Providence Journal Editorials Attack NRA, Then Paper Accepts Their Advertising
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
In a series of editorials over the past two years, the Providence Journal has repeatedly criticized the National Rifle Association for its positions on a range of gun control issues. However, this past week, the Providence Journal began running advertising paid for by the NRA.
During the past week the Providence Journal has been running an ad campaign from the NRA that promotes the gun rights organization’s annual membership drive and offers a free heavy-duty duffel bag with membership.
In contrast, the Boston Globe does not accept ads from the gun industry including retailers. The Globe does accept ads for gun safety courses.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFor newspapers, editorials are the voice of the ownership. “It makes no difference whose fingers type the editorial, for once the editorial passes through the press it becomes the opinion of the owners of that press,” wrote John L. Perry, a newspaper editor wrote in a paper for the National Conference of Editorial Writers in the late 1980’s.
On January 9, a Providence Journal’s editorial stated, "Despite widespread public support for better background checks, and growing concerns about mass slayings and the shocking number of guns in America, Congress — even when controlled by Democrats — has been shamefully reticent to crack down. A ludicrously broad interpretation of the Second Amendment has many supporters, such as the powerful National Rifle Association."
The editorial went on regarding the influence of the NRA, “Gun sales — and contributions to the NRA — tend to soar in tandem with dramatic presidential gestures to control them.”
Efforts to reach Ed Achorn, Editor of the Providence Journal’s Editorial Page were unsuccessful.
Related Slideshow: The Influence of Gun Money in New England States
New Data from The Sunlight Foundation shows state-by-state breakdowns for donations to groups on both sides of the gun debate. The money went toward candidates, political parties, and political action committees (PACs), but doesn't include donations to independent or so-called “super PACs”.
See how much money went to candidates in each of the New England States in the slides below.
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