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Do you or Would you?

V

varedhead

Guest
Ok, here's a big one for you. Do you or would you, put on a spot for a client that DOES NOT represent your stations values? How would you deter them from underwriting with you or being a client?
Example: beer commercial on a Christian station (and I have heard them), or lottery info on your newsbreaks, or a business known for it's rotten reputation but pays really well.(car dealer etc,)and would you deal with an unscrupulous business if a Christian employee was involved. Experiences wanted!
 
This is basically the same question any believer faces working in a secular station too. There will be spots or programs (informercials, etc) that you may not agree with for spiritual or reasons like that company's product or the company itself isn't a good one that you'd want to promote, yet may be on the log for broadcast during your air shift. Do you skip those and only play the ones you agree with? You aren't given that option obviously, so you have no choice, but to air the disagreeable spots or programs.

As far as your examples below at a Christian station, in your scenario, are you the owner of the station? If you are a sales person, you'd probably question a beer spot to your boss, before signing them up. If the boss tells you that if they pay they play, then you realize the "standard" the owner has set for their station isn't the same as yours. Same for the jocks and newsfolks. Then you as an employee would need to pray and seek the Lord's will as to whether or not you stay on and hopefully make a difference there, etc, in the ministry you have in radio or move on. Realize that not all Christian formated stations are owned by Christians. Many radio station owners have come to realize that CCM and pay to preach formats seem to make money. Their only desire may be to make money with no thought at all to salvation of souls, etc. To add to your scenario, what if this so called Christian station was the only one receivable in your city? So, even though this non-Christian owner is accepting beer spots, he also is airing quality preaching, focus on the family, etc, CCM. Should all the believers leave and only leave non-Christians as on air folks? Bottom line is you'd need to be in prayer about this and seek out the Lord for what his will for you is. He may want you to stay on and be a loving influence there, but he might also want you to move on. I worked part time for such a station years ago. Eventually another CCM station came to our area and the believers switched their radio dials and never came back. The station in question eventually was sold and now has a secular format. But during its time as the only CCM station it did bring CCM to the area teens and some quality preaching (also some lousy preaching as they did have the policy of if they pay they play). God used that station inspite of how the owner ran it. I stayed a couple of years and then moved on to a quality secular station for my part time work in radio. I hope that is helpful.



> Ok, here's a big one for you. Do you or would you, put on a
> spot for a client that DOES NOT represent your stations
> values? How would you deter them from underwriting with you
> or being a client?
> Example: beer commercial on a Christian station (and I have
> heard them), or lottery info on your newsbreaks, or a
> business known for it's rotten reputation but pays really
> well.(car dealer etc,)and would you deal with an
> unscrupulous business if a Christian employee was involved.
> Experiences wanted!
>
 
I'd just like to mention...

Not all Christians would have an issue with a commercial that includes reference or purchase of alcohol products.

<P ID="signature">______________
RADIOELIZABETH
Pleasant, Passionate, Persuasive
www.radioelizabeth.com</P>
 
Here's the litmus: Filter everything through the ears of your core listener.

If it doesn't jive with his or her lifestyle/values. Don't run the schedule.

If you run anything and everything through this filter; bits...commercials/underwriting...music...etc, you'll be ok on every front.

Some will say "How do you tell what your core audience wants?"

That's another thread.




> Ok, here's a big one for you. Do you or would you, put on a
> spot for a client that DOES NOT represent your stations
> values? How would you deter them from underwriting with you
> or being a client?
> Example: beer commercial on a Christian station (and I have
> heard them), or lottery info on your newsbreaks, or a
> business known for it's rotten reputation but pays really
> well.(car dealer etc,)and would you deal with an
> unscrupulous business if a Christian employee was involved.
> Experiences wanted!
>
 
> I'd just like to mention...
>
> Not all Christians would have an issue with a commercial
> that includes reference or purchase of alcohol products.
>

But enough do that it would probably be better to not run beer ads.

What bugs me is how some stations that are Christian owned will keep off ads for things like beer or lotteries, but will run ads or even worse, infomercials for questionable junk like hair loss, weight loss, and stop smoking treatments, and multilevel marketing schemes. They may not morally wrong for the user, but are useless and a waste of money, and should be morally wrong for the maker of the product to be selling, even some of the ones that claim to be Christian operated or marketed directly to the Christian audience. Even some stations that aren't usually guilty of having a dollar a holler format are guilty of that at times
 
"I'd just like to mention... Not all Christians would have an issue with a commercial that includes reference or purchase of alcohol products.


