OK, OK, so sugar doesn’t make you pay attentionKellogg’s has agreed to settle federal claims that they falsely advertised the benefits of eating Frosted Mini-Wheats, including that children who ate the cereal got a 20% boost in attentiveness.
Advertising
Burger King retracts ad that offended Mexicans
Mexicans took great offence at an ad for Burger King’s “Texican Whopper” which paired a cowboy with a little spicy Mexican (literally). After ambassadors intervened it became too hot for the fast food co. to handle.
International ads with Obama continue to offend
In honor of companies’ continuing clumsiness and stupidity in their efforts to capitalise on Barack Obama’s election, a Russian example.
US classifieds fall 60% in just two years
American newspaper print ad revenues fell to their lowest level in 14 years last year and online ad revenues fell for the first time in five years, according to figures for 2008 ad revenues from the American Newspaper Association, writes Glenn Dyer.
John Farnham Cadbury’s gorilla remix gets the thumbs-down
A remix of Cadbury’s award-winning gorilla advertisement featuring John Farnham instead of the original Phil Collins track has won derision on social media sites since it broke at the weekend, writes Tim Burrowes.
The bizarre Dr Bob baffles Melbourne adland
Legendary advertising man Bob Isherwood’s recent lecture left a lot to be desired, writes Stephen Downes.
Beware “buying off the plan”
There are few more effective ways of generating a negative return on your investment than by buying a property “off the plan” from a developer, writes Adam Schwab.
Sponsorship is a two way street
The operators of the Melbourne stadium formerly known as Telstra Dome are finding out the hard way that sponsorship is a two-way street, especially when it involves naming rights, writes Stephen Downes.
Why walking to school can be unhealthy
The areas around primary schools have become hotbeds of advertising for unhealthy foods and drinks to children, write Bridget Kelly and Lesley King.
Sport handling the alcohol sponsorship issue poorly — already
It has not taken long for Cricket Australia to take the lead in poorly handling the growing challenge from the health lobby to the sponsorship of sport by the alcohol industry, writes Jeff Wall.
Cadbury’s gorilla tactics: the end of advertising as we know it?
Cadbury’s “gorilla” advertisement is not actually an advertisement, and that’s a big problem for agencies, writes Stephen Downes.
Coca Cola responds: Setting the record straight
We knew this campaign had the potential to be controversial, writes Joanna Price, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Coca-Cola South Pacific. But it’s time to set the record straight.
Back to the 50s: The Age and subliminal advertising
Why should there be a sanction against “subliminal advertising” when all the evidence shows it either doesn’t exist or doesn’t work and isn’t a threat, asks Dr Stephen Downes
Google’s answer to the iPhone
The real new media giant stirred ominously this week, as Google’s new mobile phone, the G1, emerged blinking into the light, writes Antigeek.
Media briefs: Lost in translation, The honest advertising exemption
Lost in translation … Media threatened by Anti-Gay advocates … Advertisers out of touch … The honest advertising exemption.
More than meets the eye in prostate cancer screening
Public health and cancer experts who argue there is insufficient evidence to prove that the benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh harms, writes Melissa Sweet.
Media briefs: How Wall Street will hit ad spending …. A very indecent proposal
How Wall Street’s Black Sunday Will Affect Ad Spending … Citizen Journalism Success … YouTube’s a parasite … The man in the bushes … A very indecent proposal … Brisbane Broncos players named.
Stephen Conroy hearts Free-TV
Stephen Conroy is shaping up as the biggest friend of the free-to-air networks in ages – and given the track record of both sides of politics, that is saying something, writes Bernard Keane.
ACMA putting industry before children’s health
The Australian Communications and Media Authority is in danger of losing all credibility as an independent regulator, writes Boyd Swinburn.
And the Wankley Award goes to ….Bendigo Bank
TV viewers have read something other than the word “COMMUNITY” spelled out in yellow letters of varying sizes in the closing frames of one of Bendigo’s feel-good commercials, created by agency Badjar Ogilvy, writes Stephen Downes.
