Stroh Reviews Funding of Series After Protest

WASHINGTON —  Stroh Brewing Co. has withdrawn $600,000 in financing for National Audubon Society television specials after Northwest loggers, upset with an upcoming program on the region’s ancient forests, threatened to boycott the brewery’s products, environmentalists say.

Lacey Logan, a spokeswoman for the Detroit-based brewer, said Stroh was reviewing its underwriting of the Audubon series. But she said the review was driven by the need to cut costs rather than the loggers’ concerns and that no decision has been made.

“I want to stress any consideration or thought of canceling future contributions to the Audubon Society’s program productions is completely independent from concerns related to the upcoming program ‘Ancient Forests: Rage Over Trees,’ ” Logan said.

However, environmental sources, who spoke on the condition they remain anonymous, said the company had suggested to the Audubon Society that changes be made in the program to “make it more favorable to the loggers” and that the money was withdrawn when the society refused to change the program.

All Activities ‘Under Review’

Logan conceded that loggers had been in contact with the brewery.

“We have been having discussions with logging interests regarding the program’s content,” she said, but insisted that the review of backing for the series had nothing to do with those talks.

“We have made no decisions,” Logan said. “All sponsorships and community activities are under review.”

Stroh recently announced that it would cut more than one-third of its work force in Detroit in an effort to streamline its operation and cut costs.

The Audubon Society is among the environmental groups that have sought to have the northern spotted owl protected as a threatened or endangered species and logging in the ancient forests was stopped.

Christopher Palmer, an Audubon vice president and executive producer of the television series, would say only that Stroh had dropped its funding. He declined to discuss any threatened loggers boycott.

Stroh has provided about half the money for the series, with Turner Broadcasting System providing the balance.

The show on the ancient forests is scheduled to air on cable television on Sept. 24 and on public television later.