Marketing

A Kinder, Gentler Microsoft

by Diane Farsetta — November 14, 2005 - 4:18pm

"A humbler Microsoft" is "reinventing itself," writes Advertising Age. "It is enlisting young executives ... in a marketing-leadership program to help it overcome hurdles such as competition from free software; the challenge of competing against itself with new products; and getting consumers to trust the company once blames for security breaches." Microsoft's chief marketing officer, Mitch Mathews, was elevated so that he reports directly to CEO Steve Ballmer.

Main Source: 
Advertising Age, November 7, 2005

Chocolate as Health Food

by Sheldon Rampton — November 7, 2005 - 7:42pm

Mars Inc., the candy company that makes Snickers bars, M&Ms and Dove chocolates, used to spend $1 million per year subsidizing a newsletter which claimed that eating chocolate could prevent cavities. Now it is funding research that says chocolate is good for your heart.

Main Source: 
PR Week, November 7, 2005 (Sub req'd.)

Those Pills'll Kill You

by Sheldon Rampton — October 28, 2005 - 2:11pm

Following up on a story that first surfaced in the gossip pages of the New York Daily News, Michael Hiltzik examines the details of a bizarre scheme aimed at scaring U.S. citizens away from importing cheap drugs from Canada.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, October 27, 2005

Another Round, Mates

by Sheldon Rampton — October 28, 2005 - 11:42am

In Britain, where the pub industry has successfully lobbied for a relaxation of licensing laws, "The drinks industry is planning a ruthless campaign of economic incentives and psychological tricks to get customers to drink as much as possible when licensing laws are relaxed," report Gaby Hinsliff and Anushka Asthana.

Main Source: 
The Observer (UK), October 23, 2005

Toxic Sludge, Soda and Beer Are All Good for You!

by Diane Farsetta — October 18, 2005 - 5:05pm

After a survey found that only 10 percent of respondents rated PepsiCo as a company that was "concerned with my health," the soft drink company is launching "a new advertising campaign for its 'Smart Spot' products." Pepsi rates more than 200 of its products as healthier, "Smart Spot" foods, including diet soda and baked potato chips. Pepsi will also launch a pilot project, called "Perfect Storm," later this year, "in a major U.S.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub. req'd.), October 15, 2005

How To Serve (and Market To) Humans

by Diane Farsetta — October 11, 2005 - 1:59pm

"The study of people in their natural environment is, The Hartman Group believes, the future of marketing," explains a Seattle Post-Intelligencer story.

Main Source: 
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 1, 2005

McDonald's Has No Breaks Today

by Diane Farsetta — September 28, 2005 - 10:28am

"Earlier this year, McDonald's Corp. unveiled plans to enlist rap artists to produce several songs that would integrate the Golden Arches' iconic Big Mac sandwich into lyrics," as "part of the company's ongoing strategy to court the youth market, especially young men, through hip-hop," reports AdAge.

Main Source: 
Advertising Age, September 26, 2005

What's Your Poison?

by Bob Burton — September 23, 2005 - 5:26am

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has back-tracked on a decision to prevent No Free Lunch - a group dedicated to curbing drug industry marketing to doctors - from hiring booth space at its annual scientific assembly.

Main Source: 
Brandweek, September 21, 2005

K Street's Expanding Project

by Diane Farsetta — September 20, 2005 - 1:55pm

"K Street," the Washington DC street famous for its lobbying firms, "has tinkered with its traditional business model in recent years," reports The Hill.

Main Source: 
The Hill, September 20, 2005
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