MDE FROM THE ARCHIVES: MPR, STATE SETTLE SUIT OVER DONOR LISTS
MPR, state settle suit over donor lists;
Network will say it "regularly," rather than "occasionally," shares names of willing members with other nonprofits.
A legal showdown between Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and state Attorney General Mike Hatch has been settled with an editor's pen. Instead of telling members that it "occasionally" shares their names with other fund-raising groups, MPR will say that it "regularly" shares that information about willing members.
No financial penalties were imposed on either side as part of the settlement of the lawsuit, in which Hatch alleged that MPR illegally misled its members about the extent of the sharing of their names and addresses with scores of other organizations.
But in announcing the settlement Friday, each side had a different perspective on the agreement. Hatch said that settling "made sense in light of the commitments made by MPR concerning the disclosure of its donor list-sharing practices."
In MPR's separate announcement of the settlement, Will Haddeland, senior vice president of public affairs, said the St. Paul-based public radio network "has always been committed to giving its donors the full range of information necessary to make informed decisions, as well as to protect the privacy of our members. This should not have been a lawsuit and we are glad that it has been settled. Further legal action would have only wasted taxpayer resources and diverted the energy and time of MPR."
But MPR did agree to change the wording of its membership solicitations. People being asked to join MPR or to renew their memberships already had the option of sending in a form or calling an 800 number to tell MPR they didn't want to be included on lists exchanged with other nonprofits. But now MPR must inform them that unless they indicate otherwise, their addresses as well as their names will be exchanged not "occasionally" but "regularly."
Publicity surrounding the suit appears to have had a substantial impact already. When Hatch filed the suit in December, MPR said about 5,000 of its 87,000 members were exercising their option not to have the names shared. Haddeland said Friday that the number of members withholding such information now stands at 43,311.
To Alan Gilbert, Hatch's chief deputy and solicitor general, the eightfold increase proves that many MPR members didn't understand the extent to which their names were being used. "It's very telling," he said. "That's what the lawsuit was all about. If consumers were properly informed, they would have been in a better position to make a decision as to whether they wanted their information shared. Without having adequate information about MPR's list-sharing practices, they couldn't do that."
Haddeland said the increase "shows that the old system worked. We've always offered [members] that 800 number. Once they became more aware of it, they told us they didn't want their names exchanged." Haddeland said MPR's fund-raising won't be hampered by having fewer names and numbers to exchange. "We can always go to the airwaves to get new members," he said. "That's something most of the other groups cannot do. Sixteen percent of all those names we exchanged were with the Minnesota Orchestra. The orchestra and others don't have the opportunity. We always thought we were a catalyst for other organizations."
At a glance:.
The settlement:.
Under the settlement between MPR and Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch, MPR has amended the wording of membership literature regarding its sharing of mailing lists with other organizations:.
- Old language: "MPR occasionally exchanges its mailing lists with other organizations. If you prefer that your name not be included, please check the box and return this card to MPR or call Member/Listener Services at 800-228-7123."
- New language: "To assist in building membership, MPR regularly exchanges names and addresses with other organizations, who may solicit or make other contact with you by mail. If you do not want such information shared, please check the box and return this form or call MPR at 800-228-7123." Source: Star Tribune, August 5, 2000
Network will say it "regularly," rather than "occasionally," shares names of willing members with other nonprofits.
A legal showdown between Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and state Attorney General Mike Hatch has been settled with an editor's pen. Instead of telling members that it "occasionally" shares their names with other fund-raising groups, MPR will say that it "regularly" shares that information about willing members.
No financial penalties were imposed on either side as part of the settlement of the lawsuit, in which Hatch alleged that MPR illegally misled its members about the extent of the sharing of their names and addresses with scores of other organizations.
But in announcing the settlement Friday, each side had a different perspective on the agreement. Hatch said that settling "made sense in light of the commitments made by MPR concerning the disclosure of its donor list-sharing practices."
In MPR's separate announcement of the settlement, Will Haddeland, senior vice president of public affairs, said the St. Paul-based public radio network "has always been committed to giving its donors the full range of information necessary to make informed decisions, as well as to protect the privacy of our members. This should not have been a lawsuit and we are glad that it has been settled. Further legal action would have only wasted taxpayer resources and diverted the energy and time of MPR."
But MPR did agree to change the wording of its membership solicitations. People being asked to join MPR or to renew their memberships already had the option of sending in a form or calling an 800 number to tell MPR they didn't want to be included on lists exchanged with other nonprofits. But now MPR must inform them that unless they indicate otherwise, their addresses as well as their names will be exchanged not "occasionally" but "regularly."
Publicity surrounding the suit appears to have had a substantial impact already. When Hatch filed the suit in December, MPR said about 5,000 of its 87,000 members were exercising their option not to have the names shared. Haddeland said Friday that the number of members withholding such information now stands at 43,311.
To Alan Gilbert, Hatch's chief deputy and solicitor general, the eightfold increase proves that many MPR members didn't understand the extent to which their names were being used. "It's very telling," he said. "That's what the lawsuit was all about. If consumers were properly informed, they would have been in a better position to make a decision as to whether they wanted their information shared. Without having adequate information about MPR's list-sharing practices, they couldn't do that."
Haddeland said the increase "shows that the old system worked. We've always offered [members] that 800 number. Once they became more aware of it, they told us they didn't want their names exchanged." Haddeland said MPR's fund-raising won't be hampered by having fewer names and numbers to exchange. "We can always go to the airwaves to get new members," he said. "That's something most of the other groups cannot do. Sixteen percent of all those names we exchanged were with the Minnesota Orchestra. The orchestra and others don't have the opportunity. We always thought we were a catalyst for other organizations."
At a glance:.
The settlement:.
Under the settlement between MPR and Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch, MPR has amended the wording of membership literature regarding its sharing of mailing lists with other organizations:.
- Old language: "MPR occasionally exchanges its mailing lists with other organizations. If you prefer that your name not be included, please check the box and return this card to MPR or call Member/Listener Services at 800-228-7123."
- New language: "To assist in building membership, MPR regularly exchanges names and addresses with other organizations, who may solicit or make other contact with you by mail. If you do not want such information shared, please check the box and return this form or call MPR at 800-228-7123." Source: Star Tribune, August 5, 2000
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