This website explores some of the PR industries tactics. Much of the discussion includes how PR firms suppress dissenting voices by identifying activist, trying to turn them into “realists”, and the co-opting them. Check out the section on managing the media. Because the media is much easier to “handle” than the public, they are the main target of PR firms.
Adbuster’s campaign this week challenges people to turn off their tvs. The biggest problem is that we use television to find out about what is going on a lot of the time. Only one news organization, CNN, has been willing to air these “uncommercials“. I especially recommend watching the “uncommercial” with children in it. The looks on their faces show that there is no mental challenge or active processing going on. From my experience people definitely don’t look like that when they are reading a book or interacting with other people.
TV advertisements are getting an interactive makeover in Europe, Canada and, soon, here in the US. Using a TV remote, users can get additional information about products and services advertised in a ‘traditional’ TV spot. See the entire article from Media Week here.
Along the lines of our discussion the other day, here’s a thoughtful editorial that appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on American responses to violence.
Throughout the semester, we’ve discussed the environmental issues associated with advertising and consumer culture. We’ve also discussed the role ‘planned obsolescence’ plays in promoting conspicuous consumption of new technology and its environmental impact. This short essay by Giles Slade in Mother Jones provides a terrific overview of these issues.
The Imus affair demonstrates the Achilles Heal of Big Media–advertisers. Although this item from Ad Age is intended for industry insiders, the message to media reformers couldn’t be more clear. Follow the money…
Here’s a link to a story about radio and its potential to aid a community’s efforts to heal.
The NY Times published an article today describing Nestlé’s move to take over Gerber. Nestlé is a large food and drink company. When the purchase is finalized, Nestlé will not only be the world’s biggest food and drink company–but it will have the largest share in baby food in the world’s market. You can access the article here.
If we can analyze this from McChesney’s standpoint, I think he would point out that this is bad because 2 large companies are teaming up…thus another huge company conglomerate. Also, when starting with Gerber food, now parents/children will have brand loyalty and probably stick with the Nestlé products. Another point to make is that even though Nestlé has some healthy items (which are mostly geared towards adults…ex. Jenny Craig), a lot of their products geared towards kids are not very healthy (think of the chocolate milk…’Qwik’). They use the bunny rabbit to entice kids to drink their milk. With the buying of Gerber, they can get kids at a younger age and then hope they have brand loyalthy throughout their life.