Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy

Analysis:

This article from the Cox News Service appeared in the “Your Life” section of the Grand Rapids Press. It appears to be in part based on a Press Release sent out by one of the sources cited in the story, Parks Associates, which is based in Dallas, Texas. The only other source cited in the story is that of Massive Inc., a subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. Massive Inc. markets itself as “your channel to the Gaming audience.” Both sources cited talk favorably about the increase of ads that are appearing in video games.

In addition to the sources cited, the story gives a few examples of how advertisers are working their ads into video games. Advertisers cited are Wrigley gum, the Discovery Channel and Burger King. While the story speaks positively about the increase of ads in video games and it’s relationship to gaming systems, there are no perspectives from people or organizations who are critical of this trend.

Story:

Gamers, get ready: Like it or not, advertising in video games is about to move to the next level.

Last year, advertisers spent $370 million placing their logos on billboards in virtual driving games, running ads on online gaming sites or reaching out to gamers in other ways.

Within five years, they’ll spend a dizzying $2 billion, Dallas-based technology research firm Parks Associates predicts.

“It’s definitely becoming a more established model for advertisers,” Yuanzhe Cai, the firm’s director of broadband and gaming, said. “How many more 30-second spots can you put on a TV show?”

As the $12.5 billion gaming industry opens its E3 Media & Business Summit in Santa Monica, Calif., today, advertising is likely to get as much attention as avatars and animation.

Along with becoming more commonplace, the ads are becoming more intriguing and integral to game play.

Yesterday’s in-game ads consisted of simple billboards pitching Dell computers or Nike shoes at a virtual ballpark. But tomorrow’s are likely to include video trailers for upcoming movies, virtual vending machines that dispense extra energy along with every Coke, and computer-generated Cadillacs or Nissans that players can win and use in racing games.

And then there are specialty “adver-games.” Last year, as part of a restaurant promotion, Burger King sold a series of goofy games for Xbox featuring its big-headed royal icon. The games, with names such as “Sneak King” and “Pocketbike Racer,” sold out and quickly became collector items.

Similarly, candy and gum maker Wrigley in February began offering free downloadable games exclusively for Nintendo Co.’s Wii console. Not surprisingly, the games come with names such as “The Great Flying Mintini,” which will be presented by Altoids, “Horse,” sponsored by Big Red, and “Out of Bounds,” brought to you by Juicy Fruit.

“Advertisers are all very excited,” said Cory Van Arsdale, CEO of Massive Inc., a Microsoft Corp. subsidiary that sells and develops ads exclusively for video games. “Business is very promising.”

Depending on complexity and reach, a video game advertising campaign can cost between $10,000 and $1 million, Van Arsdale said.

A game developer’s potential cut could be as much as $3 on every game it sells, he said.

Of course, just as too many commercials can turn viewers away from a TV show, too many in-game ads can turn away gamers.

Given the revenue potential, though, even game developers that previously shied away from selling ads in their games are starting to sell them.

Austin-based NCsoft North America, for instance, is planning for the first time to sell and insert ads into its popular online multiplayer games such as “Lineage,” “Guild Wars” and “City of Heroes,” as well as into its forthcoming fantasy game “Tabula Rasa.”

“We’re really intrigued by it,” said Dorothy Ferguson, NCsoft North America’s vice president of sales and marketing. “It has the potential to increase (revenue), but it’s really also about enhancing the game-playing experience.”

Advertising in video games makes virtual worlds more realistic, Ferguson said. She said NCsoft’s games will likely include various kinds of ads, from static billboards in virtual cities to interactive challenges that can let players win rewards.

In a recent — perhaps telltale — advertising campaign, Discovery Channel started advertising its TV shows across all sorts of media. One of its more successful ad campaigns recently was a tie-in with the “Gears of War” game on Xbox 360 that began in January. “Gears of War” players can download special maps to navigate virtual battlefields. When they do, they also get an ad for Discovery Channel’s “Future Weapons” TV program.

Discovery Channel “got a really positive response,” said Van Arsdale, whose company handled the campaign.

Text from the original article ommitted from the Grand Rapids Press version:

In one of the biggest commitments to video game advertising, carmaker Nissan Motor Co. last November inked a far-reaching agreement with Microsoft to put ads on Xbox and PC games, as well as on its mobile and handheld computer platforms. As part of the deal, Nissan became the official sponsor of Xbox’s popular “Forza Motorsport 2” racing game and also sponsored a global online tournament tied to the game.

Especially with its $200 million-plus purchase of Massive last year, Microsoft has been among the most aggressive of game and console makers when it comes to advertising.

