Got a tip yesterday about local radio station WDVE 102.5 airing an anti-trans commercial spot.
I found this piece on Axios, confirming a large ad buy targeting Pennsylvania by a Trump loving Super PAC, Make America Great Again.
According to Axios, this ad buy targets Black voters with the intent of swaying Black and Latino men.
By the numbers: The ad runs March 4 to 31. The buy totals $380,000 (Georgia $179,000, Pennsylvania $116,000 and Michigan $85,000).
In October 2022, I received a similar tip about a similar nasty ad buy.
I spent a lot of hours trying to track down the ad, figure out the FCC information, and encouraging people to contact the stations.
All in all, eight of the regions nine major stations aired the ad. It was a greedy, reprehensible decision that created significant trauma for unsuspecting listeners, both in terms of hearing the ad content but also by the ways in which the ad reinforced ignorant and intolerant views by some people in the community.
One by one, they succumbed to pressure from community partners to pull the ad. The only holdout was our alleged holiday family values station, 99.7.
Ran the Ad for Full Contract
Ran the Ad but Pulled It
- WDVE
- WAMO
- Y108
- 105.9 the X
- KDKA AM
- Q92.9
- 96.1 KISS
Did Not Run the Ad
- 96.9 Bob FM
The 2022 ad was purchased by the American First Legal Foundation.
Those radio stations gave their word they would not repeat this trauma. So why is WDVE 102.5 back at it again now?
I don’t know if the other stations are following suit. Those of you who listen to local radio can keep us informed. Feel free to email [email protected] or DM me.
We need more information to determine the scope, but please reach out to WDVE with your feedback.
WDVE 102.5 Studio Line: 412-333-9383 Business Line: 412-937-1441 *Also they are the home of the Steelers so call the Steelers
DAVID EDGAR
Senior Vice President of Programming
iHeartMedia – Pittsburgh
[email protected]
We cannot stand idly by while these hateful messages generate a profit for corporate radio at the expense of our neighbors.
You can listen to the ad yourself. Language includes “men using girls bathrooms” and “men competing against girl’s” in response to the affirming message from Biden-Harris that transgender equality is a civil rights issue. The ad says Trump will stop “the sexualization of our childre.” And demonizes migrants and refugees.
It’s dehumanizing rhetoric that pits trans folx and immigrants against “our communities” with the implication being that there are no trans folx or immigrants in Black communities?
The ignorance feeds right into racist beliefs among Republicans.
Listen to Our Communities by MAGA INC on #SoundCloud https://on.soundcloud.com/SqNxy
- Report if the ad runs on stations you listen to in the near future.
- Contact WDVE 102.5 and tell them that this ad does not reflect our community values. Ask why they didn’t honor their word from October 22.
