February 25, 2010 5:17 AM

The best news coverage money can buy...or manipulate

Let's be blunt. 173 Toyota dealers in the United States are plain and simply un-American. They are the members of their association that covers five southeastern states, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina, that have decided to pull their advertising from ABC affiliates in their coverage area. Why? Because ABC news has been giving what they've determined to be "excessive stories on the Toyota issues.". As I said, un-American. They have decided they will use their economic clout to try and coerce the network into lightening up its investigation into the severe safety problems that have been discovered in their lethal product and suggestions of a coverup. These guys don't seem to understand that their advertising buy does not give them the right to blackmail a news medium's coverage.

I don't own a Toyota, so I'm not one of those unfortunate souls trying to determine if their vehicle is safe to drive and/or if they're risking their safety just driving to work. Unfortunately, it's not as if Toyota is outdoing themselves in making these days easier on their customers. Between the delays, denials, and misinformation, Toyota owners are essentially left to figure things out for themselves. Making matters worse is that dealers in the southeast are banding together to choke off news coverage by manipulating their advertising buys.

Of course, businesses are free to spend their advertising dollars how and with whom they choose. Having said that, though, I do think that Toyota and their dealers have an obligation to their customers to operate with honesty and transparency. This sorry episode just makes it looks as if these folks have something to hide. If they didn't, why would the dealers be conducting themselves in such a reprehensible, heavy-handed manner?

It's not as if Toyota is the first company to ever have to deal with large-scale product safety issues. In fact, there's no lack of precedent and experience that Toyota management could have drawn on for inspiration and advice. Anyone old enough to remember the Tylenol tampering scandal from the early '80s will recall how the company stepped up. Management decided that the best thing to do was to be honest, open, and as transparent as possible. They told consumers what was happening and what they were doing to ensure the safety of those who rely on their product. The end result was that Tylenol emerged from the crisis even stronger. They stood up, did the right thing, and ultimately reaped the benefits. Would that Toyota could see their way clear to doing the right thing in the right way. And while they're at it, they should be bitch-slapping their dealer network in the southeastern US. Now we're left to wonder what they're hiding...and why.

Hmm...d'ya think the sun's shining just a wee bit brighter in Detroit these days??

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on February 25, 2010 5:17 AM.

I'll alert the media.... was the previous entry in this blog.

Things I think I might be thinking.... is the next entry in this blog.

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