Brands Pull Ads from GB News TV Channel over Content Concerns

THE GUARDIAN: Ikea, Grolsch and Kopparberg have suspended adverts due to station’s perceived conflict with their values

GB News, the television channel that launched this week with backing from pro-Brexit tycoons and a mission to produce “anti-woke” US-style news content, is facing an advertiser backlash after big consumer brands including Ikea, Nivea and Grolsch said they would pull their adverts from the network.

Fronted by a clutch of familiar names including the former BBC and Sky presenters Andrew Neil and Kirsty Gallacher, GB News, which launched on Sunday evening, is pitching itself as an alternative to the mainstream media with a focus on generating opinion and controversy, rather than original reporting.

However, activists are already calling for boycotts of brands that advertise on the channel, on the grounds that they believe it is hoping to monetise divisive political issues and to push the boundaries of UK TV news regulations, which require politically balanced broadcasts. » | Jasper Jolly | Tuesday, June 15, 2021

How GB News is bringing US-style opinionated TV news to the UK »

Inside Story: Can Online Content Be Policed?

YouTube is the world's most popular video-sharing site. Billions of users watch and upload videos on the website, which makes it a natural fit for advertisers. But the company has come under fire after a UK-based newspaper found adverts running along side inappropriate videos of children and comments.

The Times investigation found there were many videos of pre-teen girls, which were then liked and commented on by hundreds of paedophiles. One such clip of a young girl drew 6.5 million views. Several companies including chocolate-maker MARS and Deutsche bank have pulled their ads from YouTube.

The newspaper said the site had allowed sexualised imagery of children to be easily searchable. It also criticised the company for not monitoring its content. So, will YouTube do more to monitor and remove certain content?

Presenter: Laura Kyle | Guests: Nishanth Sastry - Senior Lecturer in Informatics at King's College London; Susan Rose - Marketing and Reputation Expert at Henley Business School; Aral Balkan - Who describes himself as a "cyborg" Rights Activist

Fox Losing More Advertisers After Sexual Harassment Claims Against O’Reilly

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Pressure mounted on Tuesday for Fox News to take action against its top-rated host, Bill O’Reilly, as a series of prominent companies pulled advertising from his show and a leading women’s rights group called for his ouster.

Following an investigation by The New York Times over the weekend that revealed multiple settlements over allegations of sexual harassment or other inappropriate behavior by Mr. O’Reilly, the network faced a major advertising revolt as more than a dozen marketers said that they were withdrawing their ads from “The O’Reilly Factor.” Escalating the tension, the National Organization for Women called for Mr. O’Reilly to be fired and said an independent investigation should be conducted into the culture at Fox News.

“Fox News is too big and too influential to simply let this go,” Terry O’Neill, the president of NOW, said in a statement. » | Emily Steel and Michael S. Schmidt | Tuesday, April 4, 2017

China: The Most Racist Advertisement Ever: Qiaobi

Has Sainsbury’s Christmas Ad Left John Lewis Out in the Cold?

The supermarket group's take on Christmas Day 1914 in the trenches has upped the ante in the seasonal adverts battle

Read the Telegraph article and comment here | Elizabeth Anderson | Thursday, November 13, 2014

Ads Linking Hitler to Islam to Run on DC-area Buses

Pamela Geller: 'My intent is to leapfrog over a media that is not even-handed'
WND: An organization run by an anti-Mulsim blogger has purchased billboards on the sides of twenty Washington DC Metro buses featuring Adolph [sic] Hitler and calling for an end to ‘all aid to Islamic countries.’

The ads are paid for by American Freedom Defense Initiative, an organization devoted to fighting “global jihad and Islamic supremacism,’ and headed by Long Island-based Atlas Shrugs blogger Pamela Geller, according to WJLA. » | Agence France-Presse | Sunday, May 18, 2014

Mona Eltahawy Arrested for Vandalism of American Freedom Defense Initiative Ads in NY Subway


HT: Robert Spencer @ Jihad Watch »

Hair Product for 'Real Men': Turkish TV Ad Features Hitler to Sell Shampoo

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: A Turkish TV commercial has sparked international criticism for featuring Adolf Hitler to praise the virtues of a "hundred percent men's shampoo." Critics have called it "repulsive," but it follows a controversial trend among firms to sell their wares with supposedly humorous references to Hitler and the Nazi era.

A Turkish cosmetics company is under fire for featuring Adolf Hitler in a television advert for men's shampoo, but it continues to run on the country's state television network despite widespread outrage.

The 12-second commercial shows black-and-white footage of Hitler delivering an impassioned speech, dubbed with a high-pitched voice screaming the following words in clipped Turkish:

"Why are you using woman's shampoo if you're not wearing a woman's dress? Now there's the hundred percent men's shampoo Biomen. A real man uses Biomen."

