[MikeA]

From Yahoo news.

GM Pulls Ads from Los Angeles Times Over Coverage


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. has pulled its advertising from the Los Angeles Times over what it called factual errors and misrepresentations in the newspaper, a spokesman for the automaker said on Thursday.

GM did not say how much it spent on advertising in the Times, one of the largest U.S. newspapers, or how long the ban would continue.

"General Motors decided this week to cease advertising in the Los Angeles Times based on strongly voiced objections from our dealers in California about factual errors and misrepresentations in the Times' editorial coverage," said GM spokesman Brian Akre.


The Los Angeles Times, owned by newspaper publisher Tribune Co., said it was examining GM's concerns.


"We will look into any complaints GM has about inaccuracy or misrepresentation and will make any appropriate corrections," spokesman David Garcia said by e-mail.


GM did not specify what spurred it to pull its advertising, but Times auto writer Dan Neil on Wednesday published a critical column about the company's brand strategy and called on GM to "dump" Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner.


"We recognize and support the news media's freedom to report and editorialize as they see fit," Akre said. "Likewise, GM and its retailers are free to spend our advertising dollars where we see fit."