"But enough do that it would probably be better to not run beer ads."


Or it may just be a vocal minority complaining.


"What bugs me is how some stations that are Christian owned will keep off ads for things like beer or lotteries, but will run ads or even worse, infomercials for questionable junk like hair loss, weight loss, and stop smoking treatments, and multilevel marketing schemes. They may not morally wrong for the user, but are useless and a waste of money, and should be morally wrong for the maker of the product to be selling, even some of the ones that claim to be Christian operated or marketed directly to the Christian audience. Even some stations that aren't usually guilty of having a dollar a holler format are guilty of that at times."



I'm not too sure where any STANDARD could be set with this thinking...

Every individual will have their own line. Certainly the precepts can work as a guide in some instances (no brothel ads please), but I imagine for the most part...the morality of a station will be up for judgement by the listener. And they will choose with scan or seek (or call and threaten to).
<P ID="signature">______________
RADIOELIZABETH
Pleasant, Passionate, Persuasive
www.radioelizabeth.com</P>
 
> Ok, here's a big one for you. Do you or would you, put on a
> spot for a client that DOES NOT represent your stations
> values? How would you deter them from underwriting with you
> or being a client?
> Example: beer commercial on a Christian station (and I have
> heard them), or lottery info on your newsbreaks, or a
> business known for it's rotten reputation but pays really
> well.(car dealer etc,)and would you deal with an
> unscrupulous business if a Christian employee was involved.
> Experiences wanted!

varedhead,

I have been placed in this exact scenario before, and having read through this entire thread nbefore posting, would first say, It's a judgement call based on
a number of factors, including the owner's values, the audience and for me,
a desire at that time to keep the station's image as 'The Christian Leader'
intact.

We had one of those telemarketing firms that sold spots for donating blood,
child safety and such. One of these ended up being for a cigarette shop and a second for a less-than-reputable business. Because the station owner was an absentee owner, I had "vero power" over any such element and had the authority to turn them down. And I did, several times, which was difficult as the station always seemed to be struggling for survival. Bit I'd turn down the questionable ad, and along would come an order for a similar amount, or more, from Salem Radio Reps or another of the Christian agencies that I was working with at the time. Our billing went from $6k-ish a month to over $10k even when things looked rough. I truly believe God blesses those who make a stand for Him.

I've shared this before, but a good friend of mine owned a southern/traditional station in a small market and could barely stay afloat. One day he received a $750 check/order for a well known beer manufacturer. $750 at that time would have paid his monthly note and other bills, yet he sent it back and turned it down. The next day, the local furniture store, placed a $750 order with him. He had a similar incident with jai-alai.

I say, go on faith first instead of profits and you'll see miracles. I did it
successfully for eight years as OM of the station I mentioned earlier.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
WJJD The Country Giant Revisited streams at
http://www.live365.com/stations/alanmccall</P>
 
I agree with you, Elizabeth...it seems silly that people would have a fit about an ad for beer or wine on a Christian station. These are things that exist in the world, and to pretend that no one partakes is also silly. I do not understand why we as Christian radio people feel compelled to act in loco parentis (for you non-latin speakers, that means "as parents") for our listeners. I agree with the other poster: personally, I find the ads for multi-level marketing and bogus weight loss products far more egregious than beer or wine ads.

It goes to a larger issue--why do we as Christians feel like if we *hear* the mention of something we view as bad, that somehow we will be damaged by it. Please do not give me the "we are supposed to be in the world but not of it" speech. We are in the world. Just because I see an ad for cigarettes in a magazine, or an ad for booze during a football broadcast, I do not run out an buy buy buy. Nor do I feel that it has somehow weakened me.

Treat me like an adult--I would like to treat the listeners the same way. If you do not like it, just like with everything else, there are other choices out there.

