Advertising

Product Placement in the City

by Anne Landman — June 4, 2008 - 2:34pm

If producers anticipated that the new movie "Sex and the City" might be a marketing bonanza, it did not disappoint. Vanity Fair magazine sent two reporters to view the movie and count the number of promotional products that appeared on-screen, including any blatantly-mentioned brand names.

Main Source: 
Vanity Fair, May 30, 2008

Conservative Bloggers Link Rachael Ray Ad to Terror Symbolism

by Anne Landman — May 30, 2008 - 12:48pm

Dunkin' Donuts pulled an online ad for frozen lattes featuring domestic maven Rachael Ray after receiving complaints from right-wing bloggers, including conservative FOX News commentator

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Advertising Age, May 28, 2008

Thanks to Chantix, Quitting Smoking May Be Hazardous, Too

by Diane Farsetta — May 29, 2008 - 9:51am

The pharmaceutical company Pfizer "is preparing an advertising and public-relations campaign to counter concerns about its antismoking drug Chantix, once trumpeted as a potential billion-dollar-a-year blockbuster." So far, Pfizer has "run ads in five major newspapers in which its medical director explains Chantix's risk-benefit balance." The drug company will soon "start hosting round

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), May 29, 2008

Product Placements vs. VNRs

by Sheldon Rampton — May 23, 2008 - 2:20pm
  • Topics: Advertising, Arts / Culture, Video News Releases, Marketing, Media


    • The movie "Wayne's World" included an amusing spoof of product placements.

    We recently received an email from someone who asked, "What is the difference between a 'product placement' and a 'video news release' (VNR)? Is a VNR a type of product placement?" Since other people might have the same question, I thought I'd post my answer here.

    On SourceWatch, we have articles about both topics. As our article about video news releases explains, a VNR is a piece of video that is created (typically by a public relations firm on behalf of a paying client) and designed to look like a news segment for broadcast by TV news programs. It deceives audiences by creating the impression that the "news" they see on TV was produced by independent reporters, when in fact VNRs are promotional pieces designed to sell something for a client whose identity is not always disclosed. TV news shows often deny that they use VNRs, but Diane Farsetta, our senior researcher, has done extensive research in which she found numerous examples of the practice.

    "Product placement" is a separate but similarly sneaky practice of getting television programs and movies to display a company's product within their program.

    Chart(er)ing a New Course for Invasion of Privacy

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — May 15, 2008 - 12:04pm

    Charter Communications, one of the largest Internet Service Providers (ISP) in the U.S., recently sent letters to some of its 2.7 million customers with details of a new initiative. "Charter is billing its new web tracking program as an 'enhancement' for customers' web surfing experience. ... The pilot program is set to begin next month.

    Main Source: 
    Wired Blog Network: Threat Level, May 13, 2008

    Bigger Isn't Always Better

    by Anne Landman — May 15, 2008 - 11:48am

    Colorado Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Bob Schaffer proclaims his devotion to the state in his latest television ad, saying "Colorado is my life ...

    Main Source: 
    The Denver Post, May 15, 2008

    No Rush to Protect the Public

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — May 14, 2008 - 9:55pm

    Some U.S. Congresspeople want to limit direct to consumer marketing of drugs. Rep. Bart Stupak is head of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce investigative panel.

    Main Source: 
    Bulldog Reporter's Daily Dog, May 12, 2008

    Big Push for Big Oil

    by Sheldon Rampton — May 14, 2008 - 10:15am

    Faced with a national outcry over the high price of gasoline and soaring profits for energy companies, the American Petroleum Institute has launched a multimillion-dollar PR and advertising campaign to convince the public that "rising energy prices are not the producers' fault and that government efforts to punish the industry, especially with higher taxes, would only make pricing problems worse," reports Jeffrey H. Birnbaum.

    Main Source: 
    Washington Post, May 9, 2008
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