not because more people recognize their names and vacuous slogans.
Combine those for an additional reason against: a campus newspaper truly fulfills its purpose of promoting local discourse with self-generated opinions from readers - that's you - rather than purchased mass-messages from a cross-country political machine.
And, like it or not, The Collegian reflects Hillsdale College - students, teachers and administrators alike. Even if we don't intend it, do we want to appear pawns of politics from either side? I don't.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Roni
posted 10/30/08 @ 1:07 PM EST
Finally, some common sense in the media!
Hugh
posted 10/30/08 @ 7:45 PM EST
*golf clap*
G T Baker
posted 11/03/08 @ 1:33 PM EST
You are correct in your actions. Whether it be conservative or liberal political advertising is by its very nature designed to defeat objectivism.... (Continued…)
Post a Comment