““Consumers are like roaches. You spray Consumers are like roaches. You spray them and spray them and they become them and spray them and they become immune after a while. The only answer is to immune after a while. The only answer is to spray them some more.”spray them some more.”

-David Lubars, Senior Ad -David Lubars, Senior Ad Executive, Omnicom GroupExecutive, Omnicom Group

GUESS WHAT???

The Burning QuestionThe Burning Question

How many different How many different cans of Raid do cans of Raid do advertisers have?advertisers have?

HYPER-COMMERCIALISMHYPER-COMMERCIALISM

The Progression (and Annoyance) of Advertising

What’s not newWhat’s not new

Advertising has spilled into our television Advertising has spilled into our television programs with 30 and 15 second spots, in total programs with 30 and 15 second spots, in total taking 14 to 17 minutes per hour of programmingtaking 14 to 17 minutes per hour of programming

Ads also appear in our newspapers, magazines, Ads also appear in our newspapers, magazines, on our radio stations and in other forms of mediaon our radio stations and in other forms of media

Advertising in stadiums and other public venuesAdvertising in stadiums and other public venues

We have become immune to this.We have become immune to this.

What What ISIS new new

Advertising during TV programs, digitally Advertising during TV programs, digitally imprinted such that only the home viewer imprinted such that only the home viewer can see itcan see it

Internet pop-up ads, including those that Internet pop-up ads, including those that now avoid pop-up blockersnow avoid pop-up blockers

Commercialized companies, making deals Commercialized companies, making deals with advertisers which benefit both the with advertisers which benefit both the company and advertiser company and advertiser

What What ISIS new new

Products written into programmingProducts written into programmingProduct sponsored events, books, etc.Product sponsored events, books, etc.• The Nokia Sugar BowlThe Nokia Sugar Bowl• The Oreo Cookie Counting BookThe Oreo Cookie Counting Book

An alarming example to me: NASCARAn alarming example to me: NASCAR• The good ol’ boy network has fallen!The good ol’ boy network has fallen!

A closer look at NASCARA closer look at NASCAR

Founded in 1948 by Bill France, Sr., its Founded in 1948 by Bill France, Sr., its primary series, the “Strictly Stock Division” primary series, the “Strictly Stock Division” began on the dirt tracks in Charlotte, NC in began on the dirt tracks in Charlotte, NC in 1949. The famed Daytona International 1949. The famed Daytona International Speedway opened in 1959Speedway opened in 1959

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco and France struck R.J. Reynolds Tobacco and France struck a deal that created NASCAR’s Winston a deal that created NASCAR’s Winston Cup Series in 1971Cup Series in 1971

That was then… this is NOW!That was then… this is NOW!

NASCAR is a commercialized machine, NASCAR is a commercialized machine, from the cars, to the drivers, to the from the cars, to the drivers, to the broadcasts to the Internet. All interactive broadcasts to the Internet. All interactive rights are now owned by Time Warnerrights are now owned by Time Warner

The broadcast networks now televise The broadcast networks now televise NASCAR, and since that’s the case…NASCAR, and since that’s the case…

Winston is GONE as the primary Winston is GONE as the primary sponsor…. it is now the Nextel Cup Series sponsor…. it is now the Nextel Cup Series as of this yearas of this year

The Web SiteThe Web Site

www.nascar.comwww.nascar.com To the good ol’ boys, To the good ol’ boys,

Time Warner, Time Warner, advertisers and advertisers and broadcast giants must broadcast giants must be the devil.be the devil.

This Is Our FutureThis Is Our Future

We cannot escape advertisersWe cannot escape advertisers

Businesses are joining with them for more profitBusinesses are joining with them for more profit

They’re in our books, our stadiums, on our buses, They’re in our books, our stadiums, on our buses, in public bathroom stalls, hospital rooms… we in public bathroom stalls, hospital rooms… we are trapped, there is no way out…are trapped, there is no way out…

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!

And If That Wasn’t Bad Enough…And If That Wasn’t Bad Enough…

MEDIA HEGEMONY AND MEDIA HEGEMONY AND OLIGOPOLISTIC MARKETSOLIGOPOLISTIC MARKETS

So Few Own So Much

TermsTermsVertical IntegrationVertical Integration n : absorption into a single firm of several firms n : absorption into a single firm of several firms

involved in all aspects of a product's involved in all aspects of a product's manufacture from raw materials to distributionmanufacture from raw materials to distribution

SynergySynergy      n: The interaction of two or more agents or n: The interaction of two or more agents or

forces so that their combined effect is greater forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. than the sum of their individual effects.

Cooperative interaction among groups, Cooperative interaction among groups, especially among the acquired subsidiaries or especially among the acquired subsidiaries or merged parts of a corporation, that creates an merged parts of a corporation, that creates an enhanced combined effect. enhanced combined effect.

TermsTerms

ConglomerateConglomeraten: A corporation made up of a number of n: A corporation made up of a number of

different companies that operate in different companies that operate in diversified fields. diversified fields.

First and second tier media firms do these First and second tier media firms do these three things three things WELLWELL..

THE BIG SEVENTHE BIG SEVENThese are the first tier firms:These are the first tier firms:Time WarnerTime WarnerViacomViacomNews CorporationNews CorporationSonySonyGeneral ElectricGeneral ElectricBertelsmannBertelsmannDisneyDisney

Cox EnterprisesCox Enterprises

Cox is considered a second-tier media firmCox is considered a second-tier media firmProfits range from $3-$10 billion annuallyProfits range from $3-$10 billion annually

They ownThey own NewspapersNewspapers TV Stations and Channels (Partially)TV Stations and Channels (Partially) Other (AutoTrader.com) Other (AutoTrader.com) www.coxenterprises.comwww.coxenterprises.com

What these conglomerates doWhat these conglomerates do

Acquire any and every thing that furthers Acquire any and every thing that furthers their efforts to control media outletstheir efforts to control media outlets

Work with each other to keep third-tier and Work with each other to keep third-tier and independent firms out UNLESS they can independent firms out UNLESS they can get a slice of the pie (they are the get a slice of the pie (they are the gatekeepers)gatekeepers)

Keep ideas stale; remain non-progressive Keep ideas stale; remain non-progressive (they give the people what they want, but (they give the people what they want, but then give too much of it)then give too much of it)

Why is this happening???Why is this happening???

Why is this happening???Why is this happening???Teleological TheoryTeleological Theory ““The means justify the ends.”The means justify the ends.”EgoismEgoism the individual self is the motivating moral the individual self is the motivating moral

force and the end of moral actionforce and the end of moral actionWhat ever happened to deontological What ever happened to deontological

theory???theory???action will be guided by a set of moral action will be guided by a set of moral

principles or rulesprinciples or rules

What can be done?What can be done?

Governmental Regulation?Governmental Regulation?Advertisers claim they are protected by the Advertisers claim they are protected by the

First AmendmentFirst AmendmentLaws against oligopoly?Laws against oligopoly?

ConsumersConsumersWe have power, but too many people We have power, but too many people

don’t care don’t care

SITE TO REMEMBER!SITE TO REMEMBER!

Columbia Journalism ReviewColumbia Journalism Reviewwww.cjr.orgwww.cjr.org

THE ENDTHE END