Political Ads Must Be Fact-Checked

Read the following article: Political Ads Must Be Fact-Checked
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/community/columns/other-columns/e3i0401622f490c0f88ede185fa50d4b910?pn=1

Post your answers by Wednesday, April 15th at 12pm (noon).
1. Should political advertising and politicians be held to the same regulations as product advertising? Why or why not?
2. Does the FCC "sitting the ad dance out when it comes to a political ad's actual factual content" have more of a negative effect on consumers with product or political advertising? Why or why not?
3. The article says "freedom of speech" is often used as an excuse to run ethically-challenging ads. Discuss how the First Amendment presents advertising conflicts.
4. What implications does the phenomena "source amnesia" have on advertising? How can "source amnesia" present ethical issues in future advertising campaigns?
5. Discuss the current "truth in advertising" procedure of the FTC, FCC and broadcasters (page 2, paragraph 3). Is this procedure adequate? Why or why not?

Let's Talk Ethics at 10am!

ETHICAL DILEMMA

To get us into the Ethics mindset this morning, read the following article on tying controversial topics to the sale of products and services. Once you have finished the article, please return to the blog and answer the following questions.

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/18/business/when-products-are-tied-to-causes.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/A/Advertising%20and%20Marketing&&scp=17&sq=advertising%20controversial%20topics&st=cse

QUESTIONS

What is cause-related advertising?

AT&T Ads Address Economic Gloom

Read the following article: AT&T Ads Address Economic Gloom

http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/strategy/e3ifcc0b6f995bc397406217b49637aaf63

Post your answers by Wed. April 8th at 12pm (noon).

1. Are the AT&T ads about its association with the Great Depression and its "share your story" link designed to boost its company image, or is it trying to genuinely be there for people in their time of economic need?

2. Is AT&T taking advantage of consumers economic disparity with this ad campaign, or it is simply tapping into the feel of the nation?

3. Is this an example of targeted advertising, or simply smart strategy? Why or why not?

Let's Talk Ethics at 11am!

ETHICAL DILEMMA

Let's get our Ethics brain working this morning by reading the following article on Spirit Airlines' controversial advertising campaign. When you have finished the article, return to the blog and answer the following question.

http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=877931&gt1=41000

QUESTION

If consumers hadn't complained regarding the ad campaign, but employees were, which group is more important to the company? And what should Spirit Airlines do to make its employees, its biggest brand ambassadors, satisfied?

Ethics Mid-Term Questions

This mid-term assessment is designed to be a take home project to be completed by Thursday, April 2nd. You will turn in a typewritten, professional report with a cover page to your instructor at the start of class on Thursday, April 2nd.

You are expected to do research around each question, using different advertising campaigns in your answers to each question.

1. Using your understanding of ethics, define advertising and marketing ethics. Use a current advertising campaign to discuss how that campaign does or does not reflect what you understand advertising and marketing ethics to be.

2. Why do advertisers need to take ethical concerns under consideration when doing their jobs? Use two current campaigns to discuss; 1) from your research, who has identified and taken ethical concerns under consideration when developing and producing their campaign, and 2) from your research, who has shown they did not take ethical concerns under consideration.

3. How can ethics and social responsibility be smoothly integrated into a business marketing strategy? Discuss an organization who has been able to accomplish what you describe in the first part of this question.

4. Using an actual, current advertising campaign as the basis for your answers, discuss in detail how that campaign, its creators and its focus shows social responsibility to owners, employees, consumers, the environment and the community at large.

5. Discuss in detail how, based on what you have learned so far in this class, you will be able to utilize in your professional life. Discuss what strategies and tactics you would take if you found yourself involved in an advertising campaign that you felt was not taking any social responsibilities into consideration.

Let's Talk Ethics at 11am!

ETHICAL DILEMMA

Let's get our Ethics brains on this morning by reading the following case study on Calvin Klein advertising tactics. When you have finished, return to the blog and answer the following question.

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/educational/handouts/ethics/calvin_klein_case_study.cfm

QUESTION

Apart from the obvious creative executions of the ads, why the outrage from consumer groups?

Ad Industry Bans Targeting People with Cancer

Read the following article: Ad Industry Bans Targeting People With Cancer; Ads to Widows and Orphans Allowed
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/10/ad-industry-bans-targeting-people-with-cancer-ads-to-dead-people-allowed/?scp=20&sq=targeted%20advertising&st=cse

Post your answers by Wednesday, March 25th at 12pm (noon).

1. Research and describe "behavioral targeting". Does behavioral targeted cross any ethical lines or is this simply smart strategy for advertisers and their clients? Provide a case for your position.

2. Research and describe the FTC's position on behavioral targeting.

3. Even though there will be topics that consumers find particularly objectionable, why does the advertising industry continue to target these groups?

4. Who should decide what consumers find particularly objectionable - consumer groups, regulatory agencies, advertising executives - who?