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Advertising industry and public relations news covering everything from the latest ad trends to ad campaigns.
Wear a Logo, Get a Free Set of Tires
If you're willing to get a tattoo with the Dunlop tires logo, you can get a free set of tires.
Adweek Names Agency of the Year
Adweek has made its annual decision on which agency is the best of the year.
Recalled Aqua Dots Toy Advertised Almost Three Weeks Later
Toys R Us and Target advertised the recalled Aqua Dots almost three weeks after the product was pulled from the shelves.
Samsung Wants Consumers to Promote Camcorder
Samsung is holding a contest for consumers to help the company promote its new camcorder.
Billboard Tells People, “Life Is Short, Have an Affair”
A billboard in California reads, "Life is Short, Have an Affair," and it's causing quite a controversy.
Judge Rules Huggies Ads Can Stay on the Air
A federal judge has ruled Huggies ads can stay on the air, despite the lawsuit brought on by Pampers and Luvs parent company Procter and Gamble.
Charmin’s Mr. Whipple Passes Away
Charmin's Mr. Whipple has died at the age of 91.
Paddington Bear Commercial Causes Uproar
Paddington Bear has been spotted eating Marmite and even the bear's creator is upset over the new commercial.
Virgin Mobile Sued Over Flickr Photo
Virgin Mobile Australia is being sued over a Flickr photo allegedly used without the owner's permission.
Wal-Mart Retires “Always Low Prices”
"Always Low Prices" is being replaced with a new slogan after a 19 year run.
Study Shows Mattel’s Recalls Affect Wal-Mart
A marketing consultant group's study shows the toy recalls are affecting Wal-Mart's image.
Geico Hires Flintstones, Hillbillies and Cabbage Patch Kids
Three new commercials will bring back some familiar faces from your past: The Flintstones, The Beverly Hillbillies and the Cabbage Patch Kids.
PTC Announces Best and Worst Advertisers
The Parents Television Council has announced its annual list of best and worst advertisers.
Nickelodeon Stops Licensing Characters
Nickelodeon has announced plans to stop licensing its characters to promote junk food.
L’Oreal Commercial Banned Over Fake Eyelashes
Actress and L'Oreal spokesperson Penelope Cruz's eyelashes have caught the attention of the Advertising Standards Authority and the commercial has been banned.
Procter & Gamble Goes Baby Ga-Ga
Procter and Gamble has released a new ad campaign for its Luvs brand.
Ad Exec Behind Smucker’s Slogan Dies
Ad exec Lois Wyse has died. Wyse was behind the famous slogan, "With a name like Smucker's, it has to be good."
Sprint Dumps Complaining Customers
More than 1,000 Sprint Nextel customers have been dropped over repeated calls to customer service.
Intel Pulls Controversial Ad, Apologizes
Intel has pulled a print ad featuring a white man surrounded by six sprinters and has apologized for the image some say it portrayed.
Gift Ideas for the Advertising Junkie
Can't figure out what to buy the advertising enthusiast in your life? From the advertising fan to the advertising professional, finish up your shopping with these ideas for the perfect gift.
L.L. Bean to Open Theme Park
Retailer L.L. Bean will open a theme park so consumers can try out the company's products before they buy.
ad:tech Miami Spotlights Hispanic and Latin America Marketing
ad:tech Miami focuses on Hispanic and Latin America marketing at the 2007 venue.
Reality Show Hits Ad Industry
Oxygen Media searches for the next reality TV show stars: advertising pros.
Shrek's Fiona Lands HP Gig
Cameron Diaz's "Fiona" character from Shrek the Third has a new endorsement deal for HP.
2007 Clio Award Winners
The 2007 Clio Awards took place in Miami, with Nike taking home Advertiser of the Year.
TrimSpa Launches First Post-Anna Nicole Ads
Weight loss product company TrimSpa releases its first ad campaign post Anna Nicole Smith.
BP Ad Campaign 'A Little Better'
BP wants customers to expect more out of their gas with a major ad campaign.
ad:tech Holds San Francisco Conference
ad:tech San Francisco conference focuses on interactive marketing, mobile marketing, gaming, SEO and more.
