Thursday, April 16, 2009

What We Should Learn from Sony's Fake Blog Fiasco

Read article: What We Should Learn from Sony's Fake Blog Fiasco

Post your answers by Wednesday, April 22nd at noon (12pm).
1. There are implications, positive and negative, for advertisers whenever they engage in communication with their target audience. Discuss the ethical issues that must be considered when using the following modes of communication: word-of-mouth (WOM), blogs, and postings on social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter.
2. Based on your exposure to advertising thus far in your academic studies, what other "lessons learned" would you add to the list when it comes to communicating with your audience.



Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Let's Talk Ethics at 11am!

ETHICAL DILEMMA
Let's read the following article on the topic of ethics in the age of digital media. When you have finished the article, return to the blog and answer the following questions.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d321c9b6-f85d-11dd-aae8-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1
QUESTION
Apart from some deceptive blogging practices some companies are engaging in, how else has the Internet become a "web of deception"?

Friday, April 10, 2009

Political Ads Must Be Fact-Checked

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?

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

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.
QUESTIONS
What is cause-related advertising?

Friday, April 3, 2009

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?

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

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.
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?

Thursday, March 26, 2009

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.