Organisers declare victory and end Alan Jones advertising boycott
The organisers of the Sack Alan Jones campaign have called a halt to the advertising boycott of Sydney talk radio station 2GB.
The Sack Alan Jones campaign calls a halt on Facebook
In a message published this morning, organisers Nic Lochner and Vinay Orekondy said that they had achieved the aims of the campaign because they believed that Jones was no longer feared.
The campaign kicked off its boycott in October after Jones made comments in a speech about Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s father having “died of shame”.
The backlash saw a string of advertisers withdraw from the show before the station management temporarily withdrew all ads. Recent weeks also saw media regulator the Australian Media and Communications Authority impose new conditions of fact checking on the Alan Jones show.
Today the campaigners posted a message telling supporters that thanks to their campaign politicians and the media regulator were no longer afraid of Jones:
“Thanks to your efforts, that image of invincibility has been completely broken. You have forcefully demonstrated that Australia rejects his methods, and in no way can he be seen as the voice of the majority. He has his listeners, but politicians now understand that Jones does not speak to swing voters; rather, he preaches to the converted, who already share his particular political beliefs. He certainly cannot be called the voice of big business anymore, after over 85 advertisers abandoned his show, including most of Australia’s leading brands and many international brands as well. While we will never know for sure, the timing of ACMA’s decision against Jones may have resulted from seeing that they had nothing to fear from him.”
They added: “With Alan Jones well and truly held to account, we believe the time has come to formally declare this part of the campaign to be over. We believe that this is thecorrect decision both strategically and morally.”
The full announcement on Scribd:
Statement on Advertiser Boycott
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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Yeah, well done, cause cracking a joke (admittedly in terrible taste) is so much worse than prank calling a hospital about someone having pregnancy complications, then recording it and airing it without permission.
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That would actually be a FAIL rather than a victory. Jones remains on air, actually a slight increase based on yesterday’s figures and the once claimed ‘exodus’ of advertisers lasted a mere few days. The revenue is back at 2GB, Jones got a slap on the wrist and that’s that. Only hope the poor bastard that was torched mobbed out of his job at Woolworths, for a having a joke based on personal political beliefs, has an even better paid job now.
I don’t agree with Jones comments, nor the joke jacket but I loathe even more the effort and social media versionof a flaming torch mob that ensued. As for the ‘we’re not political’ and ‘just humble students’ line run by them I not only call “Bullshit”, I shout it!
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Jimmy, they’re both appalling.
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Hey Other Jimmy,
Yes they both are, but the reaction from Nic and Vinay is hardly commensurate.
Nic runs on the platform of public figures, idols and role models should be held to the highest moral standard. So if that’s the case why not run another campaign, based on the facts available about this prank call being made and aired, not just the fall out.
Instead they call Mission Accomplished. George W would be proud.
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“Jimmy”
Yeah, well done, cause cracking a joke (admittedly in terrible taste) is so much worse than prank calling a hospital about someone having pregnancy complications, then recording it and airing it without permission.
The remark about “died of shame” was merely the latest in a whole string of abuse by Jones and emerged directly from it. Interestingly, just yesterday the Daily Mail used that very phrase to describe Ms Saldanha’s tragic death. The bullying of this nurse was carried out principally by the British press, if it was carried out at all. They of course, as Leveson showed, are a law unto themselves. Here is the full text of the conversation between Mel Grieg and Jacintha Saldanha:
GREIG: Oh hello there, could I please speak to Kate please, my granddaughter?
NURSE: Oh yes, just hold on ma’am.
GREIG: Thank you.
Bullying? It’s hard to credit it.
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Here is the full text if the alleged “bullying” of Ms Saldanha by Mel Greig:
GREIG: Oh hello there, could I please speak to Kate please, my granddaughter?
NURSE: Oh yes, just hold on ma’am.
GREIG: Thank you.