Uncle Ben Icon Gets a Makeover
Uncle Ben ad icon gets a revamp with a new ad campaign.
Virginia Man Becomes New Maytag Man
Clay Jackson beats out 1,500 Maytag Man hopefuls.
FTC May Crack Down on Celebrity Endorsements
Celebrities raving about products may soon be regulated by the FTC.
Easter Egg Dye Gets First Ad Campaign
Paas Easter Egg Decoration Kits get first commercial since the company began 125 years ago.
Publicity Stunt Mistaken for Terrorist Threat
A publicity stunt for Cartoon Network's Aqua Teen Hunger Force shut down Boston and has police outraged over the stunt.
Geico Caveman Vs. the Media in a New Commercial
Geico has released a new commercial featuring the popular caveman. This time, he's taking on the media by appearing on a news show.
Geico Brings Back the Caveman
After a two year absence, Geico is bringing back the caveman in a new commercial.
Toys R Us Plays With Deal or No Deal
Toys R Us is taking the deal and teaming up with the game show Deal or No Deal to get customers into the toy store.
Commercial Actors Get a Raise
Commercial actors are getting a raise in a two year extension of the commercials contract.
CBS Promotes Fall Lineup with Eggvertising
CBS will use laser imprinted eggs to promote its fall lineup of shows.
Gap Heads Back to TV
After about a year off the air, Gap is breaking a new ad campaign and famous faces aren't a part of the strategy.
CBS to Launch Katie Couric Ad Campaign
CBS is planning a major ad campaign to promote its new evening news anchor.
Young Adults Ignore Celebrity Endorsements
New research shows college students between the ages of 18 and 30 don't care which celebrity is endorsing what product when it's time for them to make a purchasing decision.
Seventeen Inks Promotion Deal with MySpace
MySpace.com and Seventeen magazine have entered a promotional deal to promote the teen publication using a MySpace account.
Pennsylvania Tourism Campaign Wants You
Pennsylvania's Tourism Office needs help choosing a sticker slogan. The new marketing campaign asks site visitor's to choose from one of 16 finalists.
Wal-Mart Wants to Trademark the Smiley Face
Wal-Mart is battling to trademark the smiley face used in commercials, print and in-store promotions.
Elvis and Dolly Promote Tennessee
Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton have been paired up to promote Tennessee.
Nikon Focuses on Kate Moss
After losing millions in endorsement deals in the fall of 2005 over cocaine use, supermodel Kate Moss is the focus of a new ad campaign.
1-800-GOT-JUNK Has Customers Screaming
1-800-GOT-JUNK is using a unique approach to promote its service: rats.
Verizon Fined for Ad Campaign
Verizon has been fined $1,050 for street graffiti in Washington, D.C.
One Second Commercial
Can a one second commercial be effective? You decide.
Lifetime Takes Out Ad Against EchoStar
Lifetime Entertainment Services is taking aim at EchoStar to encourage subscribers to ditch the dish.
Sony Announces Finalists in Movie Promotion
Sony Pictures has announced the finalists for its "Silent Hill" movie promotion.
Levi's Marketing to iPod Users
Levi's will start creating iPod-compatible jeans in Fall 2006.
Pennsylvania's Groundhog Goes Crazy
Pennsylvania is getting ready for Groundhog Day but what has the groundhog been doing for the past 364 days of the year? A new series of videos suggest he's not as mellow as you might think.
Intel Not Inside Anymore
Intel's changing its 37-year-old logo and its tag line in hopes of repositioning its brand to new technologies.
Funniest Commercials of 2005
TBS wants you to vote for the Funniest Commercials of 2005. The winning ads will air during a special hosted by Kevin Nealon.
Macy's Launches Its Biggest Promotion
Macy's is launching its biggest promotion in the retailer's history and Donald Trump will be featured in part of the campaign.
Post-Thanksgiving Ads Leak on the Net
Ads for Black Friday have leaked on the Internet earlier than advertisers expected.
Town Becomes DISH in New Advertising Deal
A small town is getting big buzz for its corporate deal to change its city's name to the DISH satellite provider.
