Advertising

The BBC reports: Twitter has apologised for allowing adverts to be micro-targeted at certain users such as neo-Nazis, homophobes and other hate groups. The BBC discovered the issue and that prompted the tech firm to act. Our investigation found it possible to target users who had shown an interest in keywords including “transphobic”, “white supremacists” and “anti-gay”. Twitter allows ads …

The Hill reports: An anti-Trump Republican group is launching new ads urging senators to call witnesses as part of the impeachment trial that’s kicking off in the Senate. Republicans for the Rule of Law is spending $1 million to air two ads on “Fox and Friends” and “Lou Dobbs Tonight” every day next week, the group announced Thursday. The ads …

Buzzfeed News reports: President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign is wasting little time capitalizing on the assassination of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Just three days after the death of the head of Iran’s Quds Force, the president’s reelection campaign began to run hundreds of ads praising Trump for ordering the killing — a decision that had been declined by presidents George …

ABC News reports: President Trump’s reelection campaign will spend $10 million on a television ad during the Super Bowl next month as the president ramps up his push for a second term. The campaign bought 60 seconds of commercial time during the Feb. 2 blockbuster event for an ad or ads that are expected to be aired earlier in the …

Ad Age reports: Spotify is suspending the sale of political advertising on its platform, the company told Ad Age Friday. Spotify said in a statement that it will pause political advertising in early 2020 across its ad-supported tier—which boasts nearly 130 million users. “At this point in time, we do not yet have the necessary level of robustness in our …

NBC News reports: For presidential candidates, maintaining a steady presence in the critical early voting states can be challenging. But voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina see Rep. Tulsi Gabbard all the time — in the form of billboards and lawn signs. Gabbard has spent $678,790 on billboards alone in the first three quarters of this year. No …

The Hill reports: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) is defending the state’s launch of an anti-drug campaign with the slogan “Meth, we’re on it.” The tagline drew a mix of criticism and ridicule across Twitter on Monday, but Noem cited the backlash as proof that efforts to raise awareness around South Dakota’s methamphetamine crisis was, in fact, working. “Meth …

The New York Times reports: Bernie Sanders’s campaign plans to spend more than $30 million on TV advertising alone in the first four presidential nominating states and California, according to several people familiar with the strategy, a financial show of force that also suggests he needs to reach outside the traditional sphere of Democratic primary voters and caucusgoers for support. …

The Verge reports: Twitter is banning all political ads globally, starting November 22nd, according to tweets by the company’s CEO Jack Dorsey on Wednesday. The changes will affect both candidate ads and issue ads, although ads encouraging voter registration will still be allowed, along with other exceptions. Dorsey said a full policy will be made available to the public on …

The Associated Press reports: Soon, you could get fewer familiar ads following you around the internet — or at least on Facebook. Facebook is launching a long-promised tool that lets you limit what the social network can gather about you on outside websites and apps. The company said Tuesday that it is adding a section where you can see the …

The New York Post reports: Floating digital billboards are headed to Davy Jones’ locker. A bill signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday restricts vessels with the eyesores from operating in New York’s waters. Billboards on boats using “flashing, intermittent or moving lights” will be prohibited from operating, anchoring or mooring in the navigable waters of the state, …

The Hill reports: Joe Biden’s presidential campaign announced its first major ad buy on Tuesday, targeting several cities in Iowa with a message touting the Democrat’s strength against President Trump. In a 60-second piece targeting media markets in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities and Sioux City, the former vice president’s campaign describes the 2020 election as more urgent than …

From the Hollywood Reporter: One major brand that advertised on Wednesday night’s show, the meal kit service HelloFresh, said the spot “was placed through a remnant inventory advertising purchase.” A spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter that “this remainder buy is now complete and the ad is no longer running.” Nestlé, which has advertised the Proactiv skin care product on Carlson’s …

Reuters reports: Advertisements by Coca-Cola around a music festival in Hungary that promote gay acceptance have prompted a boycott call from a senior member of the conservative ruling party. The posters, in tandem with the week-long “Love Revolution” event starting on Wednesday in Budapest, show gay people and couples smiling with slogans like “zero sugar, zero prejudice”. On Sunday, Fidesz’s …

Fortune reports: Donald Trump won’t be on stage for the two nights of the Democratic presidential debate in Detroit, but he’s not missing the opportunity to take shots at the candidates. The president’s re-election campaign is airing a 30-second attack ad that opens with 10 Democrats, including Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris, raising their hands when asked if …

The Hill reports: Bud Light is offering to give free beer to any aliens that make it out of Area 51 in Nevada, as an satirical online campaign to “storm” the site has attracted the attention of millions. The beer maker made the announcement in a series of tweets about the military base, which conspiracy theorists have long believed to …

Business Insider reports: Nike put out a brand new commercial celebrating the accomplishments of the United States Women’s National Team both on and off the field. The United States Women’s National Team won their second straight World Cup on Sunday, dominating Netherlands 2-0 in the final. Second after securing the trophy, Nike released an inspiring new commercial celebrating the team’s …

The Associated Press reports: A series of Facebook video ads for President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign shows what appears to be a young woman strolling on a beach in Florida, a Hispanic man on a city street in Texas and a bearded hipster in a coffee shop in Washington, D.C., all making glowing, voice-over endorsements of the president. “I could …

The Hill reports: Adidas faced widespread backlash after it inadvertently tweeted racist, anti-Semitic and other offensive phrases as part of its social media campaign. The sportswear giant ran its #DareToCreate campaign Monday that aimed to promote its new Arsenal shirt. If a user shared a tweet advertising the brand using the hashtag, an image of the Arsenal shirt was personalized …

Predictable furor from the far-right Federalist: Oreo cookies, a division of international foods giant Nabisco, announced yesterday a “special” LGBT edition that includes lectures about how to use transgender pronouns. “We’re proud to celebrate inclusivity for all gender identities and expressions,” the company wrote in its Facebook post announcing the change. “In partnership with NCTE, we’re giving away special edition …