Gosh …
Interestingly, the Daily mail on Tuesday declared that Saldanha had ‘died of shame’, which is interesting, given the allusion Jimmy seeks to make. The British press (and perhaps the hospital) were her tormentors, not Mel Grieg/2DAYFM. Even most of the Daily mail’s readers could figure that out.
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What an utterly unmitigated steaming pile of hot pants on fire.
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Sorry, my mistake, It is perfectly ok to prank call a hospital, attempt to make fools of a couple of nurses, get confidential medical information about about a woman having pregnancy complications, who also happens to be one of the most famous people in the world, record it, then air it without consent.
Because there is no chance of any fallout and adverse experiences for the prank victims, no chance at all…
I’ll be sure to raise my moral standards in future.
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Good to see Jones bounce back bigger and better than ever. Jones 1 Leftards 0.
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How do I get some of what they’re taking?
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One thing seems utterly true when it comes to Leftards, they are never, ever, ever, EVER wrong.
Apparently.
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Jones distastefully smeared the dead, 2Day FM hosts inadvertently caused a death. It kind of puts things in perspective. Innocent prank or not, they tricked the nurse and she did nothing to deserve it. She was perfectly innocent, just trying to do her job. And the 2Day FM hosts in their interview inadvertently made out like the nurse was wrong for falling for the prank. Well, maybe the nurse thought she was wrong too, or stupid, or worthless, and maybe that’s why she killed herself. Maybe the prank was just enough to push her over the edge. I think there’s a lesson in this for all of us but I’m not sure if 2Day FM or the DJs get it.
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Victory right up there with Vietnam and finding those weapons of mass destruction. Jones Audience up and a slap o the wrist with a wet bus ticket. Now thats a victory.
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Julia released a prank last week about the end of the world. So if someone tops themselves on the strength of Julia’s word… Well what happens there?? Who would be to blame?
Yes I know a strange premis of anyone believing what Julia says, but humour me.
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bwahaahaa,
i came across from Tim Blairs blog,
I had to see it with my own eyes
and here it is, a momentous victory(NOT) against Allan Jones by people who don’t even listen to him, nor buy products he endorses
I myself have gone cold on mercedes benz, so yes i guess it was a great victory.
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Laughable. The advertising revenue was back up within a couple of weeks.
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Jimmy,
Yes, it is your mistake. It was a harmless prank that should have brought giggles from everyone involved. Sadly we now live in a world were people are desperately looking to be offended so that they can whine about it. The selfish actions by the nurse to leave her kids without a mother is no fault of the radio station.
To morons everywhere, if you don’t like Jones then don’t listen to him. The attempt to force other not to listen to him belongs in 1930’s Germany.
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Lamest. Victory. Ever.
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No Joe, it’s the 1930’s style of broadcasting that 2GB offers (GoeBbels) that has become so offensive that it galvanised the community. The court ruling today on Peter Slipper is just another classic example of media outlets getting it wrong by villifying someone before due process is completed. This social media campaign has shown radio up to be the over rated dinosaur it is and advertisers have voted with their feet and wallets/purses.
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If the advertising revenue is back up on 2GB, can someone tell the CFO and shareholders please.
I don’t think so.
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The revenue that was lost was estimated at 1.5 million by the Alan Jones show. Also no major sponsors have returned. I see their efforts as a victory
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Just yesterday Russell Tate of 2GB declared that the SAJ campaign had cost the station $1.5 million and 15 advertisers. And that’s just what he’s prepared to admit. This decision by SAJ is the commensurate ‘walk soft but carry a big stick’. Congrats to Nic and Vinay for a well-run campaign that stayed well clear of any political debate.
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@ Shock Jocks. Glass houses…. Social media had nothing to do with Charlotte Dawsons trouble and strife??
Not to mention the countless teenagers who are bullied and stalked to suicide via Social media. We buried one of my sons classmates last year. Watch those stones Shock Jock.
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Pretty much (most) everyone else has said it – leftards….bluuurrrtttt….epic fail!
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“This social media campaign has shown radio up to be the over rated dinosaur it is and advertisers have voted with their feet and wallets/purses.”
