http://www.baycitizen.org/marijuana/story/reddit-runs-pro-pot-ads-free/
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Conde Nast is telling its online upstart, reddit.com, to ‘just say no’ to money from ads that are pushing legalization of pot. And that doesn’t sit well with reddit or its rebellious readers.
Earlier today, reddit, the link-aggregation site, announced that parent company Conde Nast has forbidden the site from selling advertising that supports Proposition 19, the statewide ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana.
The move echoes Facebook's revision of its advertising policy last week to forbid advertisers from using the image of a marijuana leaf in ads.
Conde Nast, whose flagship media include Vogue and the New Yorker magazines, said in a statement posted byreddit administrators on their site, "As a corporation, Conde Nast does not want to benefit financially from this particular issue."
Reddit has decided to comply with the company's new policy and won't be selling any advertising to weed supporters. Instead, they're giving it away.
One site benefiting from the new free-ad bonanza is Justsaynow.org, a nationwide organization supporting marijuana legalization. The website was negotiating a possible advertising contract with reddit earlier this week that would have brought the site $2,000 to $5,000.
"We're really glad that reddit is taking a stand," said Michael Whitney, the site's digital strategy director. "The reddit community is hugely supportive of Prop. 19 and marijuana legalization."
Reddit has at least five cannabis-themed pages, with readership ranging from 570 readers on its Prop. 19 page to 26,784 on its marijuana page.
Reddit readers have responded to the site's determination to keep weed visible by turning off their "ad-blocks" so as to let the free ads appear on their computer monitors.
Some readers see a contradiction in Conde Nast’s position. "They're on a 'reddit needs to be better monetized' kick, and then they're refusing money from a group that's got advertisements relevant to many redditors. You should throw in a line item on your next financial report to corporate for 'money we would have made if Conde Nast didn't veto ads,’” reads the top-rated comment on reddit's announcement, from reader Zack Pruckowski.
Reddit and Conde Nast could not be reached for comment by deadline.
But in a bit of irony, Vanity Fair published an article earlier this month titled, “Pot Legalization Advocates Can’t Seem to Locate Funding,” which cites the lack of advertising dollars. The article says in part, “When Proposition 19, California’s pot-legalization initiative, hits the ballot in November, it has the potential to send thousands of voters to the polls—but only if they know about it.”
Getty Images
Conde Nast is telling its online upstart, reddit.com, to ‘just say no’ to money from ads that are pushing legalization of pot. And that doesn’t sit well with reddit or its rebellious readers.
Earlier today, reddit, the link-aggregation site, announced that parent company Conde Nast has forbidden the site from selling advertising that supports Proposition 19, the statewide ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana.
The move echoes Facebook's revision of its advertising policy last week to forbid advertisers from using the image of a marijuana leaf in ads.
Conde Nast, whose flagship media include Vogue and the New Yorker magazines, said in a statement posted byreddit administrators on their site, "As a corporation, Conde Nast does not want to benefit financially from this particular issue."
Reddit has decided to comply with the company's new policy and won't be selling any advertising to weed supporters. Instead, they're giving it away.
One site benefiting from the new free-ad bonanza is Justsaynow.org, a nationwide organization supporting marijuana legalization. The website was negotiating a possible advertising contract with reddit earlier this week that would have brought the site $2,000 to $5,000.
"We're really glad that reddit is taking a stand," said Michael Whitney, the site's digital strategy director. "The reddit community is hugely supportive of Prop. 19 and marijuana legalization."
Reddit has at least five cannabis-themed pages, with readership ranging from 570 readers on its Prop. 19 page to 26,784 on its marijuana page.
Reddit readers have responded to the site's determination to keep weed visible by turning off their "ad-blocks" so as to let the free ads appear on their computer monitors.
Some readers see a contradiction in Conde Nast’s position. "They're on a 'reddit needs to be better monetized' kick, and then they're refusing money from a group that's got advertisements relevant to many redditors. You should throw in a line item on your next financial report to corporate for 'money we would have made if Conde Nast didn't veto ads,’” reads the top-rated comment on reddit's announcement, from reader Zack Pruckowski.
Reddit and Conde Nast could not be reached for comment by deadline.
But in a bit of irony, Vanity Fair published an article earlier this month titled, “Pot Legalization Advocates Can’t Seem to Locate Funding,” which cites the lack of advertising dollars. The article says in part, “When Proposition 19, California’s pot-legalization initiative, hits the ballot in November, it has the potential to send thousands of voters to the polls—but only if they know about it.”
