Anti-Bush Group Angered Over Rejection Of Bush Ad

EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS Top-40/Rhythmic WQHT (HOT-97.1)/NEW YORK has refused to air a commercial from an organization planning a national series of anti-PRESIDENT BUSH protests. According to DAVID HINCKLEY, writer/reporter for the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, the organization has blasted EMMIS for advising WQHT to refuse to run a paid ad for the cause and the events.

A spokesman for EMMIS said the spot was rejected because "ads of an 'issue' nature can be highly controversial and often contain claims which are difficult to verify." The one-minute commercial was voiced by musician BOOTS RILEY for a coalition of progressive groups and individuals called "The World Can't Wait, Drive Out The Bush Regime."

EMMIS spokeswoman SUNSARA TAYLOR says WQHT had agreed to run the ad but then "had a call from EMMIS Corporate telling them to kill it."

EMMIS spokeswoman KATE SNEDEKER says, "The HOT-97 sales team asked for guidance from our legal department. While we do not have a firm guideline against taking such 'issue' ads, we are indeed very cautious and proceed carefully."

« see more Net News