Despite losing the case brought against them by McDonalds, the defendants in the so-called “McLibel” case, Helen Steel and David Morris, were heartened by the judge’s controversial comments on the food chain’s advertising to children and are now pressing the ITC and the ASA to “investigate McDonald’s practice of exploiting children in its advertising”. The… Continue reading UK: McLibel defendents step up action
The Amsterdam European Council agreed to a protocol on Public Service Broadcasting within the draft Amsterdam Treaty at the European Summit held on 16-17 June. The text of the protocol reads:“Considering that the system of public broadcasting in the Member States is directly related to the democratic, social and cultural needs of each society and… Continue reading EU: Public Service Broadcasting Protocol
ITV today launched its newly-formed ITV Politics Group, aimed at developing Westminster coverage for its regional programmes.The new organisation, chaired by Anglia TV’s political editor Graham Donaldson, includes all the ITV companies except the Scottish broadcasters and aims to bring their collective “muscle” to bear in dealing with the new Governments departments. It will provide… Continue reading ITV Companies Join Forces
Linda Smith, formerly marketing director at MSM, has been appointed as regional development director at Capital Radio. She will be responsible for the regional stations’ national revenue objectives and will be working closely with both Capital Sales and Marketing and the radio stations. She will take up her new role after the handover of current… Continue reading Capital Announces Senior Appointments
At a meeting on 20 June, the Council of Ministers adopted the revised Television Without Frontiers Directive, with the amendments as agreed by the Conciliation Committee of the European Parliament and the Council (for details see AIG-Notices 17). The Directive should be published in the European Communities’ Official Journal shortly. Once published, it must be… Continue reading EU: Council adopts TWF Directive
There have been several developments around the world in the increasingly controversial product category of “alcopops” (alcohol-strengthened soft drinks). Among these: The Dutch organisation concerned with self-regulation in the alcoholic beverages industry, STIVA, has elaborated five rules for the advertising and marketing of alcopops. The rules are: the name of the drink may not give… Continue reading EU: Alcopops and self-regulation
The Quality PressThe Sunday Times achieved the highest readership figures in this market over the last six monthsreaching 3,764,000 people in this period; although the paper saw 1.98% change year-on-year. The Telegraph was the most popular daily, rising 13.64% year-on-year to 2,808,000. The Independent, meanwhile, is still struggling, the daily lost 7.07% falling to 775,000… Continue reading National Newspaper NRS – May
In a landmark decision the American tobacco industry agreed on 20 June to pay up to $368.5 billion and submit to federal regulation. The tobacco manufacturers said that rather than face the prospect of massive, hugely expensive and inordinately protracted litigation, they preferred accepting certain legislative and regulatory provisions. While both sides have reached an… Continue reading US: Landmark Decision Creates Ad Bans
The Consumers Association has criticised the functioning of the UK self-regulation of non-broadcast media in a policy paper “Self-Regulation in Advertising”. The report examines the sanctions available to the ASA and makes a number of proposals to strengthen them, including fines, corrective advertising, and an independent performance review of the ASA itself.
DG XXIV – the EC’s consumer policy service – is drawing up recommendations on advertising, sponsorship and marketing to children, particularly in the context of schools. The recommendations will be contained within an Action Plan due to be published as part of a communication on consumer education and training in February 1998.
