SELLING IDEAS WITH A HEART
Nagarjun “Nag” Kandukuru
VP – Global South Strategy, ThoughtWorks
DEPICTION OF WOMEN
IN ADVERTISING
“Women are soft and gentle, but
they hit things.
If your wife hits something in a
Volkswagen, it doesn’t hurt you
very much.”
Millennials offer hope
[Fair&Lovely Ayurveda]
WHAT OTHER ADs CROSS THE LINE?
(Causal/tacit sexism?)
SEXIST ADs <-> EVERYDAY SEXISM LINK?
She's your wife. Don't insult her
intelligence, and don't shock her.

“

“ The consumer is not a moron.
[Liril: Waterfall]
[Gillette: Solider for Women]
DEPICTION OF RACE
/MINORITIES IN ADVERTISING
WE’VE COME A LONG WAY BABY, BUT…
[Popchips: Raj]
WHAT CURRENT DEPICTIONS WOULD
APPEAR SHOCKING IN 20 YEARS?
[Tanishq: Remarriage]
[Havells: Hawa Badlegi]
[Google: Reunion]
“SMOKING – CANCER LINK UNPROVEN”
CYNICAL USE OF PR
“FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY - CLIMATE CHANGE LINK UNPROVEN”
PR BY VANDALISM
CSR as PR HOGWASH
IMAGE MANAGEMENT
WHAT OTHER PR PRACTICES ARE
UNACCEPTABLE?
PREYING ON THE DEFENCELESS
(Let’s ponder the consequences)
TARGETTING CHILDREN
BRAND NAMES AND THE TRUTH
ON-LABEL
COMMUNICATION
CONSUMPTION IS HAPPINESS?
[Coke: Ummeed wali dhoop]
[Dove: Talk to your daughter]
DECEPTIVE POSITIONING?
MANIPULATION?
CONSUMER PROFILING
PRIVACY VIOLATION?
OTHER HOT BUTTON ISSUES
EXCESSIVE INTRUSION?
ADs ON DODGY TV SHOWS?
UNCRITICAL ACCEPTANCE?
CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS GONE WILD?

$28m/year

Sub-subsistence wages
BLACKHAT SEO
SHOULD AMBUSH MARKETING BE BANNED?
WHY NOT ALLOW LATE-NIGHT LIQUOR ADs?
No easy answers
• Is subliminal advertising OK?
• Is comparison with an identifiable
competitor OK?
• Is product placement in movies OK?
MEDIA DIVERGENCE OFFERS HOPE
[Lifebuoy: child reaches five]
WHAT COULD YOU DO?
Culture

Communication
“I have the right to earn
a living!”

“If I don’t do it,
someone else will.”

“What can one
person do?”
Society

You

Client
“ The only thing necessary for the
triumph of evil is for good men
to do nothing.

“

Edmund Burke
AN OATH FOR COMMUNICATORS?
WRITE DOWN 3 THINGS YOU WILL NEVER DO
MY PRINCIPLE
SCHOOL OF CHANGE LEADERS?
BEHAVIOURAL ECONOMICS

MARKETING ETHICS

Advertising and society (selling ideas with a heart)