Bermuda and New York Arnold Split
Bermuda and New York Arnold have parted ways and the agency says it's the influx of work brought on by the Hershey's ad campaign.
Forbes Cover Story Cites the Evils of Blogs
A Forbes cover story shows how dangerous blogs can be and the damage they can cause to companies.
Get Happy - You're German!
Germany is spending $35-million to inspire its citizens to cheer up.
You Can Be in Advertising - Yes You!
The average Joe can submit ideas and slogans for prizes and the chance to pitch those ideas to major companies. Is this the wave of the future?
Nissin Ramen Noodles to Launch Into Space for New Ad
Nissin Food Products will shoot a commercial at the International Space Station to cross-promote the ramen noodles as well as the Japanese space program.
WB Creates Mini Commercial in Print
The WB has found a new way to capture a magazine reader's attention.
Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic Close Online Store for Relaunch
Gap Inc. temporarily closed three of its online stores for upgrades before the holiday season.
Sears Drops Ad Agency After 43 Years
Sears has terminated its relationship with Ogilvy & Mather, a partnership that lasted for almost 50 years.
New Zealand Pizza Restaurant Targets President Bush
A New Zealand pizza restaurant is making use of the company name by targeting President Bush in its outdoor advertising.
TiVo Users Could Get Pop-Up Ads
Skipping through the commercials is a benefit of TiVo but the company just made it harder to avoid ads.
Shark Attacks Send Travelers Scrambling
The shark attacks in the Florida Panhandle have travelers rescheduling their plans and the Florida Department of Tourism facing a letdown in what looked to be a promising year.
Negative PR Affecting Aruba's Tourism
Bad PR has vacationers switching their travel plans and the Aruba Tourism Authority facing a PR struggle to protect the island's once-clean image.
Citi Cards Ads Fall Flat
Consumers like credit card rewards but the Citi Cards ads aren't such a success.
Natalee Holloway's Disappearance a Continuing PR Struggle for Aruba
Natalee Holloway's disappearance has left Aruba facing a national PR nightmare as the search continues for the missing teen.
Top CEOs Not Blogging
A new blog is started every seven seconds but not one of the Fortune 1000 CEOs is getting in on the action.
Trump's New Ducky Sidekick
Melania Trump and the Aflac duck have teamed up for a new :30 commercial.
Martha Stewart Gets Okay to Woo Advertisers
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has given Martha Stewart the okay to start wooing advertisers for her new show.
Martha Stewart Gets Sirius
Martha Stewart has inked a new deal just six weeks after being released from federal prison. She continues to rebuild her brand by signing a deal with Sirius Satellite Radio.
Man Sells More Ad Space on His Forehead
Andrew Fischer is back in the news and now he's selling his forehead for five years worth of advertising space in his driver's license.
XM Satellite Radio and AOL Team Up
XM Satellite Radio and AOL will team up to cross-promote each other's brands.
DVRs a Big Concern to Advertisers
Advertisers have tried not to let on to the fact that TiVO and digital video recorders are threatening the ad industry. But in a room full of advertising professionals, they let their voices be heard.
Comcast and TiVO Look to Update Recorded Ads
Comcast and TiVO have introduced plans to update your recorded ads on your TiVO even if the program you recorded is several weeks old.
New Ads Promote Steven Madden's Release from Prison
Steven Madden's finishing up a 41-month prison sentence and his footwear company is promoting his release in new print ads.
PETA Unveils Star Jones Parody Ad
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says the April Fool's Day parody ad featuring a cross-dresser as Star Jones is no laughing matter.
Blockbuster Agrees to Pay Over "No Late Fees" Ad Campaign
Blockbuster has reached a settlement over claims the "No Late Fees" ad campaign mislead consumers.
United Airlines Calls Out American Airlines in New Ad Campaign
The ad campaign American Airlines dropped will be the new focus for United Airlines in the battle of the airline industry.
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Pulls in $35 Million in Ad Dollars
The annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue is on stands now but ad revenues have hit a slight dip.
