Website Of The Week: ASA

http://www.asa.org.uk

At the launch of the Advertising Standards Authority’s website today, chairman Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank announced that the ASA will be providing a service to consumers and companies who use the Internet.

When the Codes were expanded at the beginning of 1995 to include non-broadcast electronic media, advertisements on computer and video games, CD-ROM and the Internet were brought into line with press, poster and other non-broadcast media. Self-regulation of the Internet will now be the focus of a new working group and advice is available to anyone publishing advertisements on the World Wide Web.

The site itself is clearly laid out, easy to navigate and can be used with or without frames, there are nine main sections which include:

• A guide and general introduction to the ASA
• News
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Research Projects
• The British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotions
• Adjudications
• Overview of 1995 and statistics
• Committee of Advertising Practice
• Contacting The ASA

The Codes section comprises of the same information as the handbook and is actually set out like the handbook, with the facility to download a text version of the Codes if wanted. Adjudications from the last six months are available with this section being updated every month as soon as they are released. The news section is updated on a more regular basis, with access to previous months articles. However, although the ASA has made the step towards the new media age, the authority is, as yet, unable to consider any complaints via e-mail.

ASA: 0171 580 5555

See Web Round-Up later this week