Limbaugh Radio Show Faces Backlash From Social Media as Advertisers Flee
(Bloomberg) Rush Limbaugh faced rising pressure from critics who are using new media to keep advertisers away from his long-running radio show.
At least 10 companies, including online publisher AOL Inc. (AOL), have dropped the most-popular U.S. talk-radio show after Limbaugh called Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke a “prostitute” and a “slut.” Fluke appeared before Congress on Feb. 23 to speak in favor of President Barack Obama’s policy requiring insurers to provide birth control to women.
Much of the pressure on advertisers has come from online activists using Twitter and Facebook to mobilize against Limbaugh. They see undermining the program’s economic viability as the way to force distributor Clear Channel Communications Inc. (CCMO)’s Premiere Radio Networks (3069Q) to stop syndicating the show.
“The tactic of just asking advertisers has been a very successful one,” said Krystal Ball, a 30-year-old MSNBC commentator who started a website called boycottrush.org. “So as long as that is successful, we’ll continue.” ................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-06/limbaugh-radio-show-faces-backlash-from-social-media-as-advertisers-flee.html
