From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: "Ad" Nauseum
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Distribution: na
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 01:05:14 GMT

/** media.issues: 289.0 **/
** Topic: All the news that's fit to sell **
** Written  3:15 pm  Nov  5, 1992 by studycommerc in cdp:media.issues **
All the News that's Fit to Sell: 

The Center for the Study of Commercialism in Washington, DC 
maintains a clearinghouse of examples documenting advertiser 
censorship of, or pressure on, the media.  Here is a sample of 
those collected in the past quarter.  If anyone knows of knew 
examples of the cozy relationship between the advertising and 
editorial content, please contact CSC at (202) 797-7080, 1875 
Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC  20009. 

Statistics.  A recent anonymous survey of 55 Society of American 
Business Editors and Writers found that 75% are aware of growing 
pressure by advertisers to influence the content of their 
sections.  Forty-five percent of the respondents report that this 
pressure has influenced their editorial decisions.  One wrote "we 
no longer cover the auto industry like we should, especially 
consumer issues, because of dealer pressure." 

Pandering to the advertisers. 
What better way to attract advertisers than to lend them your 
logo.  In an ethically-questionable consumer rating system, 
Consumer Digest magazine (which is NOT the ad-free Consumer 
Reports), runs a "Best Buy" column featuring current or soon-to- 
be-approached advertisers.  They also sell companies the right to 
use their "Best Buy" claim. 

As if we don't see Revlon's supermodel Claudia Schiffer on almost 
every fashion magazine in the newsstands, we can read about her 
in the September issue of Interview, and see her in its 14-page 
fashion spread.  Not coincidentally, Revlon decided to break a 
three-year hiaitus with Interview with a two-page lipstick ad 
preceding the Schiffer profile. 

The Advocate, a leading gay and lesbian magazine, has agreed to 
bag its personal-ad section in order to attract mainstream 
advertisers who have objected to the often sexually-explicit 
section. Instead, the magazine will start a separate spin-off 
publication for sex ads. 

Pressure from the hands that feed. 
Even Scandinavia is feeling the heat.  In Norway, "Evergood" 
coffee was sponsoring a commercial talk show.  When the producers 
booked a convicted spy as a guest, Evergood refused to fund 
`traitors' on the air, pulled its funding and killed the show. 

When Puerto Rico television tried to air a mini-series involving 
a highly political event in the territory's history, the program 
was mysteriously pulled before it ever aired.  Dialogo magazine 
in San Juan ran an expose on the fiasco, suggesting that both 
political and advertiser pressure played roles in the show's 
cancellation. 

In a strange reversal of roles, New Yorker editor Tina Brown has 
refused to run a Benetton ad that uses images of racism in the 
magazine's next issue.  Since the New Yorker is running a cover 
story on Malcolm X, Brown decided the clothes company's sales 
gimmick would trivialize the editorial content.   Benetton has 
refused to run its ad in the following issue, as Brown suggested. 

Allure magazine has stood up to advertisers' wrath -- and is 
still standing strong.  This beauty magazine does investigative, 
often critical reports on plastic surgery, breast implants, skin 
potions, and other products and services supported by potential 
advertisers.  Despite occasional objections by advertisers, the 
magazine has been so successful with readers that advertisers 
clamor to stay in. 

** End of text from cdp:media.issues **

/** media.issues: 290.0 **/
** Topic: "Ad" Nauseum **
** Written  3:18 pm  Nov  5, 1992 by studycommerc in cdp:media.issues **
                           AD NAUSEUM 

The following are examples of the ubiquitous and intrusive nature 
of marketing in today's society, compiled by the Center for the 
Study of Commercialism, 1875 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 300, 
Washington, DC  20009, (202) 797-7080. 

Lung disease can be fun!   
A flashy catalog allows smokers of Camel cigarettes to join Club 
Camel by buying Joe Camel propaganda on mugs, T-Shirts, pocket 
knives, and even fish lure.  The currency is Camel cigarette 
receipts. 

Main Street in a bubble.  
The Mall of America has opened in Minneapolis.  The 78 acres, 327 
stores, and 13,000 parking spaces were subsidized by the city's 
taxpayers.  The city benefits from increased sales tax revenue 
and jobs at the mall, but the mall certainly will reduce tax 
revenues from and jobs at local businesses elsewhere in the area. 

Only $6.50 for captivity.   
Cineplex Odeon has begun its big push to attract advertisers to 
its screens before movies.  "No zipping or zapping...a captive 
movie audience, a clutter-free environment," they promise.  Time 
to start waiting for the video. 

Late-night shopping.   
It's not enough that late-night TV is little more than 
commercials sandwiched between stars promoting movies.  Now ABC 
has introduced "Nitecap," an infomercial-style show starring 
Robin Leach that features famous guests and offers products for 
sale on an 800-number.  Last year, infomercials generated $750 
million in product sales.  

Lassie, the pitchman.   
The pet-food industry has dabbled in some amazing ploys.  
According to Dog World magazine, the industry tried to develop a 
high-pitched whistle for broadcast ads.  When the family dog 
would hear the whistle, it would run to the TV, barking and 
jumping, to convince the master to buy whatever pet food was 
being advertised. 

Best grades money can buy.   
Students at Amador Valley High in Pleasanton, CA, earned extra 
grade points for every $100 worth of receipts they turned in from 
a supermarket offering computers in exchange.  The practice only 
stopped when state attorneys informed the district that selling 
grades was illegal.  Clearly, the teachers and administrators saw 
no ethical problem in tying academic futures to buying power. 

Is Nothing Sacred?   
Advertising Age magazine, only mildly facetiously, uses the flag 
to attract advertisers to its special issue on unconventional ad 
media. 

A Good Sport.  
"Us Nike guys are loyal to Nike because they pay us a lot of 
money...I have 2 million reasons not to wear Reebok." -- U.S. 
Olympic basketball player Charles Barkley on why he would refuse 
to wear the Reebok uniform at the awards ceremony. 
** End of text from cdp:media.issues **

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