No More Religious Ads on Ft. Worth Buses – NBC Dallas-Fort Worth
Fort Worth’s Transportation Authority revised it’s advertising policy after uproar over atheist ads on four city buses.
The T’s board of directors adopted a formal policy related to The T’s advertising guidelines on Wednesday night.
The guidelines go into effect immediately for new ads on all T property including T buses, bus benches, bus park and ride and transfer facilities.
Jump to the 15:52 mark where board member Reby Cary talks about how we’re a “Christian nation” sliding away from that false history.
Fort Worth Transportation Authority Board Meeting from Zachary Moore.
According to a news release sent out by The T:
“The formal policy reflects most of The T’s current guidelines which excluded certain local political, tobacco, alcohol, pornographic and obscenity-related ads. It will now also exclude any ads with religious, non-theistic or faith-based content and all political ads.”
The new guidelines are a direct result of the recent controversy over religious versus atheist ads on four T buses.
The news release said the recommendations came from the agency’s staff “because of the distraction from its core business and excessive staff time” spent responding to the controversy.
Any existing ads that conflict with the new guidelines will continue to be seen until the end of the term of the advertising agreement.
NEWS RELEASE
The T’s board adopts advertising policy with revised guidelines
FORT WORTH (December 15, 2010) – The T’s board of directors adopted a formal policy related to The T’s advertising guidelines at its monthly meeting tonight, effective immediately for new ads on The T’s buses, bus benches, bus park and ride, transfer facilities and all other T property.
The formal policy reflects most of The T’s current guidelines which excluded certain local political, tobacco, alcohol, pornographic and obscenity-related ads. It will now also exclude any ads with religious, non-theistic or faith-based content and all political ads.
The agency’s staff recommended adding the exclusion of any faith-based ads because of the distraction from its core business and excessive staff time that have been required to respond to the recent controversy over religious versus atheist ads on The T’s buses.
Also added to the advertising policy is a specific exclusion of defamatory messages targeting individuals or specific groups.
The T’s new policy will be incorporated into the guidelines for its advertising contractor which sells and manages the production and placement of ads on The T’s bus and bus bench advertising.
Any existing advertisement that conflicts with the newly adopted advertising policy may remain during the term of the advertisement agreement.
Via: No More Religious Ads on Buses | NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
