Perhaps. But the attack on the board/reporters/editors is unfocused.
One major advertiser from a publication such as the Arizona Daily news, calling and saying they are canceling their advertisements won't make a blip. 10 advertisers will get their attention, and with 82 newspapers 100 advertisers defecting is very feasible.
As long as the focus is away from the money whatever is done won't make a difference.
FOLLOW THE MONEY
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is calling for a nationwide boycott of the advertisers of the suburban New York newspaper that published online maps revealing names and addresses of people with pistol permits.
The association on Monday announced it was urging people to stop patronizing any business who advertises with Gannett — the White Plains-based Journal News’ parent company — until the map is removed. On Dec. 22, the Journal News published interactive maps showing the pistol permit holders in the state’s Westchester and Rockland counties. The decision sparked an uproar among conservatives and gun rights advocates, but the paper says it will continue adding names to the map.
The paper’s decision to publish an online list of pistol permit holders was a “wanton act” that “has put in harm’s way tens of thousands of lawful license holders,” the association stated in a news release.
The group is encouraging “concerned citizens” to contact national and local advertisers who use the Journal News — including Best Buy, CVS, IKEA and Target, among others — and tell them to stop running ads until the list of lower Hudson Valley pistol license holders is off the Web.
“State that you will no longer patronize any advertiser who uses Gannett (the Journal News’ parent company) until and unless that advertiser withholds further ads until Gannett takes down the pistol licensee Web page and ceases attacking lawful firearm ownership,” the NYSRPA wrote in release. “In particular, contact advertisers with whom you already do business, and who may know you personally.”
Janet Hasson, president and publisher of the Journal News Media Group, has not yet responded to a request for comment.