Journalism can never be silent
"There can be no higher law in journalism than to tell the truth and shame the devil - remain detached from the great" - Walter Lippman
The German luxury car maker and its network of NSW dealers is believed to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year advertising with 2GB, which is part-owned by Jones.
Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy said the decision to withdraw all advertising was ”made with immediate effect due to the inappropriate remarks made by by Alan Jones”.
No doubt because it could see the approaching storm, 2GB removed a list of the station’s advertisers from its website.
Challenger’s decision was made on Sunday after Jones’ televised apology to Ms Gillard, prompted by the publication of comments he had made about the death of the Prime Minister’s father.
“The old man recently died a few weeks ago of shame,” Jones told a packed Sydney University Liberal Club dinner, referring to the death of John Gillard. “To think that he had a daughter who told lies every time she stood for Parliament.”
The remarks prompted an avalanche of outrage from the community, on social networks and from both sides of politics.
A Challenger spokesman said the company, which manages more than $33 billion in assets, had been considering the move from the moment it became aware of Jones’ remarks about Ms Gillard’s father but it had delayed its decision in order to hear Jones’ response.
“They were deeply hurtful comments and we’re not sure the apology reflected the degree of offence they would have caused,” the spokesman said.
Challenger, which has advertised with Jones’ program since February 2011, was not alone in feeling his apology was underwhelming.
