Press Coverage

Our campaign has been covered on television, radio and by the print and online media.  Here are two radio interviews that show distinct ends of the audience spectrum.  The first was a weekly gay-themed show on NPR in the San Francisco Bay Area and the second was on “drive-time” AM talk radio in Bakersfield.  The listening audience spans the Central Valley from Stockton to Los Angeles.


   


Media Releases

From time to time, we issue Media Releases.  Typically, they are picked up by national and regional press outlets.


MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SUPER BOWL AD FEATURING GAY FAMILY REJECTED BY KNBC: Broadcaster claims the National Football League (NFL) excluded PSA as “advocacy,” yet other advocacy ads air. LOS ANGELES, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2009 –Los Angeles NBC affiliate KNBC refused to air a paid ad produced by GetToKnowUsFirst.org featuring a gay family and supporting marriage equality during Super Bowl programming. KNBC stated that it had shown the ad to the NFL legal department, which rejected it for being “advocacy,” a category they claim to exclude. Despite this policy, however, other advocacy ads aired multiple times throughout the day’s NFL-controlled programming. The rejected thirty-second public service announcement (PSA) features two married African American men raising five children ages 6 to 25. Among the advocacy ads which did air were PSAs for TobaccoFreeCA.org and DontBeAnAsterisk.org, an anti-steroids advocacy campaign. John Ireland, GetToKnowUsFirst.org’s Project Organizer was shocked to see the other advocacy ads run during the NFL programming. He said, “We bought ads before, during and after the Super Bowl in ten markets across California. We planned this buy weeks in advance and heard late Friday that the NFL rejected our ads because they violate the NFL’s ‘no advocacy’ policy. I was truly stunned while watching the programming, to see that they had selectively blocked our ads, while allowing other advocacy ads to air.” Keith Fisher, CEO of New and Improved Media, the ad agency for GetToKnowUsFirst.org, explained the chain of events. He said, “Late Friday afternoon, KNBC told us they had shown it to the NFL Legal Department and that it was rejected because it was ‘advocacy.’ Clearly, the other ads they ran meet anyone’s definition of advocacy.” “We are disappointed that this ad couldn’t reach an audience with images of our families during one of the most watched programming events of the year,” said Neil G. Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). “GLAAD is calling on KNBC to meet with GLAAD and GetToKnowUsFirst.org to discuss why this message would be rejected and to remedy this situation.” The PSAs were produced for GetToKnowUsFirst.org by the non-profit organization POWER UP. Gina Levy, who directed the PSAs, expressed her anger that the ad buy was blocked. She said, "Marriage Equality is a civil rights issue. As a straight woman, I know this affects all of us, not just people who happen to be gay. It is important for us all to get to know these families. It's a shame that's not going to happen today." The rejected ad can be seen at www.GetToKnowUsFirst.org Contact: John Ireland, (323) 284-5552 JohnI@GetToKnowUsFirst.org ### http://www.GetToKnowUsFirst.orgmailto:JohnI@GetToKnowUsFirst.orgshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1

