AP: Newspapers get complaints for DVD ad on Muslims

[Bubbha Jo]

(('bout time this is a major headline))

NEW YORK - Newspapers that carried an advertising supplement in recent weeks containing a DVD critical of radical Muslims have faced complaints from readers and questions about whether newspapers should offer a platform to everyone willing to pay for distribution.

Although a few papers refused to carry the DVD, about 70 including The New York Times distributed it on the grounds that rejecting it would violate the sponsor's right to free speech. The decision generated letters, cancellations and even a protest.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081004/ap_on_re_us/newspapers_islam_dvd

[Starry Messenger]

1. Yes!

I'm glad to see this.

[ladym55]

2. I knew someone who contacted to the publisher of our local paper to complain

She got the "free speech" response. There were also complaints sent to the LTTE.

I was bugged to see that Clarion sent us two in the mail as well ... one addressed to my very progressive college-age son (just his kind of DVD :sarcasm:) and one to my very conservative mother who passed away almost 2 years ago (but her right-wing friends haven't quite figured that out yet). It showed me how desperately they want my state (Ohio).

I tried to break them but they only bent ...

[Bubbha Jo]

I'm glad they are getting called on it too. That puts the rest they have planned

in a negative trait.

[high density]

3. Free speech..

So if Iran (or anybody else) wanted to buy some space in our newspapers to mail out some Holocaust denying anti-Israel DVDs, would that be A-OK to these papers?

[MattNC]

4. I got the DVD in the mail today

I'm a registered unaffiliated voter in NC. Needless to say, it went straight in the trash.

[Starry Messenger]

5. kick n/t

[City Lights]

6. Please rate and email the Yahoo story! nt