Houghton Mifflin’s Linda Zecher becomes new Queen of Classroom Junk Food Ads

June 18, 2014

junk food queen linda zecher houghton mifflin 2014

From Jim Metrock:

Since May 13 Channel One News has been under the control of Linda Zecher the CEO of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  The arrangement for Channel One’s CJ Kettler to report directly to Ms. Zecher shows the closeness Zecher is to decision making at Channel One.

When Houghton Mifflin Harcourt acquired Channel One, I was hoping that Ms. Zecher would immediately end Channel One’s advertising.  I was hoping that at the very least Ms. Zecher would end the commercials for the high sugar junk drink Sunny D.  She did not. In fact she allowed a total of four Sunny D commercials to run in American high schools and middle schools. Those ads appeared on Channel One News in a very short period between May 14 and May 30. 

June 10, 2014 – Houghton Mifflin/Channel One plays dirty trick on First Lady

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt certainly appears to be embracing Channel One’s commercial assault on American schoolchildren. I can only hope that cooler heads on HMH’s board will convey to Linda Zecher that the company risks their reputation among educators by perpetuating Channel One’s business model.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is the Boston-based company that airs commercials in American schools.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is the company that airs junk food commercials in American schools.

Keep this up, Ms. Zecher, and people will start avoiding you at Boston social events.  

 

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