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Parents Television Council - Because Our Children Are Watching

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2006

PTC Calls on FedEx to Evaluate Advertising Practices

 

FedEx Frequently Sponsors Sexually Graphic and Violent Television Programs

 

MEMPHIS (September 25, 2006) – Today at the annual FedEx shareholders meeting, the Parents Television Council™ called on FedEx to examine its advertising practices in light of the evidence that the company is sponsoring some of the most sexually graphic and violent television programming.  The following excerpts are taken from a statement that was read by the PTC's Nashville Chapter Director Kelli Turner to executives attending the meeting:

 

"My name is Kelli Turner and I represent the 1.1 million members of the Parents Television Council, a non-profit, nonpartisan group committed to protecting children from sex, violence and profanity in entertainment.  I am here today because FedEx consistently advertises on programming that contains graphic violence, excessive sexual content and foul language, and we think this needs to stop – now.

 

"Over the past year FedEx has sponsored Medium in which one episode the lead character Allison, dreams about a man who has kidnapped and raped several teenage girls.  FedEx also supported C.S.I with scenes that included a man with a biting fetish, men receiving S&M beatings from a dominatrix in a sex club, a grown man with a sexual desire to dress like and be treated as an infant and a woman making a sex video for her 15-year-old stepson.

 

"The mission of the FedEx Social Responsibility department is to ‘actively support the communities it serves.'  Your contributions to United Way, ORBIS, March of Dimes, American Red Cross and SafeKids prove that FedEx does indeed believe in giving back to the community.  However, while your financial contributions reflect the social responsibility mission, your advertising dollars are being spent in a way that is contrary to the positive support of a community.

 

"On behalf of the Parents Television Council, I am pleading with you to consider your advertising practices an extension of your community service.  As a parent, I don't want foul language, gratuitous sex and graphic violence coming into homes in my community at a time when children may be watching.  As a shareholder, I don't want the FedEx name tarnished because of its affiliation with that kind of programming.

 

"Will FedEx continue to make possible the graphic content that is broadcast into our homes on a nightly basis?  Or, will FedEx reevaluate its advertising policies to more accurately reflect those of a company that ‘cares about the communities in which we live and work and is dedicated to effective corporate citizenship?'

 

"The Parents Television Council is looking forward to your response to this question by the sixteenth of October so that we may let our members know whether or not FedEx will be adopting advertising guidelines that more accurately reflect its corporate values."

 

To schedule an interview with a PTC representative, please contact Kelly Oliver at (703) 683-5004, ext. 140.

The Parents Television Council™ (www.parentstv.org®) is a non-partisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment. It was founded in 1995 to ensure that children are not constantly assaulted by sex, violence and profanity on television and in other media. This national grassroots organization has over one million members across the United States, and works with television producers, broadcasters, networks and sponsors in an effort to stem the flow of harmful and negative messages targeted to children. The PTC also works with elected and appointed government officials to enforce broadcast decency standards. Most importantly, the PTC produces critical research and publications documenting the dramatic increase in sex, violence and profanity in entertainment. This information is provided free of charge so parents can make informed viewing choices for their own families.

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