But rival Sony Corp. is taking steps to catch up.

This month, Sony announced it was working with media measurer Nielsen Co. to develop new ways to track and collect data about users of its PlayStation 3 game console.

The underlying reason: To figure out how to sell more advertising in PlayStation 3 games and on its PlayStation online network.

Analysis:

This article from the Grand Rapids Press covers a protest held outside of Republican Representative Vern Ehlers’ office as part of a kick-off for a ten week sustained campaign targeting Ehlers for his support of the Iraq War. The article gives more space to Representative Ehlers’ dismissals of the protestors than it does to either the protestors or Ehlers’ voting record.

The Press failed to verify Ehlers’ claims, letting his comments stand despite the fact that Ehlers offers no support for his assertions. Representative Ehlers claims that pulling troops out of Iraq would be “a total disaster” and that the United States is “going to need a presence there at this time,” but Ehlers gives no evidence to support his claim. Moreover, the Press fails to challenge Ehlers on these assertions. There is no reference to other sources on the war, nor is there any discussion of what other politicians have said recently about Iraq, including former war supporters such as Republican Senator Pete Domenici who recently called for a new strategy involving a significant reduction in troop levels. The Press also failed to tell readers anything about Ehlers’ support for the war, allowing Ehlers to state “I’m no supporter of war,” despite the fact that he has consistently supported the war in Congress and in public statements.

Story:

GRAND RAPIDS — Carrying signs and anti-war literature, 10 protesters lined the street in front of U.S. Rep. Vernon Ehlers’ local office Thursday, hoping to sway his view on the war in Iraq.

Members of Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, a national group calling for an end to the war, and Institute for Global Education, a Grand Rapids-based group that preaches nonviolence, waved signs reading “Keep ‘Em Safe, Bring ‘Em Home” at passing traffic on Michigan Street NW. Some drivers honked and flashed peace signs.

“We’re targeting the more-moderate representatives we believe will switch their opinions,” said Matthew Arnold, deputy field director for AAEI in Michigan. The group also is targeting Reps. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph; Tim Walberg, R-Tipton; Mike Rogers, R-Howell; and Thaddeus McCotter, R-Livonia.

Ehlers, who had left the office for a meeting when protesters arrived, dismissed the idea of changing his views.

“I’ve learned not to let protesters sway my views on the issue,” the Grand Rapids Republican said. “But, what they are trying to address is real and should be addressed.”

While protesters favor pulling troops out of Iraq, Ehlers said the matter is “too complicated for a solution that simple.” Removing troops would spell “a total disaster” abroad when they are trying to stabilize the country, he added.

“I’m no supporter of war, but that’s over the hill now,” he said. “The question is what can we do from here … and we’re going to need a presence there at this time.”

Analysis:

This article announces organizational endorsements for candidates running for Grand Rapids Mayor and the first and second ward City Commission seats. Only 2 of the 4 second ward candidates are cited, none of the first ward candidates, and only 1 of the 3 Mayoral candidates. Two of the candidates mentioned in the story, Tormala and Koorndyke, have held elected office, but the story does not provide any information on their voting record. What readers do get in the story are claims from the Press reporter that “endorsements by special interest groups can give them a leg up in the nonpartisan race,” but the story provides no evidence that endorsements lead to votes.

The only other sources cited are a spokesperson from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and the United Auto Workers, but do the comments provided by either spokesperson assist readers/voters in making an informed decision about these upcoming elections? There is also no information as to whether the endorsing groups have donated money to any of the candidates or whether or not they will do any promotion of those they have endorsed before the August Primary.

Story:

City Commission candidate David LaGrand was jubilant Friday after hearing he is being endorsed by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce’s Friends of West Michigan Business. “I have actually gotten a clean sweep or as close as you can get,” said LaGrand, who also received the endorsement of the city’s firefighters union later in the day.
As candidates prepare for weeks of door-to-door campaigning before the Aug. 7 primary election, endorsements by special interest groups can give them a leg up in the nonpartisan race.

LaGrand appeared to have the most to brag about Friday. The business lobby threw its sole support behind LaGrand despite the fact he ran as a Democrat for the state Senate last year. The chamber was expected to endorse Dan Koorndyk, a Republican and insurance agency owner who served on the Kent County Board of Commissioners for three terms.

LaGrand’s ideas and experience as the owner of a neighborhood bakery and downtown coffee shop impressed the chamber’s endorsement panel, President Jeanne Englehart said.
“All of the candidates had excellent ideas. David LaGrand meets the most important test. He truly understands business,” she said. “Dan Koorndyk is a fine candidate and is very well liked and has done a good job, but David LaGrand came through the interview in a way that was exemplary.”