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MEDIA ADVISORY   KABC-TV TO AIR REJECTED AD WITH GAY FAMILY Gay families part of KABC family, issue not controversial, says station GM LOS ANGELES, JANUARY 23, 2009 – Los Angeles television station KABC announced today, following a meeting with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and GetToKnowUsFirst.org, that it would begin to air ads from GetToKnowUsFirst.org in primetime as early as Sunday, Jan. 25. The ABC-owned television station came under fire for refusing to air the ad during Tuesday’s inaugural celebration, for what a KABC station ad exec cited at the time as “a very controversial topic” to air during “programming that will include large family audiences.” “We are pleased that KABC was willing to meet and discuss this serious issue with us so quickly,” said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano, “and that this important message about our families will be seen by KABC’s audiences in the days and weeks to come.” The 30-second ad initially rejected by KABC features two married African American men raising five children ages 6 to 25. However, the ad was broadcast before, during and after the inauguration in 42 of California’s 58 counties, where Proposition 8 garnered the majority of the vote. In Los Angeles, the ad appeared on NBC’s owned-and-operated affiliate KNBC. KABC President and General Manger Arnold J. Kleiner attended today’s meeting along with GetToKnowUsFirst.org Project Coordinator John Ireland and GLAAD Director of Entertainment Media Damon Romine. Kleiner explained that independent of the ad, the station had made a decision that during the inauguration they would not air any advocacy advertising, regardless of the content or subject matter. “I regret that the decision to not air the ad was communicated in a way that was misleading and inaccurate, and I apologize for the misunderstanding that resulted,” said Kleiner. “Having seen the ads, we believe these spots are suitable for airing during any day part on our schedule. Gay and lesbian families are part of our KABC family, and issues of equality are certainly not a controversial subject for us.” Ireland expressed satisfaction with the meeting’s outcome. “The point of airing the ad on KABC during the inauguration was to reach the broadest, most diverse audience possible, and that moment has sadly passed and cannot be re-created,” he said. “We are grateful that KABC has taken our concerns seriously and further clarified their initial decision. Mr. Kleiner has assured us that he will find high-profile positions to air the ad during the coming weeks.” KABC will air the ad during Sunday’s episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which regularly ranks among the top 10 series on television. The ad can also be seen on www.GetToKnowUsFirst.org Contact: John Ireland, (323) 284-5552 JohnI@GetToKnowUsFirst.org ### http://www.GetToKnowUsFirst.orghttp://www.GetToKnowUsFirst.orgmailto:JohnI@GetToKnowUsFirst.orgshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2

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PRESS RELEASE Los Angeles Affiliate KABC-TV refuses to air ad with gay families during Inauguration: “Too controversial, families will be watching.” January 21, 2009 (Los Angeles)--Non-profit organization GetToKnowUsFirst.org produced five 30-second commercials featuring gay and lesbian families, with the message “Marriage promotes families. Support marriage equality.” The ads, while not tied to any current election, are the result of California’s passage of Proposition 8 in November. The group aired the spots in 42 of the states’ 58 counties—everywhere the initiative passed by 50% or more—during Tuesday’s coverage of the Presidential Inauguration. KABC is the only station that refused to sell the ad space. The rejected ad profiles two African American men raising five children ages 6 through 25. Ironically, the family lives in Los Angeles. The media buy was attempted by the organization’s ad agency, New and Improved Media. Its CEO, Keith Fisher, was surprised that KABC rejected the group’s money. Fisher said, “We usually only see this with risqué content, as in a trailer for a movie. He added, “If KABC thinks they have to protect the public from this family, something’s obviously very wrong over there.” Chris Yokogawa, the ad agency’s media buyer, worked with the station, attempting to ease any concerns they might have. He said, “We went back and forth a couple of times. I explained that this family is far from controversial. They were firm in their rejection. They said it was too controversial to air during the Inauguration, since ‘many families will be watching.’” The ad aired across California on Tuesday—before, during and after the Presidential Inauguration on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Despierta America (Univision) and Levantate (Telemundo) broadcasts, as well as on a wide range of regional news stations, CNN and FoxNews during evening coverage of the day’s events. Project Coordinator John Ireland expressed astonishment at KABC’s rejection. He said, “This ad is about families. I challenge anyone to watch the commercials at www.GetToKnowUsFirst.org and articulate what is inappropriate about airing it at any time of day.” One week prior, at attorney Gloria Allred's urging, Rev. Rick Warren indicated he would be willing to show the ads to his congregation at Saddleback Church in Orange County. Days before the Presidential Inauguration, he changed his mind, dropping the offer. Contact: John Ireland, (323) 284-5552 www.GetToKnowUsFirst.org # # #http://www.GetToKnowUsFirst.orghttp://www.GetToKnowUsFirst.orgshapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1

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