Fri, 11 Jul 2003

Savage Savaged

Microsoft and the Savage Nation. CNET News.com's Charles Cooper asks why Microsoft was missing in action all throughout the saga leading up to MSNBC's recent dismissal of talk show host Michael Savage. [CNET News.com]

I don't know what the Hel Cooper wants here? I would bet that if M$ used it's "influence" with the network to insure that only articles dissing Apple and Linux got printered, he's be outraged! Yet he insists that they have to interfere in the "editorial decisions" to "be a good corporate citizen".

I'm no fan of Microsoft, nor do I care at all for Michael Savage. But in this case, I believe that M$ acted entirely appropiately in keeping their collective mouths shut, and leaving the firing to the parties responsible at MSNBC.

Curiously, Cooper seems to let GE (the ultimate owner of NBC) off the entirely - I didn't see so much as a press release from them condemning Savage, whereas earlier this year M$ did produce one disclaiming his views.

You can't have it both ways, Mr. Cooper. Either M$ runs the networks like Bill Gates' personal fief, or it leaves it's hands off the editorial content and leaves the decision making on how to satisfy investors up to the network management. As it should, and as it has done.

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