While LaGrand declared the endorsements to be “incredibly important,” Koorndyk downplayed the news. “He did a good sales job, which is fine,” Koorndyk said. “Endorsements are good to have, but I don’t think people will vote for you over someone else because of a special group or person.”

In the mayoral race, the chamber endorsed incumbent Mayor George Heartwell over challengers Rick Tormala and James Rinck.

Tormala, who received a split endorsement from the chamber when he ran for the 2nd Ward City Commission seat four years ago, said he was puzzled by the endorsement.
“With me, they’ve got someone who will agree with them when they’re right. With George, they’ve got a rubber stamp,” he said.

The chamber split its 1st Ward endorsement between business owner Walt Gutowski Jr. and Tom Postmus, a former Kent County Commissioner. Candidate Ed Kettle has said he will not seek endorsements.

LaGrand said his “sweep” was completed by an endorsement from Right to Life of Michigan. The anti-abortion group’s choices often carry weight despite the fact City Hall politicians rarely deal with abortion issues.

The United Auto Workers Union’s local political action committee endorsed LaGrand and Gutowski in the City Commission races but decided to forego endorsements in the mayoral race, said Susan Levy, the group’s coordinator.

“There are a number of people in that race that we’ve endorsed in prior elections. At this point, we’re just going to step back and let the voters decide,” she said.

Analysis:

This story posted on WOOD Radio’s website has significantly different content than the Grand Rapids Press story. This story is brief but does mention Clinton’s comments about wars from the 20th Century. Clinton doesn’t mention any of the wars that he presided over as President – Somalia, Kosovo, Yugoslavia, and Iraq. The article also says that “The former President also highlighted the need for more humanitarian efforts at home and abroad to help build partnerships to make the world a more secure place.” Unfortunately the WOOD Radio reporter doesn’t bother to ask what sorts of humanitarian efforts Clinton engaged in while President, not what the Democratic Party is doing now to fulfill that need.

The story also mentions that Clinton visited the grave site of former President Ford and that “Before the black-tie event, about 10 people stood outside the entrance — protesting Clinton for his polices on Iraq and other military actions during his term in office.” The story does not mention if this protest was organized by a particular group or specific reasons why they were protesting.

Story:

Former President Clinton had several things on his mind but ultimately the could be summed up as the 21st century will be better than the 20th.

He stated that millions died during the two World Wars, the Holocaust, the Khmer Rouge and other wars and political atrocities — Clinton says it would take a lot of violence this century to even come close, but the change is that now people feel the war has come to them… that they could be the victim, totally unlike before.

The former President also highlighted the need for more humanitarian efforts at home and abroad to help build partnerships to make the world a more secure place.

Clinton gave the keynote for the 20th annual dinner of The Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Monday night.

Before heading in for the speech, Mr. Clinton took time to place red roses at the gravesite of former President Ford, just across the river from DeVos Place.

About 2,100 attendend the annual dinner.

Before the black-tie event, about 10 people stood outside the entrance — protesting Clinton for his polices on Iraq and other military actions during his term in office.

Analysis:

The second story on Clinton’s talk in Grand Rapids at the Econ Club’s annual dinner had more substance that the front page story. Why do you think the Press chose to put the more substantive information in the region section instead of the front page? This story mentions that Clinton visited the grave site of former President Gerald Ford, but most of the article dealt with what Clinton has been involved in since he left the oval office.

The Press article mentions that Clinton has been focused on “investing in the needs of the world’s poor and sick,” but never says how Clinton is accomplishing this other than providing funding through his foundation. The story also says that Clinton stressed the need to invest in “energy efficiencies, health care reform, and greater access to public education.” He was also cited as saying that “$40 billion dedicated toward combating AIDS and other diseases could affect 2 billion people, comparing the cost to the $100 billion spent on the war in Afghanistan and $500 billion on the war in Iraq.” Unfortunately, the story does not mention that his party, the Democratic Party recently voted to provide the Bush administration with over $100 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The story goes on to say that US approval in the Muslim world improved after providing aid for relief in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, although the Press story provides no source for this “approval rating.” There is another poll that is cited from Gallup on Clinton’s popularity since the Monica Lewinsky affair. In fact, this was the only mention of anything from the eight years that Clinton was in office. Why do you think that the Press writer did not bother to compare his current work or comments with Clinton’s record as President? Clinton is also the only source cited in the story.

Story:

As expected, former President Bill Clinton put partisan politics aside during his speech Monday to the Economic Club of Grand Rapids.