I just read the interview with P.O.D. in CCM, and one of the dudes said the same thing--people always harp on them for being both "not Christian enough" and "too preachy." His answer was, there are plenty of bands out there to listen to...I guess I am one of the let the music do the talking people. I want to work at a station that welcomes all come-ers...Catholics, Baptists, Episcopalians, whatever...I am sorry, I digress, but this issue is such a large one.




> "I'd just like to mention... Not all Christians would have
> an issue with a commercial that includes reference or
> purchase of alcohol products.
>
>
> "But enough do that it would probably be better to not run
> beer ads."
>
>
> Or it may just be a vocal minority complaining.
>
>
> "What bugs me is how some stations that are Christian owned
> will keep off ads for things like beer or lotteries, but
> will run ads or even worse, infomercials for questionable
> junk like hair loss, weight loss, and stop smoking
> treatments, and multilevel marketing schemes. They may not
> morally wrong for the user, but are useless and a waste of
> money, and should be morally wrong for the maker of the
> product to be selling, even some of the ones that claim to
> be Christian operated or marketed directly to the Christian
> audience. Even some stations that aren't usually guilty of
> having a dollar a holler format are guilty of that at
> times."
>
>
>
> I'm not too sure where any STANDARD could be set with this
> thinking...
>
> Every individual will have their own line. Certainly the
> precepts can work as a guide in some instances (no brothel
> ads please), but I imagine for the most part...the morality
> of a station will be up for judgement by the listener. And
> they will choose with scan or seek (or call and threaten
> to).
>
 
I agree but and here comes the BUT - sometimes the juice just isn't worth the squeeze. Alcohol is a hot button issue - vocal minority, maybe, but I've encountered the calls from offended listeners because an ad for a restaurant that mentioned alcohol ran unedited. Believers who had battled alcoholism themselves or saw the effects on friends or family members felt let down.

The whole mult-level, hair-regrowth, eat and lose weight garbage - I'd not run it if I were in charge but I'm not! At least they usually come with a "money back guarentee".
 
> Ok, here's a big one for you. Do you or would you, put on a
> spot for a client that DOES NOT represent your stations
> values? How would you deter them from underwriting with you
> or being a client?
> Example: beer commercial on a Christian station (and I have
> heard them), or lottery info on your newsbreaks, or a
> business known for it's rotten reputation but pays really
> well.(car dealer etc,)and would you deal with an
> unscrupulous business if a Christian employee was involved.
> Experiences wanted!
>

ABSOLUTELY REFUSE! We have done so, now, many times, and will continue to.

For example, our weather provider sometimes has ads for the lottery. We never run them, we sub something else. They now no longer schedule them on our rotation. Same with nightclubs. No-go. We even get questionable ads from SRN, sometimes, which we also refuse, and sub something else, instead.

Alcohol is a product that is DIRECTLY responsible for so many needless deaths, maimings, and wrecked lives... WHY in GOD'S NAME would we EVER want to promote the vile stuff on our airwaves!? If some folks have no convictions about sipping a little wine with dinner, that's fine, and that is between them & the Lord. However, for a Christian broadcaster to promote the stuff? That's BAD NEWS.

PROV 20:1 "Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."

HAB 2:15 "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to [him], and makest [him] drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!"

It's just bad news, and best to stay completely away from it. Tobacco and Gambling, also.

Ya know what I think is such an interesting combination? The Government actually connected these deadly things together: "Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms". Tells ya something, don't it? ;)

Willie...
 
Willie wrote:
"Alcohol is a product that is DIRECTLY responsible for so many needless deaths, maimings, and wrecked lives... WHY in GOD'S NAME would we EVER want to promote the vile stuff on our airwaves!? If some folks have no convictions about sipping a little wine with dinner, that's fine, and that is between them & the Lord. However, for a Christian broadcaster to promote the stuff? That's BAD NEWS."

This statement is rather confusing to me.

It sounds a bit condemning to those who choose to drink.

I think it is WONDERFUL to have such a great passion in your programming. Really. It is great to have the integrity and candor to keep your station's mission and beliefs at the forefront...but I just get the impression there is a strong opinion in this post that all broadcasters who are Christians should feel the same?

