Advertising

An Army of $15.5 Million

by Diane Farsetta — January 7, 2009 - 2:48pm

The Chicago-based ad firm Leo Burnett "has agreed to pay $15.5 million to settle charges that it over-billed the U.S.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), January 7, 2009

Dead Celebrities Promoting Products From the Grave: Too Creepy?

by Anne Landman — December 30, 2008 - 3:42pm

People are questioning the propriety of a new TV and Internet ad that resurrects the voice and image of murdered Beatle John Lennon to promote the nonprofit One L

Main Source: 
Advertising Age, December 29, 2008

"Car Czar" Will Become World's Most Powerful Ad Executive

by Anne Landman — December 9, 2008 - 3:21pm

The draft bailout for the U.S. automobile industry calls for the appointment of a "Car Czar" who, if the bill passes and is signed into law, would instantly become the most powerful marketing and advertising executive on Earth. The Czar would be charged with overseeing auto company expenses over $25 million, which means he or she would control the companies' media buys.

Main Source: 
Advertising Age, December 9, 2008

Winding Down Freedom's Watch

by Sheldon Rampton — December 8, 2008 - 8:06pm

Freedom's Watch, the conservative 501(c)(4) organization that was set up earlier this year to help Republicans win elections, "is closing after just one cycle in business," reports Reid Wilson.

Main Source: 
The Hill, December 8, 2008

A Drink to Your Health (Unless We Also Sell the Sugary Stuff)

by Diane Farsetta — November 13, 2008 - 5:49pm

"Bottled water sales in the past have grown mainly from consumers moving to water from soda and other sugary beverages," fueled by rising childhood and adult obesity rates. But ads for bottled water don't push the health angle, because many bottled water companies also sell soda.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), November 13, 2008

Advertisers Elect Obama "Marketer of the Year" for 2008

by Anne Landman — November 7, 2008 - 1:34pm

Barack Obama has been named Advertising Age's 2008 Marketer of the Year for the simplicity, consistency and relevance of his campaign.

Main Source: 
Advertising Age, November 5, 2008

Lobbyist's Front Group Joins the Anti-ACORN Bandwagon

by Diane Farsetta — October 30, 2008 - 12:58pm

A full-page ad in the New York Times "accuses ACORN of a list of abuses that suggest hypocrisy on some of the group's signature issues: intimidating and firing its own employees if they try to unionize, misappropriating millions of dollars from taxpayer-funded government grants and advocating minimum wage hides while paying its own employees less than minimum wage." While the ad "does not indicate who or what organization paid for it," it comes from one of lobbyist

Main Source: 
ProPublica, October 29, 2008

Industry Tries to Sell Congress on Drugs

by Diane Farsetta — October 29, 2008 - 1:00pm

A $13.2 million ad campaign thanks 28 members of Congress, 25 of whom are Democrats, "for supporting a children's health-care bill vetoed twice by President George W. Bush in 2007." The ads are by America's Agenda: Health Care for Kids, a new non-profit group whose sole funder is the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), October 24, 2008

Big Oil's Charm Offensive

by John Stauber — October 28, 2008 - 5:58am

"The world's best-known oil companies are pouring on the charm as they get ready this week to parade another round of fat profits before a public that is feeling suddenly poorer. The spotlight will shine on Exxon on Thursday and Chevron on Friday. Such advertising makes sense after a summer with oil at nearly $150 a barrel and a fall likely to bring renewed scrutiny of their investments and tax breaks.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, October 27, 2008
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