He leaves most of that to the presidential campaign of his wife, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

But the 60-year-old former president delivered an impassioned plea for investing in the needs of the world’s poor and sick, in keeping with the second career he has carved out since he left office in 2001.

Before his speech, Clinton made an unscheduled stop at the grave of former President Ford at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. He paused for a minute or two inside the gated site north of the museum.

“I liked him and admired him very much,” Clinton said.

In his speech to an audience of about 2,100 at DeVos Place, he also called for “home improvement” in America.

That included new economic investment in energy efficiencies, health care reform, greater access to public education and changes in “school culture” to transform troubled public schools.

Clinton noted that $40 billion dedicated toward combating AIDS and other diseases could affect 2 billion people, comparing the cost to the $100 billion spent on the war in Afghanistan and $500 billion on the war in Iraq.

“You cannot kill, jail or occupy everybody that might be against you,” he said.

In a speech that obliquely mentioned Hillary Clinton three times, it was about as close to an overt political statement as he made.

He noted an unexpected benefit from his partnership with former President George H.W. Bush when the two traveled to nations hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Before that, approval of the United States in largely Muslim Indonesia was at about 30 percent, Clinton said, a number that doubled to 60 percent as U.S. aid to the region eventually surpassed $1 billion. Approval for Osama bin Laden went down during the same period, he said. He called that reversal “stunning and very inexpensive.”

Clinton’s partnership with Bush the elder dovetailed with his own rising popularity with the American people, even as the rating of President Bush has sunk to historic lows.

A February Gallup poll found 63 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the former president, the highest since 1998, before Clinton’s relationship with intern Monica Lewinsky was revealed.

Clinton and Bush the elder cemented their post-White House alliance with fundraising appeals after Hurricane Katrina.

At the same time, Clinton embarked on advocacy work around the globe through the William J. Clinton Foundation, where he has directed much of his energy toward fighting AIDS and other diseases in Africa.

In his speech, he noted: “One billion people never get a clean glass of water, 2.5 billion people have no access to sanitation and nearly 1 billion people go to bed hungry every night.”

Global growth has simply left much of the world behind, he said.

“The population is growing in the poorest places quicker than the economy can keep up with it,” he said.

Officials at the Economic Club declined to say how much they paid for his appearance.

Analysis:

This front page story in the Grand Rapids Press is based upon former President Clinton’s talk at the Economic Club of Grand Rapids’ annual dinner. This article is very short and lacks any serious commentary on his talk. There are two quotes from Clinton, one about how he had a bigger turnout than last year’s speaker and one about the human genome. The article also lists three of Clinton’s favorite TV shows. Ask yourself what relevance that has to readers. There were also two people cited in the story who both were at the talk, but neither of them addressed the topics of his talk, only his speaking style and that hearing him “brought him down to a human level.”

Story:

He was funny. He was impassioned. And yes, he was long-winded.

He was, in short, Bill Clinton.

“Thank you for giving me the only time in my life when I drew a bigger crowd than Bono,” he quipped Monday in his speech to the Economic Club of Grand Rapids.

He referred to the Irish rock star who spoke at last year’s event, drawing perhaps a few dozen less than the 2,100 Clinton pulled in.

The 60-year-old two-term president gave the crowd plenty of serious talk, rattling off statistics about world poverty and death from AIDS. He dissected the flaws of the U.S. health care system.

He also dished out philosophy, as when he talked about the human genome project. “When we sequenced the genome, we discovered we are 99.9 percent the same,” Clinton said.

That, he said, offers the best chance for solving what seem to be intractable political problems.

He even offered up his three favorite television programs: “24,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Boston Legal.”

The one topic he steered away from was politics and the presidential campaign of his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton.

The bejeweled and tuxedo-clad crowd seemed to relish this rock star of the Democratic Party in the midst of Republican country.

“He is one of the best orators, and I thought he was excellent,” said Grand Rapids investment executive Eileen DeVries.

Grand Rapids resident Mindy Olivarez, 31, said she enjoyed seeing the former president outside the political trappings of his office.

“It actually kind of brought him down to a human level. What resonated for me is that he asked people to be accountable for their part of the world.

“Very few people hold themselves accountable to look at the world as it is.”

Analysis:

This short story is based off a recent Associated Press story that provided details about the money that he is paid for speeches at corporate retreats, trade gatherings, and motivational venues. WZZM 13 attempted to find out how much Clinton was being paid for his upcoming speech in Grand Rapids, but the public relations firm would not disclose the amount. While that would be newsworthy, a bigger service to the viewer would have been an explanation of why Clinton was coming to Grand Rapids. According to reporting in the Grand Rapids Press, Clinton will be speaking on the Iraq War and the work of his foundation. Had WZZM 13 reported those facts, the next logical step would have been to examine Clinton’s statements on the Iraq War and his administration’s Iraq policy.

