Accessible Airwaves

Once again, the United Church of Christ's inclusion-themed, 30-second TV commercial has been rejected by the broadcast networks and now cable network, Viacom.

The United Church of Christ's all-inclusive message has been deemed "too controversial."

It’s time for equal access.

1. Let Your Voice Be Heard - Send a Message to Viacom Viacom accepts ads laced with sexual innuendo, greed, violence, and the politics of personal destruction, while our message of openness and welcome is not allowed. Tell Viacom to make the airwaves accessible. 2. Tell Your Friends Broadcasters who use the public airwaves have a responsibility to operate in the public interest. Spread the word about our campaign!

New Ad Campaign Prompts Action and Attracts Attention

We have already generated just over 1,900 email letters to ABC since the campaign launched yesterday. Thanks to everyone who has taken action!

We have also had some great coverage of our new campaign. In addition to a story in the New York Times by Stuart Elliot, a number of bloggers have already posted some stories. I have posted a few below.

Pastor Dan

In what will probably be the second-most controversial segment to the new GISS [God is Still Speaking] campaign after the "Ejector" ad itself (more on that presently), the UCC announced today that it has teamed up with Media Matters to fight the pronounced tilt toward the Religious Right in mainstream media news.

Chuck Currie

The United Church of Christ is unveiling our new television commercial this morning at a press conference in Cleveland.

"Ejector seat" is a funny commercial that will resonate with many who feel that typical church life leaves them out.

The national television networks have banned the ad claiming that the spot is issue advertising. It will run on cable.

Ad Rants

Continuing its "God is Still Speaking" Campaign, the United Church of Christ
(congregational) has launched a continuation of its campaign with a spot called
Rejected that highlights the church's open acceptance of all lifestyles. This
campaign also calls attention to the Church's dissatisfaction with ABC for
rejecting its past ads and the network's seeming bias towards right-wing
religious leaders such as Jerry Falwell, James Dobson and Pat Robertson and its
exclusion of mainline religious voices.

Line from a blog in Norway...

Wow. Atrios just linked to a banned United Church of Christ ad thatactually made this old atheist smile. Religion can be a very good thing. Too bad it hardly ever is.

See more of the coverage here:

• St. Petersburg Times


• Boston Herald


• Religion News Service (per Beliefnet)


• The Advocate


• 365gay.com


• Resonate


• AdPunch


• Phoenix's News


• Hughes for America


• Political Cortex


• Daily Kos


• LiveJournal


• Rainbow Wind


• Crooks and Liars


• Hits and Misses


• Jesus Politics


• Good as you (satire)


• Prophecy Boy


• The Green Knight


• moldybluecheesecurds


• xenophile


• CephasWorld


• Perfect Neglect


• Sexuality and Religion


• Notes in Samsura

Posted by The Rev. Bob Chase
3/28/2006 11:46:00 AM
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About OC Inc.

The Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, Inc. is the media advocacy arm of the United Church of Christ, a mainline Protestant denomination of over 1.3 million members. The United Church of Christ was the first voice to demand that broadcasters who use the public airwaves have a responsibility to operate in the public interest. In the 1960s, the United Church of Christ earned its place in U.S. broadcasting history by successfully challenging the license of WLBT-TV in Jackson, Miss, for refusing to broadcast news and information about African Americans.