Blockbuster Sued Over "The End of Late Fees"
New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey has filed a lawsuit against Blockbuster Inc., saying the "No More Late Fees" commercial is deceptive advertising.
TLC Says No to Money Back for Advertisers
An article on Television Week's Web site is causing quite a stir.
Ad Agencies Could Feel the Effects of the P&G Gillette Buyout
Ad agencies aren't celebrating Procter and Gamble's buy of Gillette just yet.
Disney Promotion Wins at Orange Bowl
Who's going to Disneyland? Everyone that attended the Orange Bowl.
Advertisers Spent More in 2004
Reports show ad spending in 2004 increased but advertisers were more picky about where they invested their ad dollars.
FDA Clamps Down on Crestor
The FDA is sending the makers of Crestor a very strong message after recent advertising.
Pfizer Pulls Celebrex Advertising
Just days after Pfizer learned Celebrex could pose a heart attack risk, the company has pulled all advertising for its arthritis drug.
Fallon Lays Off 20 Employees
Ad agency Fallon hasn't recovered from the $220 million loss of Subway's account and laid of about six-percent of its staff as a result.
Pfizer's Celebrex Could Face PR Problems
Pfizer could face damaging PR problems after a study has found the arthritis drug Celebrex could pose a heart attack risk.
Worst Advertising/PR Moves of 2004
You can't have the best advertising/PR moves without having the worst. No one was safe from advertising/PR debacles in 2004.
The Best Advertising/PR Moves of 2004
The year's almost over and it's time to look back on the best advertising and public relations moves of 2004.
Parents Television Council Outraged Over FCC Decision
The Parents Television Council says the FCC is letting offensive content on the airwaves after newspapers decline to print the same content in their publications.
Supreme Court Upholds Do Not Call List
The Supreme Court says the Do Not Call list does not violate the First Amendment rights of telemarketing companies.
Advertisers Bend Over Backwards for Yoga
Big name companies are shelling out the dough for their first advertisements toward the yoga audience.
16,000 Quarters Become Advertisements
A new publicity stunt will have you taking a second look at the quarters in your pocket.
Cannes Lions Coverage
Complete coverage of the 2004 Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.
Promotional T-Shirt Production Could Clothe 465 Million
Enough promotional T-shirts were produced last year to clothe everyone in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Advertisers Cautious in Wake of Iraqi Violence
Advertisers are thinking twice about running ads for fear of butting up against grisly images of Iraqi violence.
The Future of Advertising
Interactive television offers a great advantage for both advertisers and consumers. Find out how you can benefit.
Alcohol Advertising Reaching More Teens
More alcohol advertising is hitting the airwaves and the number of underage drinkers is rising at the same time.
Marketers Want Product Placement in Magazines
Product placement is everywhere - books, games, TV shows. Now marketers want to know when magazines will follow suit.
Wal-Mart Pulls Statue of Liberty Sponsorship Project
Wal-Mart has backed out of a deal to sponsor the re-opening of the Statue of Liberty.
Victoria's Secret Pulls Plug on Fashion Show
In the wake of FCC investigations and Janet Jackson's Super Bowl controversy, Victoria's Secret says it will no longer air its fashion show on broadcast television.
Job Growth Highest in Four Years
Job growth is up and that's good news for those seeking a job in advertising or public relations.
1,500 School Newspapers to Accept National Ads
National advertisers now have a new way to reach the younger demographic: school newspapers.
Commercials of Interest
AdAge.com takes a look at noteworthy commercials on the air.
Cyber Blackmail Hits Office Workers
Office workers are facing a new Internet bully. Cyber blackmail threatens workers if they don't hand over their credit card numbers.
Anti-Drug Campaign Targets Parents
Parents are now the focus of a new anti-drug ad campaign.
Elle Macpherson's Lingerie Line Ad Banned
A Vogue print ad for Elle Macpherson's lingerie has been banned after consumer complaints.
Nike Asks "What If?"
Your favorite sports stars are suiting up. But not for the sport you're used to seeing them play.
AT&T Ad Sparks Protest
A full page newspaper ad has AT&T accused of "reinforcing a racial slur."