Media reports said that Turkish state television has so far declined to remove the commercial, despite criticism from Jewish groups in Turkey and abroad. The US-based Anti-Defamation League released a statement saying it was "repulsed" at the commercial. » | cro – with wire reports | Monday, March 26, 2012


Related »

Turkish TV Commercial Uses Hitler to Advertise Shampoo

Another Step Closer to Sharia Law: TV Alcohol Advertising Ban Proposed
THE INDEPENDENT: A bid to impose a total ban on alcohol advertising on television has been launched in Parliament.

The legislation, proposed by GP and Tory MP Sarah Wollaston, would also prevent alcohol brands being used to sponsor sporting and cultural events.

Under her plan to limit children's exposure to alcohol marketing, tightly controlled advertising would only be permitted in certain circumstances with a blanket ban on all other promotion.

Dr Wollaston (Totnes) has cross-party backing for her move, but critics labelled it an extension of the "nanny state". » | David Hughes, PA | Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Incredible! An Ad from a Less Enlightened Age!

Bruce Willis se met au service d'une banque russe
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: PUBLICITÉ | L'acteur américain Bruce Willis est depuis mercredi le visage de la campagne publicitaire de la banque russe Trust, a annoncé la compagnie dans un communiqué.

Dans cette publicité pour l'instant limitée à l'internet, le visage de l'acteur spécialiste des films d'action est accompagné d'une phrase: "Trust est comme moi, sauf que c'est une banque".

"L'image de Bruce Willis est celle d'un homme respectable, sur lequel on peut compter", relève la banque dans un communiqué, précisant s'être payé les services de l'acteur pour un an. >>> AFP | Mercredi 24 Novembre 2010

Gay McDonald's Ad in France

Bill O’Reilly’s Response

Gay Priests Ice Cream Adverts Banned
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: An ice cream company has been banned from using an advert showing two gay priests about to kiss, just a month after being ordered to withdraw a campaign featuring a pregnant nun.

The ASA ruled that the ad must not appear again and told Antonio Federici to ensure future ads were not likely to cause serious or widespread offence. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
The latest Antonio Federici ad, which appeared in Look magazine, showed two priests in full robes eating from a tub of ice cream ''in a seductive pose as if they were about to kiss passionately'', the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said.

Accompanying text read: ''We Believe in Salivation''.

Defending the advert, the company said it did not mock Catholicism but ''reflected the grave troubles they considered affected the Catholic Church''.

Antonio Federici was a Catholic company, but would continue to produce advertising that challenged the Catholic Church while it believed it remained troubled, it added. >>> | Tuesday, October 27, 2010

Spain to Ban Sex Adverts from National Newspapers
THE GUARDIAN: President says ban is part of a strategy to fight people trafficking and sexual exploitation rife in Spain

The Spanish government has put itself on collision course with the national press with the announcement that it wants to ban adverts offering sexual services from their classified sections.

The explicit adverts, which fill at least a page in most of Spain's dailies, are worth €40m (£34m) a year to the struggling newspaper industry.

President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero made the announcement during this week's state of the nation speech, saying it was part of a strategy to fight the people trafficking and sexual exploitation that was rife in the country.

"As long as these advertisements exist, they contribute to the idea of this activity as normal," he said.

The Association of Spanish Newspaper Editors responded by saying that the logical policy would be for the government to make prostitution illegal. "If it was illegal, then newspapers wouldn't carry the ads," a spokesman said.

If the ads are banned, newspapers will want to be compensated and, worryingly for Zapatero, El País, a staunch supporter of his socialist party, is the paper that earns the most from this form of advertising. With its left-liberal sensibilities and readership profile, El País is the Spanish paper that most resembles the Guardian, and yet it earns €5m a year from advertising prostitution. >>> Stephen Burgen in Barcelona | Friday, July 16, 2010

So are the rights of homosexuals, infidels, atheists, Jews and Christians. But what did your beloved prophet Muhammad say about those? Silly people! – ©Mark Photo: Saphir News
Grande-Bretagne : « Inspiré par Muhammad », une campagne de pub au service des musulmans – Muhammad s'affiche sur les bus, métro et taxis londoniens
SAPHIR NEWS: « Inspiré par Muhammad ». C’est la nouvelle campagne de publicité lancée depuis lundi 7 juin à Londres, visant à améliorer l’image de l’islam et des musulmans aux yeux des Britanniques par le biais de photos de musulmans et des musulmanes, voilées ou non, placardés dans les rues et les métros de la capitale. Cette campagne coïncide avec la publication d’un sondage portant sur la perception de l'islam en Grande-Bretagne. Ce qui en ressort est inquiétant : plus d’un Britannique sur deux associe l’islam à l’intégrisme et au terrorisme.

Quoi de mieux qu’une campagne de pub de grande échelle pour balayer les préjugés qu’une partie de la population a envers l’islam… ou du moins améliorer leur perception négative de la religion musulmane ? Ce rêve est devenu réalité en Grande-Bretagne, où l'on peut apercevoir, depuis lundi 7 juin, des photos de musulmans et de musulmanes, voilées ou non, placardés dans les stations de métro, de bus et sur les taxis de la capitale britannique et de ses environs.