Personally, I will agree with a previous post that for the "family friendly" nature of programming and for the fact that it is such a hot button issue (as this post confirms) that caution is a great idea. But again, not all commercials are "drink til you drop" in their nature. Some are, of course, but sometimes it's just the mention of a merlot on sale at the market...(for example)

<P ID="signature">______________
RADIOELIZABETH
Pleasant, Passionate, Persuasive
www.radioelizabeth.com</P>
 
> candor to keep your station's mission and beliefs at the
> forefront...but I just get the impression there is a strong
> opinion in this post that all broadcasters who are
> Christians should feel the same?

We really need to be careful not to send out mixed-messages. I would just hope that, for the sake of the weaker brother or sister who *is* listening, Christian stations would choose not to air such ads at all. (The Bible has some very clear instructions against doing that which causes another to stumble.)

> that caution is a great idea. But again, not all
> commercials are "drink til you drop" in their nature. Some
> are, of course, but sometimes it's just the mention of a
> merlot on sale at the market...(for example)

We would not even do that. "Touch not the unclean thing".

It's bad enough that the secular Media bombards us with this kind of thing incessantly. Christian Media should be a "safe haven" away from it and other things that the WORLD basks in. "Come out from among them and be ye seperate, saith the Lord."

Willie...
 
Willie wrote:
"We really need to be careful not to send out mixed-messages. I would just hope that, for the sake of the weaker brother or sister who *is* listening, Christian stations would choose not to air such ads at all. (The Bible has some very clear instructions against doing that which causes another to stumble.)"

Well...I'm not too sure the clarity on that verse is as applicable in this instance...but I do appreciate your passion for your station.

"We would not even do that. "Touch not the unclean thing". It's bad enough that the secular Media bombards us with this kind of thing incessantly. Christian Media should be a "safe haven" away from it and other things that the WORLD basks in. "Come out from among them and be ye seperate, saith the Lord.""

Again, I think it's great that for you and your station you have set a bar and are sticking with it...but the post here seems to imply that those who may view it differently are "worldly" or not "seperate". And I just don't know that all Christians or Christian broadcasters would shae this view that acohol is "unclean" in this regard.

Again, some may see no sin in drinking it or in an ad that mentions the wine department along with other items for sale at the grocer.

e
<P ID="signature">______________
RADIOELIZABETH
Pleasant, Passionate, Persuasive
www.radioelizabeth.com</P>
 
This issue I believe is more of an issue with the American Church than the European Church. I remember at a church we were members of, about 15 years ago, had a group of folks including the Pastor and his wife, go to both Germany and Portugal on a missions trip. I remember his comments to some of us on his return. He said that it was quite a shock to be in a fellowship hall in a German church with spirit filled, born again believers sharing a pot luck supper complete with beer. They had a similar experience at a Portugal church except they were serving wine. At both churches he asked the pastor's about this and was told that the European church doesn't have that issue as the Americans seem to have. 1 Corinthians 11 starting at verse 17 has a section where Paul is reaming out the Corinthians for getting drunk at the Agape Love Feast/Communion Supper. Obviously, they were not drinking grape juice, but wine. The pastors pointed out to our pastor that this issue isn't whether drinking wine/beer a sin, but being a pig or glutton and getting drunk, just as with anything else, food, money, etc.

If I remember correctly, Billy Graham years ago (20-30 years ago) in one of his books wrote that he doesn't drink and believes it's better not to, but has a number of Born Again believer friends, especially from Europe, who do have a glass of wine with their meals and do not believe that it is sin, etc. So there are different schools of thought on this issue.

Personally, I agree with this point of view and do have an occasional glass of red wine with my dinner. Does that mean I believe all should do this? No. Does this mean I believe my church should start using wine instead of grape juice at communion? No. Does that mean I'd want my Christian radio station selling beer ads? Probably not. Mainly because there is a tendency for abuse with alcohol in our culture that I'd rather not help contribute to by airing beer ads that tend to glamorize drinking, sex, and other worldly attitudes. All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial says St. Paul. So yes, there are born again believers who may have a glass of wine or a glass of beer (as I believe Martin Luther was reported to have done during his life in Germany), but that doesn't mean its for all or should be encouraged.
 
"So yes, there are born again believers who may have a glass of wine or a glass of beer (as I believe Martin Luther was reported to have done during his life in Germany), but that doesn't mean its for all or should be encouraged."


I edited for space...

