For a few days now I’ve noticed Michelle Malkin’s blog has no advertisements. For a day or so this didn’t worry me. But this was Tea Party Day week and she’s been one of the major driving forces in articulating the cause and motivating participation. One mark of her success is that last Sunday, when Obama apologist Howard Kurtz needed someone to mock, belittle and demonize over the Tea Party movement, Michelle Malkin’s photo was the first one he showed.
It’s telling that the second one was Newt Gingrich, and since he has next to nothing to do with the Tea Parties as far as I know. I think the only reason Kurtz followed Malkin’s photo with Gingrich’s is to make sure his leftwing viewers who are unaware of Malkin grouped her in their minds with Satan Gingrich and evil Republicans. (I’ve only seen Malkin identify herself as a conservative; I don’t know her party affiliation.)
So — no advertising on Michelle’s blog for days now. Is financial pressure being applied to advertisers to boycott her in order to shut her up?
I think we need to raise a fuss about this. What say you: Instapundit, The Other McCain, Little Miss Attila, The Anchoress, Protein Wisdom, Legal Insurrection (who is meta-seething here), Ace of Spades, Right Wing News, Kathy Shaidle, Gateway Pundit, Powerline, Gay Patriot, Moe Lane and The Sundries Shack? There’s one ad from Founding Bloggers, but not the big companies that used to advertise. What’s up?
It occurs to me that I could e-mail Michelle and ask her myself, but I’m not on her radar for getting a personal answer. So, maybe I’m making a fool of myself and everything is OK because liberals would never stoop so low as to go after her financially. Either way, it’s lunch time now and I have to go feed my unicorns.
Cynthia,
I think part of it has to do with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pajamas_Media scaling back its advertising as of 31March.
Best,
Chris
I had noticed that, too, but thought maybe she was having the site overhauled again. I didn’t think it was conspricy, but now you’ve got me wonderin’.
On a completely unrelated note, we planted tomatoes today and one was called “Mr. Stripey” (the only heirloom variety we could find at our boring local Home Depot). Should be interesting…..
Well, let’s remember that ALL the Pajamas Media sites used to get ads automatically, but the program was pulled, effective the first of April. So that means that all former PJ sites–Allah, Michelle, Hot Air, Insty, Anchoress, etc., etc.–no longer get ads through PJM. Only separate advertisers, and I’m sure it’s mostly through Blogads.
One can, of course, look at the smaller networks through Blogads: food sites, g&l sites, conservative sites, liberal sites, etc. etc. But even those ads are harder to sell; I, for instance, was never part of PJM, so my ads are pretty cheap. But I haven’t sold a “display” ad in perhaps a year. (Link advertising, yes. “Real” ads, no.)
OK, I’m very comfortable with being wrong about this. Good to know. Thanks, y’all!
Cynthia