Editor's Notes

  • #2 Look at print ads, digital, ads, deception. Positive contributions to culture. What you can do. Won’t cover Provocative questions. As many right answers as there are people in the room.Definitely don’t have all the right answers. Chip in.
  • #3 Return to murals.Artist in the room?No surprise to you that our industry has done some pretty bad things over the years.Start with that.Not for the faint of heart.
  • #4 Body language – man not eagerly receivingWoman kneeling.
  • #5 VW. Think Small. One of the great ads. See it if you haven’t.This will make you cringe.
  • #6 Old ones. How about the current day?
  • #7 Burlusconi. Leave your worries behind.JWT. Ford. Fired.
  • #8 Draped over cars.Pulled down when NamuKini protested.
  • #9 Why does this offend us?What others?Deos?
  • #10 Casual racism?
  • #12 But there are people.
  • #13 Strong housewife.Alyque.
  • #14 Another Alyque/Lintas.Fun. Positive body image.What ads do you think show women in progressive light?
  • #16 Good or bad?
  • #17 Unilever.
  • #18 White girl eager to help. Burden on angelic girl.Black girl scowling.Chennai Express.
  • #21 Egregious examples?
  • #26 Much nicer, isn’t it?
  • #27 Old ad. Slightly risque for its time – normal now. Which is the point.
  • #28 More provocative.
  • #29 Even more so.
  • #30 One legend to another. Glamourises cigarettes.Eric Lawson.
  • #31 Hmmm…
  • #32 As you know, smoking is declining in the US. Disclosure.What kept it up?What caused the decline?
  • #33 These are clever, but not what caused its decline.
  • #34 http://www.alternet.org/story/50359/how_a_pr_firm_helped_establish_america%27s_cigarette_centuryHill quit for health reasons.‘54: link between cancer and smoking proven.Fake study after fake study by dubious scientists paid off.Millions of early deaths.
  • #36 Déjà vu all over again.Complex web.Climate change – affects the poorest the most.PR and media hand-in-glove.
  • #37 http://www.desmogblog.com/2013/08/26/bp-launches-massive-pr-campaign-demonize-oil-spill-victims”Exaggeratingclaims”. Whoknows? Verify.Not just yourconscience. Prevent backlash.
  • #38 http://thenextweb.com/insider/2011/12/08/wikipedia-investigates-unethical-edits-by-pr-firm-bell-pottinger/#!txJxYWikipedia is a great public resource. We’ve all been enriched. Visit every day.Koch.Any Wikipedia pages that sound like brand shills?
  • #39 http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2010/1009.htmlCSR: 99% of the timescrewover the world.
  • #40 Apparentlt it’s Being Human to run over pedestrians in the street.
  • #44 http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-27/mumbai/38860966_1_kids-swati-popat-vats-surveyKinu: Trust Pink, Vanish.
  • #45 http://rajganpath.com/2011/11/02/the-truth-behind-health-drinks/And these kinds of brands.
  • #46 http://www.aspisdrift.com/2009/05/indian-ads-hidden-codes-part-2-complan.htmlI think these are legal, but ethical?
  • #47 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/21/msg-is-this-silent-killer-lurking-in-your-kitchen-cabinets.aspxObesity Eye damage Headaches Fatigue and disorientation DepressionNumbness Burning sensation Tingling Facial pressure or tightness Chest pain or difficulty breathing Headache Nausea Rapid heartbeat Drowsiness WeaknessAlzheimer’sBrain nerve damage
  • #48 Blood on their hands?Ronald McDonald is certainly a leading figure.
  • #49 Don’t know about you, but happiness should be deeper and longer-lasting.
  • #50 Trying to occupy a high ground? Very positive.Is it ok for Coke to try to occupy it?
  • #52 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13942060
  • #53 http://savers.moneylife.in/blog/mutual-funds/article/mutual-fund-advertising-deceptions-galore/434.html
  • #54 http://www.moneylife.in/article/does-amfis-advertisement-on-mutual-funds-pass-the-test-of-ethics/31589.html
  • #55 http://www.onemint.com/2012/05/25/you-dont-need-to-buy-a-childrens-plan-to-invest-for-your-children/http://www.rediff.com/money/report/perfin-are-child-insurance-plans-really-good/20090806.htm
  • #56 Human race hasn&apos;t calculated the cost of being watched all the time.
  • #57 http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-target-figured-out-a-teen-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-father-did/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/magazine/shopping-habits.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0
  • #58 http://www.sileo.com/facebook-uses-photos/
  • #60 Cricket belongs to the people.Web?
  • #62 http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/sainath/paid-news-undermining-democracy-press-council-report/article407201.ecehttp://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?263242
  • #63 http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&amp;Source=Page&amp;Skin=TOINEW&amp;BaseHref=TOIA/2011/11/25&amp;PageLabel=9&amp;EntityId=Ar00902&amp;ViewMode=HTML
  • #64 1998.No logo.Fraction paid to workers?Fair?
  • #65 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/business/13search.html
  • #66 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8743881.stm
  • #68 3.8    No advertisement may use images of very brief duration, or any other technique that is likely to influence consumers, without their being fully aware of what has been done.http://www.cap.org.uk/Advertising-Codes/Broadcast-HTML/Section-3-Misleading-advertising.aspx
  • #79 As a business leader I recognize my role in society.•  My purpose is to lead people and manage resources to create value that no single individual can create alone.•  My decisions affect the well-being of individuals inside and outside my enterprise, today and tomorrow.Therefore, I promise that:•  I will manage my enterprise with loyalty and care, and will not advance my personal interests at the expense of my enterprise or society.•  I will understand and uphold, in letter and spirit, the laws and contracts governing my conduct and that of my enterprise.•  I will refrain from corruption, unfair competition, or business practices harmful to society.•  I will protect the human rights and dignity of all people affected by my enterprise, and I will oppose discrimination and exploitation.•  I will protect the right of future generations to advance their standard of living and enjoy a healthy planet.•  I will report the performance and risks of my enterprise accurately and honestly.•  I will invest in developing myself and others, helping the management profession continue to advance and create sustainable and inclusive prosperity.In exercising my professional duties according to these principles, I recognize that my behavior must set an example of integrity, eliciting trust and esteem from those I serve. I will remain accountable to my peers and to society for my actions and for upholding these standards.