Story:

Former President Bill Clinton is coming to West Michigan next Monday to give a speech at the Grand Rapids Economic Club’s annual dinner.

The President typically receives a significant sum of money for his speeches. New financial filings released today show the former President earned $10-million last year. General Motors paid him $200,000 for a New York Speech.

WZZM 13 contacted Michael Zalewski from Seyferth Spaulding Tennyson Inc., the public relations firm handling the Grand Rapids event. Zalewski says they are not releasing how much the President is being paid for his appearance in West Michigan.

The former President’s earnings must be reported as the spouse of a senator.

Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton hold two accounts. Each is valued at somewhere between five and 25 million dollars. One is an old-fashioned bank account; the other is a blind trust.

Analysis:

This WZZM 13 story is nothing more than advertising for Alticor’s revival of the Amway name. The news reader almost seems to be reading from a press release, particularly with the phrase “an overhaul that took the comapny into the world of online sales via Quixtar” and the description of Amway as a “better-known” brand. How does the reporter know Amway is a better known brand?

Story:

WZZM News Reader: Direct-sales giant Alticor has confirmed that it will phase out its seven-year-old Quixtar label during the next 18 to 24 months.

It will focus on rebuilding its better-known Amway brand in the US and Canada.

Employees received the news last week in an internal memo from company leaders. The company dropped the Amway name in North America in 2000 as part of an overhaul that took the business into the world of online sales via Quixtar.

But that name never caught on while Amway remains well known.

Analysis:

This article is based upon a visit to Grand Rapids by GOP Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani on June 7. The headline of the story focuses on the former New York City Mayor’s position on terrorism, but most of the story deals with his position on issues like abortion and gay marraige. Giuliani did address the Police Officers Association of Michigan and the article does source one member’s response to the candidate’s visit by saying “Look at his record in New York City. His record speaks for itself.” The GR Press article does not provide much of Giuliani’s record other than some vague comments about reducing crime in New York, even though there are numerous sources of information that provide a critical view of Giuliani while he was Mayor of New York City. There is even a feature length documentary that gives a critical assessment of the 2008 Presidential candidate.

However, most of the GR Press article presents other GOP positions on Giuliani, most of which are critical. The article cites a cofounder of the group Conservative Declaration of Indepedence, Representative Vern Ehlers, and state Party Chairman Saul Anuzis all of which share unfavorable comments about Giuliani’s chance of winning the GOP Presidential nomination. The article does mention briefly Giulinani’s position on the US war in Iraq, but misses numerous aspects of his speech that the independent press reported on.

Story:

Voters such as Bill Dempsey are just the sort former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani needs if he is to gain a shot at the presidency.

The 38-year-old suburban Detroit police officer opposes abortion. He wishes Giuliani did as well.

But Dempsey believes in Giuliani, calling him “leaps and bounds above the rest of them. “Look at his record in New York City. His record speaks for itself.”

Dempsey applauded the message Giuliani brought to West Michigan on Thursday as he underlined his leadership against crime and tough stand on terrorism.

“We have got to remain on offense against (terrorism),” Giuliani told members of the Police Officers Association of Michigan at the Amway Grand Plaza. “And you are the first line of defense.”

Giuliani, 63, touted his record as mayor, where he is credited with increasing the size of the police force and driving down crime during his two terms as mayor.

“We can’t let crime come back up again,” he said. Giuliani continues to lead national GOP polls for president, with Arizona Sen. John McCain a distant second.

But as the campaign warms up, there are growing signs of push-back from conservative party elements because of his stand in favor of abortion rights and statements in favor of gun control and civil unions for gay couples. No abortion rights Republican has won the GOP nomination since Gerald Ford in 1976.

On Thursday, a group called the Conservative Declaration of Independence added its opposition to Giuliani as it announced the addition of 27 new signers from West Michigan.

“The debates removed any question that Giuliani is a pro-abortion candidate with a liberal agenda,” said group co-founder Tom McMillin, a Macomb County resident and party issues committee chairman for the Michigan Republican Party. He is a board member of the American Association of Michigan and was state field director for the Christian Coalition from 1994 to 1998.

McMillin said he is not supporting any other Republican at this point, but wants to ensure that the party nominates a candidate that fits its traditional values.

“We are getting tired of being taken for granted,” McMillin said.

Last week, U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids, said he considered Giuliani’s campaign “dead,” citing his stand on abortion and the fact he is twice divorced.