No, the social media campaign shows a bunch of leftards trying to silence a person because they don’t agree with what he says. This failure is evidenced by the fact that AJ has come back bigger and better. It seems to be a trait of the left that dissenting voices must be destroyed because their arguments a generally weak and without substance. Hence the Gillard government’s attacks on our freedom of speech. Go Alan, you might not speak for all of us but I respect your right to have your opinion.
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It’s a major victory indeed, that $1.5M was based on a period of about 1 month. The total fallout will be many millions.
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Nope Shocked Jocks. The court decision on Slipper today is a classic case of a corrupt judge doing the bidding of a corrupt government and an incompetent Attorney General. This exact outcome was predicted back in April. http://kangaroocourtofaustrali.....ment-case/
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ROFLMAO!!!
Well done “Shocked Jocks 12 Dec 12 3:58 pm”!
‘Godwin’s Law’ proven again, “As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1”.
I think “it’s the 1930′s style of broadcasting that 2GB offers (GoeBbels)” meets the criteria.
Brilliant! What a thinker.
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If only I had more time I would provide a full critique on Nic and Vinay’s “statement” but alas, I do not, so I will just stick to one highly erroneous sentence:
According to Nic and Vinay; “He [AJ] certainly cannot be called the voice of big business anymore, after over 85 advertisers abandoned his show, including most of Australia’s leading brands and many international brands as well.”
On the SAJ FB page there is a list of companies who have supposedly stopped advertising on AJ’s show. The list only contains 84 names but that is a minor point.
The list contains a number of companies who were never advertising on AJ’s show in the first place. Here are just two examples from their Facebook pages:
Big W: “Hi everyone, thank you for all your recent posts. There have been posts calling for us to pull advertising and sponsorship from Alan Jones’ program.
To be clear, we do not and have not recently sponsored or advertised on this program.”
Toyota: “We have no current advertising bookings with Alan Jones or 2GB, nor do we have plans to in the near future”
And, of course, we all know the story about Mercedes who are also on the list.
The list also contains a number of companies who are currently advertising (or have recently advertised) on the show. These include Dee Why Grand Shopping Centre, Winning Appliances and Emirates.
The list also includes companies who are advertising indirectly. For example, Mazda has dealer advertising.
And the list is missing a large number of Australia’s leading brands.
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omg omg ! is this a joke? what did they win again? Jones is STILL number 1 in Sydney. lol!
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Relax Jack…..it’s only a game until someone loses an eye. Aaargh.
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Looks like another job for Maquarie Dictionary. Yo’re’re going to need a new definition for “victory” to make this work.
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Sponsors still boycott, revenue still hit (even 1.5m is massive, and counting) and the troops will still remain vigilant. This is not the end, this is entering a new phase.
Radio in general needs to be held to account and ACMA needs to get more serious. We are not talking new legislation here, just better follow through.
Ps I’m not a leftard, I’m a rightie. I just think media needs to be held to account like the rest of us.
As for 2day fm, they’ve made their bed. They need to sleep in it. Poor decisions, no following of process, despicable culture in pursuit of ratings and they’ve come undone. Crass, poor taste and everyone pointing fingers at each other. They ran the prank, they need to be held responsible. What they did was illegal in the uk, but not for one minute did they consider they were ringing a different country.
Radio needs to modernise. The old tactics clearly don’t work.
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I reckon Jones and his flock got the message. They may bleat but thats what you do when you feel hurt. Not to mention the loss of income, whew!, that must hurt. Be careful now , don’t stir the sleeping giant. Media and the flock,take note.
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Honestly you hit someones wallet it is a victory and that is what was done to 2GB. If your wallet was hit and you could not get it back is that not a defeat.
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One thing you can guuuuruntee.
Speak of the parrot and the parrot’s disciples appear.
I mentioned Alan Jones at a funeral last week and a few corpses rose from the ground talking about “leftards” and “political correctness gone mad” and a “silent majority”
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Is this mob taking lessons from the infamous Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf?
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