Political ads: What not to publish matters

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

As one who has voted in most every election in all or parts of the last six decades, I can't recall a single vote in which I was influenced by a political ad. Not that there's anything wrong with political ads, mind you!

The Highland County Press greatly appreciates any candidate who chooses to advertise his or her campaign for office with us or a post-election thank-you to voters.

We typically do not actively solicit political ads as much as newspapers once did – especially after one congressional primary candidate neglected to pay for any of his ads a couple of years ago. The twit still owes me money. Glad he finished dead last.

Still, we appreciate folks like Highland County commissioner candidate Howard Zody, who devoted some of his campaign budget with The HCP. Thank you.

While I do believe good campaign advertisements are appropriate and beneficial for candidates, I maintain that for me, personally, I prefer to do my own research based on previous performances by competing candidates.

As anyone who follows politics knows, a recent ad in the Ohio gubernatorial race has caused quite the ruckus across the nation. This ruckus was primarily media driven – by design. When one liberal candidate alleged the other candidate's mother committed felonies, the media was silent. When the conservative candidate aired a dubious ad with his opponent's mother, the media ruckus was in high gear.

Not surprisingly, some of the same media outlets who scolded the conservative candidate were only too quick to accept cash for the "offensive" ad.

Many years ago, my friend Howard Beatty (that's two different Howards in one column, which may be a first) said to me, "Rory, I imagine one of your tough decisions is often what not to print. It's easy to know what to print, but I think it's harder to realize what not to print – before it's too late."

That was more than 30 years ago, and I've never forgotten it.

There have been many times when I refused to publish something, either to avoid likely litigation down the road (think snakes in the attic) or because it was simply inaccurate to publish.

A case or two in point.

In the political matchup between Roy Brown and Mike Turner during the 2002 Republican primary election for Ohio’s Third Congressional District, I was employed by Brown Publishing, which Roy Brown headed up at that time. Roy scheduled his own political ads – or news releases – with many of his Ohio newspapers. I was the publisher of The People's Defender in Adams County at that time. Adams County was not in the Third Congressional District where Brown was running against former Dayton Mayor Mike Turner.

When I saw the ad, I called Brown and said this ad makes no sense for readers in Adams County, and I'd prefer not to run it. I was firm, and realized of course that I could be fired and the next publisher would no doubt run the damned ad. To his credit, Brown told me to "Do what you think is best."

I did.

Later that year, I transferred from The People's Defender to a then-sister paper in Highland County, which had published the Brown ad. 

Prior to that year's general election, Maggi Horst introduced Mike Turner and me. She left us alone in my office, and one of the first things Turner did was criticize me for publishing Brown's attack ad against him. 

Funny thing about that, Mike, I remember saying, I was not the publisher here when that ad was published. In fact, I was one of very, very few publishers who told Brown that I wasn't publishing it.

As time went on, my respect for Turner did grow, and I appreciate his years of service in Congress. He has served his district well.

Not long after that, there was a heated campaign for Highland County Common Pleas Court judge. 

One side came in with an ad that I read, then made a few calls to people I trusted like former Adams County Prosecutor David Kelley and assistant prosecutor Mark Weaver.

I rejected the ad, but it was published elsewhere and aired on local radio.

Naturally, the opposing candidate came in with a response to the ad. I told the rock star that I did not publish his opponent's ad, and I am not publishing yours.

Did I leave advertising money on the table? Yes. Did I sleep better at night? I like to think so.

I have never liked political dirty tricks by candidates from either party. I've often suggested that candidates state their own case in their ads and ignore the opposition. Of course, the political "experts" insist that negative ads do work. Maybe so, but that does not mean I like them or have any plans to publish them – nor do they ever influence my vote.

Lastly, if you are close to my age, the last 18 presidential administrations are equally split, 9-9. Americans are a fickle lot.

But things will be OK. And if you are an informed voter, vote on Tuesday. If you are clueless, vote on Wednesday.

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press, Highland County's only locally owned and operated newspaper.