Advertising

"Toning Shoes" or Phony Shoes?

by Anne Landman — June 30, 2010 - 3:32pm

Those roly-poly sneakers you are seeing everywhere -- with rounded soles like a rocking chair -- are marketed by manufacturers like Skechers, Reebok, Avia and New Balance with claims that they promote healthy weight loss, improve posture, fight cellulite, reduce knee joint stress and improve the shape of wearers' thighs and buttocks.

Main Source: 
USA Today, June 30, 2010

Different Colored Cigarette Packs, Same Deadly Diseases

by Anne Landman — June 18, 2010 - 5:18pm

The landmark tobacco legislation President Obama signed last year banned tobacco companies from using descriptors like "light," "ultralight," "low tar" and "mild" o

Main Source: 
USA Today, June 15, 2010

Sex and the City 2: More Hype, Less Appeal

by Anne Landman — May 31, 2010 - 12:49am

Critics are saying that the new movie Sex and the City 2 may have jumped the shark, if not with it's plot, then with its endless commercial tie-ins, gratuitous product placement and the amount of sheer hype tied to the show.

Main Source: 
San Francisco Chronicle, May 30, 2010

BP's "Beyond Petroleum" Campaign Losing its Sheen

by Anne Landman — May 3, 2010 - 2:31pm
  • Topics: Advertising, Corporations, Environment

    • Back in July, 2000, British Petroleum launched a high-profile, $200 million public relations ad campaign designed by Ogilvy & Mather to position the company as environmentally-friendly. The company introduced a new slogan, "Beyond Petroleum," and changed its 70 year-old, sheild-style logo to a new, cheerful green and yellow sunburst. To many, the "Beyond Petroleum" campaign has always been ludicrous. After all, not only did it pitch BP's smallest energy sector while ignoring its major one, but BP's investment in extractive oil operations dwarfed its investment in renewable energy. BP spent a mere $45 million in 1999 to buy a solar energy company called Solarex -- a microscopic acquisition compared to the $26.5 billion it invested to buy ARCO to expand its oil drilling portfolio. BP is also the company behind the environmentally controversial (and some would say disastrous) oil sands project in Alberta, Canada. Now, in the wake of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, BP's greenwashing campaign looks even less slick. The company's hypocrisy and greenwashing have risen to the surface, and are spreading uncontrollably.

    Corn Ethanol Industry Trying to Butter Up Congress, Public

    by Anne Landman — April 13, 2010 - 12:52pm

    Just as Congress is set to begin debating ethanol-related subsidies, Growth Energy, a lobbying group for the ethanol industry, is starting a $2.5 million, 6-month national television ad campaign aimed at defending ethanol, and portraying it a way to break the country's addiction to foreign oil.

    Main Source: 
    KARE11.com (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota), April 13, 2010

    DNC Co-Opting Conservatives' "Hands off My Health Care" Slogan

    by Anne Landman — March 25, 2010 - 11:51am

    The Democratic National Committee is launching a radio ad campaign co-opting the conservatives' slogan "Hands off My Health Care!" The ads warn voters that the consumer protections conferred upon them in the newly-passed health care reform bill will be stripped away if they vote Republicans into office.

    Main Source: 
    Huffington Post, March 24, 2010

    Gaga for Product Placement

    by Anne Landman — March 23, 2010 - 2:38pm

    Lady Gaga is raising eyebrows with her latest racy music video, Telephone, but this time it's not because of the overt sexuality, the wacky costumes or even the fact that her co-star is Beyonce'. What's grabbing attention is the video's flagrant product placement.

    Main Source: 
    Advertising Age, March 13, 2010

    The "Committee for Truth in Politics"?

    by Anne Landman — February 10, 2010 - 12:02am

    A group called the Committee for Truth in Politics (CTP) is running ads in selected states opposing the "Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act," which would overhaul the country's financial sector, more tightly regulate consumer financial products like home mortgages, car loans and credit cards, and help prevent another Wall Street meltdown.

    Main Source: 
    FactCheck.org, February 3, 2010

    Louisiana Race for Coroner Produces Wacked-Out Campaign Ad

    by Anne Landman — February 4, 2010 - 2:19pm

    The political race between two doctors duking it out for the elective office of Parish Coroner in New Orleans has resulted in ar

    Main Source: 
    ProPublica, January 29, 2010
    Syndicate content