Wal-Mart Steps Up PR to Protect Image
Wal-Mart is tired of the label that they're taking away business from local companies and plans to use a new PR strategy to shed that image.
High Profile Lawsuits - The Ultimate Publicity
Companies involved in lawsuits can find themselves getting more exposure than they normally would. Take a look at some high-profile lawsuits that have created national publicity for plaintiffs and defendants.
Norelco Sues Remington Over Ad Campaign
Competition is razor sharp and Norelco says Remington's ads are deceiving consumers.
Abercrombie & Fitch Pulls Catalog
Known for its racy catalogs, Abercrombie & Fitch has pulled its holiday catalog.
Blackout Hits Advertising Industry
Advertisers across the country are scrambling to find out how much the biggest blackout in U.S. history affected them.
When Advertising Works Too Well
Can it happen? One major company proved it can when it had to pull a popular commercial. The ad worked so well, the company couldn't keep up.
Time Machine: Ethical or Cheating?
When network affiliates use a time machine to squeeze in extra ads, it's highly frowned upon. But is it ethical or cheating?
Advertising the Abortion Pill
A new educational campaign featuring RU-486 is sparking controversy in the advertising world. Some publications are refusing to run the new ads. Others say the readers should decide.
Targeted Catalogs Ready for the Holidays
Niche catalog distributors use the holidays to reach the 71 million Americans who shop from home.
Agency Warns Against Time Machine Use
Ad agency warns Meredith Broadcasting Group that commercial time won't be paid for if the Time Machine is used.
Toy Retailers Say Business Isn't Fun and Games
FAO Schwarz, KB Toys and Toys R Us are seeing a decline in profits. Wal Mart remains on top.
AT&T Violates Its Own Do Not Call List
AT&T faces a stiff fine from the FCC after repeatedly calling consumers who requested not to be called again.
Remembering September 11, 2001
Madison Avenue took a back road after the terrorist attacks of September 11.
Those Wacky Mascots
From a butterfly to an oven mitt, companies are flocking to mascots to represent them.
Blackout Hits Advertising Industry
Advertisers across the country scrambled to find out how much the biggest blackout in U.S. history affected them.
Lamisil Tests the Gag Reflex
Digger flips back your toenail and jumps in to join his friends. The nail fungus spokesfreak has Lamisil testing viewers' gag reflexes.
Bob Hope Dies but the Advertising Legend Lives On
Comedian, actor and pitchman Bob Hope passed away but his legend lives on. Take a look at some of the products he promoted over the 100 years of his life.
More Drugstores Drop Ephedra Diet Pills
CVS and Eckerd have stopped carrying diet pills containing the herb ephedra. The drugstores had already stopped advertising products containing ephedra but followed the lead of Walgreens and GNC.
DMA Supports Do Not Call List
The Direct Marketing Association supports the Do Not Call List provisions after previously suing the FTC over earlier guidelines.
Where is Advertising Heading?
With new technology and new ways to advertise, experts at the Cannes Lions Festival examine the direction advertising is heading.
A Wrinkle in the Botox Ads
The FDA demands Botox ads are pulled for attempting to mislead and and misinform consumers.
Cannes Judging Controversy
One award-winner is short-lived after the Annual Cannes Lions Festival revokes the top award.
Madison Avenue Takes a Back Road
The tragic events surrounding the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, have the advertising industry bracing for huge financial losses. In the wake of consumer fears and extreme sensitivity to the issue, advertisers have to focus on a smooth transition back to business as usual.
The Future of Advertising
Interactivity is changing the face of advertising. What's in it for you?
Google Drops Questionable Pharmacy Ads
Google has pulled the plug on ad dollars from unlicensed pharmacies.
High School Girl Asked to Quit Hooters Job
A high school senior wanted to learn how Hooters advertises and instead found the school board insisting she quit her job.
Palmolive's Madge Dies
Actress Jan Miner has died. She portrayed Palmolive's Madge for 27 years.
James Frey Controversy Causes Doubleday to Buy Ads
Bestselling author James Frey's publisher is buying ads to combat the PR disaster it has faced after the writer's memoir turned out to be more fiction than fact.

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