Ces affiches sont accompagnées de messages courts tels que « Je crois en les droits de la femme », « Je crois en la justice sociale » et « Je crois en la protection de l’environnement », toutes suivies de « Muhammad aussi ». On l’a tous compris, c’est bien du Prophète Muhammad dont il s’agit.

Ce Prophète continue d’inspirer la vie de millions de personnes à travers le monde. Quoi de plus évident pour Exploring Islam Foundation (EIF), initiatrice du projet, de centrer cette campagne publicitaire autour de celui qui est considéré comme le Sceau des Prophètes, le dernier des messagers pour 1,5 milliard de musulmans sur la planète. Muhammad, un modèle qui fascine >>> Hanan Ben Rhouma | Mercredi 09 Juin 2010

Check out the video! It’s unbelievable. Really unbelievable! Talk about a whitewash… this is it! What a load of BS! Inspired by Muhammad >>>

Is this one of the virtues of Islam? Female genital mutilation? Gruesome photo courtesy of Google Images
London Taxis to Extol Virtues of Islam
TIMES ONLINE: Fifty eight per cent of the British public associate Islam with extremism but a new campaign is promoting the religion on London transport

The purple, pink and green sign on the yellow London taxi reads: “The rights of women are sacred.”

This is not some spiritual feminist mantra born of the New Age, but comes out of one of the most traditional religions in the world.

The advertisement marks the launch of a campaign to promote a positive image of Islam, a religion not widely known for its promotion of the rights of women.

The negative view of a faith followed by nearly 1.6 billion people, or one fifth of the world’s population, is the main reason for the launch of the Inspired by Muhammad campaign.

Besides London taxis, the advertisements are to appear on Underground trains and bus stops.

After a new poll showed that 58 per cent of people associate Islam with extremism and 50 per cent with terrorism, the campaign is intended to promote a positive Islamic message about the environment and social justice as well as women.

The campaign was launched by the Exploring Islam Foundation, a new and privately funded group run by young British Muslim professionals.

The YouGov poll of 2,152 adults found that just 13 per cent of those questions believed Islam to be a religion of peace and even fewer, six per cent, associated it with justice.

More than four in 10 disagreed that Muslims have a positive impact on British society, nearly seven in ten said Islam encourages the repression of women and fewer than two in ten said Islam promotes fairness and equality.

The campaign was launched at Tower Bridge, an image of London used on postcards throughout the world. >>> Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent | Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Church Warned that Flag of Jesus Is 'Religious Advertising'
THE TELEGRAPH: A vicar has been warned by council officials about flying a flag depicting Jesus Christ outside his church because it was deemed to be “religious advertising”.

Rev Mark Binney, vicar of St Andrew’s Church, Hampton, Worcs, said he had been told he needed planning permission if he wanted to fly a flag “advertising Christianity” in future.

The flag was put up outside the church in the week preceding Easter Sunday displaying the words 'This is Holy Week' and an image of Jesus on the cross. >>> Richard Savill | Thursday, April 29, 2010

Cruel Is As Cruel Does
THE TELEGRAPH: An advertising campaign mocking the 5ft 5 ins stature of President Nicolas Sarkozy has caused a scandal in France.

The posters by car hire firm, Sixt, urge customers to rent a small Citroen C3 hatchback, with the slogan, "Be like Madame Bruni, take a small French model".

The height difference between the 5ft 10 ins tall French First Lady and her husband has long been a matter of some discussion.

Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy, 43, is regularly photographed wearing flat soles to appear shorter beside him, while Mr Sarkozy, 55, wears footwear to make himself appear taller.

Fun is also frequently poked at the President for standing on a footstool behind podiums known as a "Sarkozy step" when making speeches.

The couple have sued two separate companies in the past for using their images in ad campaigns without permission. Car Advert Ridicules Nicolas Sarkozy's Height >>> | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Welcome to Smokebook: Big Tobacco Subverts Ban
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: TOBACCO giants are using Facebook to subvert bans and international conventions against cigarette advertising, a study by University of Sydney researchers published in the British Medical Journal has found.

''We have gathered here to pay homage to Lucky Strike, the bestest cigarette in the whole widest world,'' says one Facebook page administered by an employee of the tobacco company RJ Reynolds highlighted by the study.

Other Lucky Strike pages, one with tens of thousands of members, had images of old and new tobacco ads and various Lucky Strike tobacco products and merchandise. The report also found employees of British American Tobacco Australia had established similar pages.

In a statement BAT Australia's managing director, David Crow, said: ''It's absolutely not our policy to use social networking sites such as Facebook to promote our tobacco product brands. To do so could breach local advertising laws.

''Our rules mean that employees should not post branded material on social networking sites, blog sites, chat forums or other 'user-generated content' sites such as YouTube - whatever the intention in posting the material may be.''

The statement said ''if we find group employees have posted material that they shouldn't, perhaps out of naivety, we will be telling them to remove it''. >>> Nick O’Malley Investigations | Saturday, April 24, 2010