shepd's Journal: Chilling Censorship

The other day my ad was censored in the newspaper. I'll let you know what led to this with a minute by minute count of that day:

December 3, 2003

11:00 am - Our advertising agent at the Pennysaver (local advertising flyer), explained to us in person at our shop that they cannot accept ads advertising free to air satellite service, and that all satellite services they advertise must be authorized. I explained how it is completely legal to sell such systems in Canada, and provided her with information to take to her superiors. She accepted such information, and asked me to phone the Manager after 2:00 (he was away at this time).

12:02 pm - I receive a call at the shop from a member of a religious group that runs its own Free to Air satellite station. I tell him about what happened earlier, and asked him to draft a letter explaining their position on their satellite signal. He agrees, and says that for certain he would have no problems with us selling equipment to view such signals, and that he would support and authorize it.

2:05 - I phoned the pennysaver, and asked to speak to the Manager. He was unavailble.

2:35 - The Manager at the pennysaver called and asked to speak with me. I chatted with him about this problem, and he says that the official position is not his, but he is required to support it as it came from "8 levels up". I asked him to explain the position. He did explain it as:

  - The word "Free" must not be associated with satellite services
  - Quebecor (owners of the Pennysaver and VideoTron Cable, which has a clear bias against satellite television) feels they are not denying any right to religious advertising.
  - All satellite services must be authorized.

I said I understood and that our ad would be fixed to meet these guidelines.

3:00 - I spoke to the member of the religious group again, asking him more urgently for the letter. He said he would do this for tomorrow, and that he was surprised by the pennysaver's attitude.

4:00 - I was asked to submit a new ad. I explained that I would submit it within half an hour.

4:30 - I submit the new ad on disk to the pennysaver, with "FTA Satellite" replaced by "Ethnic and Religious Satellte", along with a letter to the Manager telling him we have authorization to sell such systems, and that we are following their guidelines, also accompanied by a printout of our ad.

4:38 - I am told the new ad is denied, despite the changes. I was asked if I would mind them removing "Ethnic and Religious Satellite" from the ad. I said this would be acceptable, although we would much prefer advertising our satellite services.

Presently I've drafted a letter to send to the presidents of Quebecor asking them to clarify exactly what their company's position is, so that I might inform the various religious television stations of it.