So... do you say no to the client (and the revenue that comes with) who has an ad that includes mention of alcohol?
<P ID="signature">______________
RADIOELIZABETH
Pleasant, Passionate, Persuasive
www.radioelizabeth.com</P>
 
I did give an answer, and here it is again, my spin on this topic with some further comments after:

>>Does that mean I'd want my Christian radio station selling beer ads? Probably not. Mainly because there is a tendency for abuse with alcohol in our culture that I'd rather not help contribute to by airing beer ads that tend to glamorize drinking, sex, and other worldly attitudes. All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial says St. Paul. So yes, there are born again believers who may have a glass of wine or a glass of beer (as I believe Martin Luther was reported to have done during his life in Germany), but that doesn't mean its for all or should be encouraged.>>

So Yes, I'd turn down the ads and the revenue. Most Born Again Christians in America would be offended by the beer or wine spots and as they are the targeted audience of a Christian radio station (most folks listening to a Christian station are already Christians), it would seem to be counter productive. Unfortunately, our churches are not offering that sort of teaching about the drinking issue so that most believers in America would be opposed to any sort of drinking and most would definitely be opposed to hearing beer/wine spots on their Christian radio station. I believe an Non-Comm Christian station would have major problems on their hands if they took underwriting from a beer/wine company, bar, liquor distrbutor, etc. They'd probably lose other contributors and underwriters, etc. My guess is, this would be a losing proposition for the station, either commercial or non-comm.

> "So yes, there are born again believers who may have a glass
> of wine or a glass of beer (as I believe Martin Luther was
> reported to have done during his life in Germany), but that
> doesn't mean its for all or should be encouraged."
>
>
> I edited for space...
>
> So... do you say no to the client (and the revenue that
> comes with) who has an ad that includes mention of alcohol?
>
 
"I did give an answer, and here it is again, my spin on this"


Maybe I should have specified... "YOU"...not you.
<P ID="signature">______________
RADIOELIZABETH
Pleasant, Passionate, Persuasive
www.radioelizabeth.com</P>
 
Not a problem

Not a problem at all. I thought, that maybe I hadn't expressed my original thoughts very clearly (which wouldn't be the first time I didn't explain my point clearly enough), so that was why I added more at the end the second time around.

It would be interesting to find out, if any Christian radio station does air beer/wine spots or accepts underwriting from beer/wine companies, liquor distrbutors, bars, casinos, slot machine parlors, etc. My guess is there would be very few, IF any.

> "I did give an answer, and here it is again, my spin on
> this"
>
>
> Maybe I should have specified... "YOU"...not you.
>
 
Re: Not a problem

> It would be interesting to find out, if any Christian radio
> station does air beer/wine spots or accepts underwriting
> from beer/wine companies, liquor distrbutors, bars, casinos,
> slot machine parlors, etc. My guess is there would be very
> few, IF any.

Based on my 19 years of experience in Christian Radio, I don't know of any.

HOWEVER- there *ARE* stations which broadcast Christian programming & music, which are owned by NON-Christians. These are usually the stations that also allow all kinds of off-the-wall teachings & non-Biblical stuff on the air. (They don't know the difference: It's all "Religion" to them. We have one in a nearby city.) I would suspect that they would have no problem with ads for "Big Al's Watering Hole" between Church broadcasts. They dont' care if they have no listeners, either... as long as these programmers bring good checks along with their distorted tapes, the station owners laugh all the way to the bank. (Some of those tapes are so distorted, that they are absolutely unintelligible!!!)

The vast majority of REAL Christian Stations are well aware of the *controversy* and "stumbling block factor" of alcohol... it is a very destructive thing, as are gambling, drugs, and pornography. It really is best to "not even go there"... not even mentioning it, because the liklihood of it offending MANY people is quite high.

So, yes, we would, IN A HEARTBEAT, turn down that short-term revenue to avoid alienating and offending (possibly permanently) large numbers of listeners. I think there are a large majority of Christian stations that feel the same way.

Willie...
 
Re: ?

"The vast majority of REAL Christian Stations are well aware..."


Um...could you please elaborate on what you mean by "real"?<P ID="signature">______________
RADIOELIZABETH
Pleasant, Passionate, Persuasive
www.radioelizabeth.com</P>
 
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