“Focus on the Family” founder James Dobson has become the focus of dueling advertising campaigns in the Chicago Tribune from opponents and supporters of his program’s upcoming induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

In one corner is the Dump Dobson coalition, a partnership of gay and lesbian organizations who oppose Dobson and include in their ad quotes of his that are critical of homosexuality. Their ad appeared in the Chicago paper Friday (Oct. 17).

In the other corner are two radio stations from the Salem Radio Network, who placed an ad in the paper on Thursday that included quotes from people who testify to being helped by his “Focus on the Family” radio program broadcasts.

Dobson’s program is to be inducted on Nov. 8 by the Museum of Broadcast Communications in a Chicago ceremony.

Bruce DuMont, chairman of the National Radio Hall of Fame, has weighed in on the controversy. He said Dobson’s nomination comes after a rule change that permitted anyone to vote online for nominees, prompting a record vote of more than 50,000 for “Focus on the Family.”

Said DuMont: “I am fully aware of the pain `Focus on the Family’ has caused in the gay community, but the Radio Hall of Fame induction is not about political or religious philosophy – or my personal opinion.”

(Photo credit: www.focusonthefamily.com)