Advertising Ethics Cover Story, Original Broadcast Date: June 22, 2007 (Show #1043):

Advertising is a big business in the U.S. So it's no surprise that some companies set out to push the envelope when creating commercials to sell products. But although there are laws and codes in place to help govern industry abuses, what role should ethics play in advertising practices? Lucky Severson explores advertising's impact on American culture and talks to industry experts about the ethical and moral issues that should be considered when creating and placing ad content. According to Keith Reinhard, chairman emeritus of ad agency DDB Worldwide, "When we are at our best, we are not only lifting sales for the brands entrusted to us but we're also I think lifting the human spirit. We can use that influence to vulgarize, to brutalize society, or we can use it to lift it to a higher level. It's our choice."

Featured (in alphabetical order):

Professor Meme Drumwright, Department of Advertising, University of Texas, Austin
Archbishop John Foley, Vatican Office of Social Communications
Keith Reinhard, Chairman Emeritus, DDB Worldwide Communications Group, Inc.
Mary Warlick, CEO, The One Club