Newspaper defends running advertisement Free speech reigns at New York Times, representatives say

New York — On June 21, one of the nation's most widely circulated newspapers featured a full-page advertisement accusing the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) of harming animals.

The New York Times advertisement, displayed in section A, page 9, was sponsored by animal activists pushing to change welfare regulations for production farm animals. Following the headline, "Has anyone betrayed more animals than the American Veterinary Medical Association?" were of photos of "cruel" housing practices, charges that AVMA has teamed with industry against animal welfare and contact information for the group's outgoing President Dr. Jack O. Walther.

While AVMA officials have responded with a press release denouncing the allegations, newspaper representatives claim New York Times policy deems "advocacy" advertising acceptable.

The following is an excerpt of an online interview DVM Newsmagazine and conducted with Toby Usnik, New York Times Co. director of pubic relations.

Q. Does New York Times policy include checking advertisements for profanity or malicious content?

A. Yes. The role of our Advertising Acceptability Department is to bar commercial messages that are misleading, inaccurate or fraudulent; that make unfair competitive claims or that fail to comply with our standards of decency and dignity.

Q. Do you fact check advertisements for accuracy?

A. We do not fact check opinions, but we do reserve the right to ask advertisers to provide documentation for third-party attributions in their ads. We make no judgments on an advertiser's arguments, factual assertions or conclusions. We accept advocacy advertisement regardless of our editorial position on any given subject.

We do not accept advocacy advertisements that are attacks of a personal nature, that seek to comment on private disputes or that contain vulgar or indecent language.

Q. Have you ever refused a PETA advertisement?

A. Information on our relationships with our advertisers is proprietary.