The Scrapbook takes a fairly dim view of the field known as “economic development.” We’re not opposed to governments facilitating economic growth when they can, but there are very few things government can do, proactively, to spur economic activity—though we can think of many, many things…
On this week’s episode, JVL continues to bask in the glow of a Super Bowl victory. But how about those Super Bowl ads? What to make of Solo? Your cohosts list their favorites. Sonny reviews Hostiles. Plus a hostile review by “Gene”!
The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., is currently engaged in a legal battle with the city’s Metro system. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has declined to run Christmas ads from the church. The ad design is fairly subtle in its suggestion of the Nativity—an outline of shepherds…
Broadcasting from the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley, KUFW-FM offers a mix of regional Mexican and ranchera music, the sort popularized by Selena, Los Tigres del Norte, and Vicente Fernández (aka El Rey de la Canción Ranchera). And there are commercials—lots of them—advertising everything…
Toothpaste, a 7,000-year-old product, is rarely a leading indicator. But the world’s top purveyor of the stuff—along with laundry detergent, dish soap, diapers, and other sundries—made a decision earlier this year that could portend a big shift in the advertising industry.
Nobody tell the media-critic-in-chief, but the New York Times seems to be nowhere near “failing.”
Ten years ago, AMC’s Mad Men dazzled us with a new type of high-concept, prestige-format television drama. In the show’s second episode, Don Draper gives a particularly soaring speech about America, hope, and—yes—the value of advertising.
A group backed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., launched a new ad campaign Tuesday against Kelli Ward — the primary opponent of Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. — attacking her over "crazy ideas" and "embarrassing behavior" during her time as a state senator and her primary campaign…
Hampton, Virginia, has been promoting itself as a tourist destination with a campaign advertising the coastal region as a place to “Come Face-to-Face with Adventure.” Visitors are urged to “Discover the history, the attractions and the flavorful culture” of the city. In a display ad, the flavorful…
Since the repeal of Prohibition, most regulations pertaining to the sale and distribution of alcohol has been left to the states under the "three tier" system of distribution, in which manufacturers sell to distributors and control boards, who sell to retailers, who sell to the public according to…
Pepsi's unintentionally brilliant marketing campaign with Kendall Jenner was derided by leftists as a for-profit appropriation, namely of #Resist and #BlackLivesMatter.
Anheuser-Busch's beer ad for the 2017 Super Bowl looks more like a protest film against President Trump's immigration policies than an actual pitch for brew. The 1-minute commercial tells the tale of the German-born Adolphus Busch, co-founder of the St. Louis-based suds empire, as he survives…
A new Hillary Clinton ad from EMILY's List, a PAC for female Democrat candidates, uses a popular meme to make the former secretary of state, senator, and first lady into a smarmy millennial mascot. In a gender-bending riff on the "Most Interesting Man in the World"—a commercial for Dos Equis beer…
From September 25 to October 1, Donald Trump spent more than eight times as much on television and radio advertising as he did during the prior week, according to newly released tallies from the Associated Press. Trump also widened the map and adopted a more offensive posture, adding five…
The conventional wisdom among Donald Trump's supporters is that his success doesn't rely much on political ads. The evidence suggests otherwise. As Trump's ad spending has risen, the race has tightened. As it has dipped, his polling deficit has widened.
Managing editor Eric Felten joined WNYC's On The Media to talk about the changing role of music in presidential campaigns.
Donald Trump's first television ad of the general election, released Friday, hits Hillary Clinton for her stance on border security and immigration.
With less than three months to go until Election Day, Donald Trump's campaign has announced that it will finally start running television ads. However, the ad buys so far are modest and limited to a few swing states, reports Politico:
If you have not ever seen it, you will be told by anyone who has that there is no way you can prepare yourself, that when you first gaze upon it, it is impossible not to be stunned by its glory. You may have seen photographs and films, read the literature, and imagined it in your mind. Still. . .…
Brands these days want to do all they can to connect with rich, tech savvy Millennials. They key to this newer, hipper generation is "engagement" with brands on the Internet and on social media.