The offending ad features a thoughtful young lad and a caption that reads: "In a world of almost endless media noise and political spin, you wonder where you can find real truth. Well, now there's a source that's accurate, clear and reliable. It's the TNIV -- Today's New International Version of the Bible. It's written in today's language, for today's times -- and it makes more sense than ever."
Racy stuff, though I doubt it was the reference in the first line to "spin" -- Rolling Stone's major competitor -- that caused the ad to be pulled. Nor the suggestion that you cannot find "accurate, clear and reliable" truth in the media. (Yes, RS does occasionally run political essays or the type of gonzo journalism it made famous, but at nothing like the frequency it did in the '70s and '80s.) Rather, Wenner's decision was simply a matter of bottom-line economics parading as progressive principles. More to the point is that a number of the ads in Rolling Stone hawk booze, smokes, and condoms, and these advertisers may feel uneasy beside an ad for the Bible. Understandably so.
MORE ONLINE
3. New York Post
Back On The Radar, Again
By Keith J. Kelly
2/2/05
ed2010.com
Oh, and BTW, Ed doesn't endorse the advertisement you see below. It's just what happens when you use a free e-newsletter service.
