Advertising and Society: Controversies and Consequences

1. Introduction. People Don’t Hate Advertising: They Hate Bad Advertising: Carol J. Pardun (University of South Carolina).

2. The Economic Impact of Advertising: What’s the Controversy?.

Argument. Advertising Makes Products More Expensive: Edd Applegate (Middle Tennessee State University).

Counterargument. Advertising Lowers Prices for Consumers: C. Ann Hollifield (University of Georgia).

3. Advertising to Children: Gimme, Gimme, Gimme!!! Do Children Need More Protection from Advertising?.

Argument. Yes! Children Need Protection from the Bombardments of Sponge Bob Square Pants, Ronald McDonald, and all the Big Purple Dinosaurs: Keisha L. Hoerrner (Kennesaw State University).

Counterargument. No! Children Are Smarter Than We Think. We Coddle Them Enough Already!: J. Walker Smith (Yankelovich, Inc., Chapel Hill, NC).

4. Political Advertising: Necessary, Necessary Evil, or Evil Necessarily?.

Argument. Political Advertising Serves an Important Role for American Voters: Anne Johnston (University of North Carolina).

Counterargument. Political Advertising Has No Place in the U.S. Democratic System:.

Jennifer D. Greer (University of Alabama).

5. Tobacco Advertising: When People Do Dumb Things.

Argument. Tobacco advertising: The Strong First Amendment Right to Promote Lawful Products: R. Michael Hoefges (University of North Carolina).

Counterargument. The fumes of truth: Jef I. Richards (University of Texas at Austin).

6. Alcohol Advertising: A Match Made in Heaven or a Pact with the Devil?.

Argument. Alcohol Is So Problematic that Advertising or Promoting It in Any Way Should Be Banned from All Televised Events: Lara Zwarun (University of Texas at Arlington).

Counterargument. Eliminating Alcohol Advertising on Television because Underage People Drink Is as Misguided as Restricting Automobile Advertising because People Drive Too Fast: Jason Chambers (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign).

7. Advertising and Product Placement: And Now, the Star of the Show!.

Argument. Product Placement Makes a Lot of Sense in Today’s Media Environment:.

Charles Lubbers (University of South Dakota).

Counterargument. More than Entertainment: Product Placement in American Media Channels: Kathy Brittain McKee (Berry College, Georgia).

8. Sex and Advertising: I’m Too Sexy for this Ad . . . or Am I?.

Argument. Sex in Advertising: No Crime Here!: Tom Reichert (University of Georgia).

Counterargument. Using Sex in Advertising Is Never a Good Idea: Kathy Roberts Forde (University of Minnesota).

9. Stereotypes in Advertising: A Code to Help Us Understand a Concept Quickly? Or a Short-Changing Way to Look at the World?.

Argument. Stereotypes Are the Best Way to give Consumers a Quick Understanding of the Creative Impact of the Message: Marie Hardin (Penn State University).

Counterargument. What’s the Harm in Advertising Stereotypes?: Jane Marcellus (Middle Tennessee State University).

10. Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising: A Prescription for Everything?.

Argument. Doctor Knows Best: Why DTC Advertising of Prescription Medications Is Bad for Patients: Beth E. Barnes (University of Kentucky).

Counterargument. Feel Empowered! Enhanced Health Knowledge!: Debbie Treise (University of Florida) and Paula Rausch (University of Florida).

11. Puffery and Advertising: Puff the Magic Ad Man.

Argument. Puffery Is Never Worth the Deception: Ivan Preston (University of Wisconsin-Madison).

Counterargument. This Is the Best Darn Essay on Puffery You Will Ever Read: Bruce G. Vanden Bergh (Michigan State University).

12. Advertising and Social Responsibility: Being Good is Always a Good Idea – Right?.

Argument. Companies Are Wise -- and Ethical -- to Use “Social Responsibility” as a Creative Strategy: Debra Merskin (University of Oregon).

Counterargument. The Adoption of Social Responsibility through Cause-Related Marketing as a Business Strategy Is Unethical: Peggy Kreshel (University of Georgia).

Index