This also creates a better relationship between reader and writer, since the journalist becomes more human in the reader's eyes. Remember, the Internet is a two-way, interactive medium, and act accordingly. My last column about the Web-zine Tabloid and a controversial article it ran insulting overweight people brought a fair amount of mail. The majority of those who wrote in thought that the site got what it deserved when ad banner network Flycast disconnected its ads from Tabloid. Hate speech is usually not considered at the same level as 'free speech', and I'd think this falls into that category.
Advertisers typically succeed by marketing to the mainstream.
Happens all the time, and it's just part of doing business in the media world. And both readers and advertisers are always entitled to vote with their feet. Publishers who aren't prepared to cope with this should find another line of business. Media whether it be a Web site, a TV station, a newspaper, is responsible for its own revenue streams. If it becomes dependent on one source and that source decides for whatever reason to advertise elsewhere, it is the fault of the media unit for putting all its eggs in one basket.