Advertising

From the Charlotte Observer: When hockey players bring a tear to someone’s eye, it’s usually after breaking their nose. But there’s apparently a mushy side to these guys that the world has overlooked. Just a week after the Carolina Panthers released a sweet-hearted Christmas video, the Charlotte Checkers have produced one of their own that is both sentimental and poignant …

JMG reader David points out that the latest holiday ad from Ace Hardware begins with a woman selecting a circular saw and saying to herself, “This takes care of my son AND my son-in-law.” While it could be argued that the son and the son-in-law are not married to each other and that each guy is getting a saw, this …

Raw Story reports: A new commercial from Denmark contains a heartwarming message for the holidays about acceptance and the power of familiar love. HelloGiggles.com said that the ad is for electronics company Elgiganten and is called “Let the gifts speak.” It begins with a family at Christmas opening presents. One member of the family, a teenaged trans daughter looks uncomfortable …

Breitbart’s continuing attacks on Kellogg’s have rather predictably backfired. Investor Relations reports: The move by many of these large corporations to cancel ad contracts on Breitbart seems to already be hurting the company, as the majority of current ads on the news site are being fed to the site by Google and Taboola, which are third party ad providers, and …

You may need a tissue for this. The Independent reports: A Polish Christmas advert, which has been viewed more than two-and-a-half million times, about a grandfather learning English is melting hearts worldwide. The advert, released by online auction website Allegro, starts with the elderly man receiving an “English For Beginners” audio set from the website. He then sets about becoming …

Via Raw Story: A billboard promoting atheism during the holiday season has been run out of town by Christians in Monroe, Louisiana, who deemed it too offensive for their community’s religious sensibilities to tolerate. This message proved to be so triggering for Christians in the community that they successfully demanded that it be taken down on the grounds that it …

Breitbart today fired another warning shot at companies that might be considering joining an advertising ban by publishing a list of several product recalls made by Kellogg’s over the last few years. Their article begins with this: “Kellogg’s, a company facing accusations of profiting from child labor practices at an Indonesian supplier, has also faced multiple food product recalls in …

Hemant Mehta reports at the Friendly Atheist: American Atheists just revealed their 2016 holiday billboard campaign. Once again, they’re urging people who are on the fence about religion to skip church. The first sign, riffing on Donald Trump‘s campaign slogan, says “Make Christmas Great Again — Skip Church!” The billboard will be up throughout December in Lynchburg, Virginia, and Shreveport, …

Bloomberg reports: Breitbart has become a minefield for brands in recent weeks, with critics lining up on both sides of the political aisle. Before Kellogg abandoned the site, activists attacked the cereal brand for advertising on Breitbart, saying its content espouses racist and anti-Semitic views. A screen shot showing an advertisement for Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats was part of an …

In a transparent attempt to bully their remaining advertisers and in keeping with their vow that they would “go to war” against any brands that drop them, this afternoon Breitbart launched a boycott of Kellogg’s. From their notice: The decision by Kellogg’s, which makes Pringles, Eggo waffles, as well as Special K and Frosted Flakes cereals, among others, will make …

From the Hollywood Reporter: Breitbart News, the media outlet whose executive chairman, Steve Bannon, was Donald Trump’s campaign CEO and is now the president-elect’s chief counselor, is declaring war on liberal activists who are encouraging brands to withhold their advertising from the popular website. Insurance company Allstate and food company Kellogg’s, maker of Fruit Loops and Cocoa Krispies, are the …

Bloomberg reports: Kellogg Co. is pulling its ads from the website Breitbart News, the right-wing news organization whose former chairman Steve Bannon was tapped as a top adviser to President-elect Donald Trump. Brands that advertise on Breitbart have drawn flak in recent weeks, with activists saying the website espouses racist and anti-Semitic views. A screen shot showing an advertisement for …

From Greenville, South Carolina’s NBC affiliate: A Columbia gun dealer is launching its controversial Christmas billboard campaign for the third year, and says its goal is to “start conversation about the role of firearms in the American household.” A release from Palmetto State Armory said the campaign is designed to lead to conversation about guns in a “positive and lighthearted …

Paging One Million Moms. Gay Star News reports: Confectionary brand Hershey’s features gay husbands in its latest ‘Say It With A Kiss’ advertising campaign advert. The adorable advert features husbands Josh and Matt Noble, who live in New York City. The couple recently moved Josh’s mother into their home so they could help support her. “She and my father spent …

Bloomberg reports: AppNexus Inc., operator of one of the biggest digital advertising services, has barred Breitbart News from using its ad-serving tools because the conservative online publisher violated its hate speech rules. AppNexus scrutinized Breitbart’s website after U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump tapped Steve Bannon, former executive chairman of Breitbart, to be White House chief strategist last week. The digital ad …

Just in from Monica Cole: Zales Jewelers should be ashamed of attempting to normalize sin by featuring two women getting married in their latest commercial. It shows two women in wedding gowns exchanging vows and wedding bands. Zales is promoting same-sex marriage and their new “Love and Pride” Collection. The “Love and Pride” wedding band collection, designed for the LGBTQ …

Politico reports: The air war over Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee is already beginning, less than two weeks after the election. The conservative Judicial Crisis Network is launching an ad buy of more than $175,000 to applaud Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) for holding the line against President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland. Grassley never allowed Garland …

The Christmas ad for Britain’s John Lewis department store chain is always big news and pundits love to find metaphors for current events. This year is no different. The Guardian reports: In theory, the intention was admirable. But this year has been such a domino stack of heartbreaking disappointment that John Lewis wouldn’t have had to do much to make …

CNN reports: Hillary Clinton’s campaign sent cease-and-desist letters to broadcasters advising that they shouldn’t air ads from pro-Donald Trump PACs that include the claim that Clinton is “under investigation by the FBI.” The letters were dated Sunday, the same day the FBI announced that it was sticking by its conclusion that no charges were recommended against Clinton following completion of …

Via Buzzfeed: The night before polls open across the country, Hillary Clinton will lay out her closing argument for a “hopeful and inclusive” vision in a two-minute direct-to-camera ad set to reach an estimated national audience of 20 million people. “I think we can all agree it’s been a long campaign. But tomorrow, you get to pick our next president,” …