Choice Hotels Refuses to Air 'Savage Nation' Radio Spots

Choice Hotels Refuses to Air 'Savage Nation' Radio Spots

Growing list of companies reject host's bigoted rhetoric

WASHINGTON, March 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Hate Hurts America Community and Interfaith Coalition (HHA) today announced that Choice Hotels International (http://www.choicehotels.com/), one of the nation's largest hotel chains, has joined a growing list of companies that have stopped advertising or refuse to place their ads on Michael Savage's "Savage Nation" radio program.

HHA, a group of religious and civic organizations seeking to challenge hate speech on talk radio, was formed as a result of Savage's rhetorical attacks on religious and ethnic minorities. Coalition members are calling on advertisers nationwide to stop airing commercials on his nationally-syndicated program.

   SEE: Hate Hurts America   http://www.hatehurtsamerica.org/   

In an e-mail to HHA, Choice Hotels' media buyer stated in part: "After further looking into this issue, we have determined that 2 networks did air during the Michael Savage show. While Choice commercials are NOT scheduled to run through any programming we buy, the 'DO NOT AIR IN CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAMS' disclaimer was somehow omitted by trafficking on the network's end to their individual stations...The networks have apologized and verified that the disclaimer is on future Choice traffic correspondence."

Advertisers that have already stopped airing or refuse to air commercials on "Savage Nation" include Sam's Club, ITT Technical Institute, Chattem, Inc. (owners of Gold Bond, Icy Hot, and Selsun Blue), Union Bank of California, Intuit (parent company of TurboTax and QuickBooks), and GEICO Insurance, US Cellular, Sprint Nextel, Sears, Universal Orlando Resorts, AutoZone, Citrix, TrustedID, JCPenney, OfficeMax, Wal-Mart, and AT&T.

Late last year, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on radio listeners of all faiths to contact Savage's advertisers to express their concerns about the host's anti-Muslim bigotry. CAIR is a member of the Hate Hurts America Community and Interfaith Coalition.

SEE: National Radio Host Goes on Anti-Muslim Tirade (CAIR)

http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?mid1=777&&ArticleID=23608&&name=n& &currPage=3

Savage has a long history of rhetorical attacks on a variety of minority groups. He says he has lost at least $1 million in revenue because of the advertiser campaign.

   SEE: Michael Savage (Media Matters)   http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/people/michaelsavage   

The Hate Hurts America Community and Interfaith Coalition includes public officials and civil rights advocates, as well as representatives of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Latino, and Asian communities.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations

CONTACT: Hate Hurts America Community and Interfaith Coalition
Coordinator, coordinator@hatehurtsamerica.org

Web Site: http://mediamatters.org/
http://www.cair.com/
http://www.choicehotels.com/
http://www.hatehurtsamerica.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment