Five More Advertisers Drop 'Savage Nation' Radio Spots

Commercials dropped after release of Brave New Films video

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Hate Hurts America Community and Interfaith Coalition (HHA) today announced that five more radio advertisers have joined a growing list of companies that have stopped advertising or refuse to place their ads on Michael Savage's "Savage Nation" radio program.

HHA said the advertisers - ITT Technical Institute, Chattem, Inc. (owners of Gold Bond, Icy Hot, and Selsun Blue), Union Bank of California, Intuit (parent company of TurboTax and QuickBooks), and GEICO Insurance - dropped their commercials after being contacted by visitors to the newly-created "No Savage" website.

That site, a project of Brave New Films, also contains examples of bigoted on-air comments by Savage targeting Muslims, immigrants and women, as well as contact information for remaining advertisers.

SEE: No Savage http://nosavage.org/

An ITT Tech official stated: "It was brought to our attention this week that ITT Tech spots had been heard in the Michael Savage Show. As a result, we have contacted all stations participating in the ITT Tech program and strongly reiterated that they are NOT to run ITT Tech spots in the Michael Savage Show."

A letter from GEICO's media buyer said: "We have contacted all our affiliate(s) to ensure that GEICO advertisements, including any inadvertent errors, will not appear on the Savage Nation."

HHA, a group of religious and civic organizations seeking to challenge hate speech on talk radio, was formed as a result of Savage's rhetorical attacks on religious and ethnic minorities. Coalition members are calling on advertisers nationwide to stop airing commercials on Savage's nationally-syndicated program.

SEE: Hate Hurts America http://www.hatehurtsamerica.org/

Late last year, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on radio listeners of all faiths to contact Savage's advertisers to express their concerns about the host's anti-Muslim bigotry. CAIR is a member of the Hate Hurts America Community and Interfaith Coalition.

SEE ALSO: National Radio Host Goes on Anti-Muslim Tirade (CAIR) http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?mid1=777&&ArticleID=23608&&name=n&&cur rPage=3

Savage has a long history of rhetorical attacks on a variety of minority groups. He says he has lost at least $1 million in revenue because of the advertiser campaign.

SEE: Michael Savage (Media Matters) http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/people/michaelsavage

Advertisers that have already stopped airing or refuse to air commercials on "Savage Nation" include US Cellular, Sprint Nextel, Sears, Universal Orlando Resorts, AutoZone, Citrix, TrustedID, JCPenney, OfficeMax, Wal-Mart, and AT&T.

The Hate Hurts America Community and Interfaith Coalition includes public officials and civil rights advocates, as well as representatives of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Latino, and Asian communities.

Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations

CONTACT: Hate Hurts America Community and Interfaith Coalition
Coordinator, +1-202-488-8787, coordinator@hatehurtsamerica.org

Web Site: http://nosavage.org/