Stopped by Hy-Vee this morning before work to get some breakfast and lunch for the office this week.
They had a sign up that they would be offering veterans free breakfast on Veterans Day (tomorrow).
I kept looking at the sign as I walked towards the entrance and thought, "huh, I really like that".
It seemed simple and I couldn't quite place my approval of this offer on anything in particular. Later in the morning it hit me. This wasn't a Hy-Vee junk food extravaganza in which all junk food is 50% off for everyone.* It's a meal. On Veterans Day. To honor VETERANS for their service. Why do all the other places have "SALES" for everyone on a day when we should be thanking our veterans? We don't.
So please "other stores". Stop using Veterans Day as a sales gimmick. It's rather distasteful.
Nice work, Hy-Vee.
B
*As far as I know, there has never been a junk food extravaganza at Hy-Vee. I just made that up for dramatic effect.
edited to add:
Showing posts with label advertising. Show all posts
Showing posts with label advertising. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Advertising, football and controversy: CBS's gray area.
I have a friend here in Lawrence, Scott Winer, who has an interesting perspective on the recent decision by CBS to not broadcast a commercial about a gay dating website during the Superbowl (<--do I have to pay for that?!) Definitely something you should check out.
As a graduate from KU's William Allen White School of Journalism, this is such an interesting situation. Ethically, socially and media-related.
The Superbowl is such a huge advertising phenomenon and every year the cost of a 30-second commercial and banned commercials is news-worthy. Thirty-seconds of air time for, usually, America's most prominent brands. Is Coke really going to convince us to drink more Coke? Especially if Pepsi doesn't advertise? Ironically, the fact that Pepsi IS NOT advertising is news. Especially since they are planning on donating the money. Basically, it's a big deal.
Specifically in this year's situation, it comes down to ethics. Going into Journalism, I always had the idea that you do/write about what is right. But after my Ethics class, I was definitely more aware of the gray areas in journalism; both in the areas of marketing/pr and reporting. Is CBS doing acting on what's "right" (whatever that is) or are they sticking to their policies that they've recently changed? Is it one in the same? I don't know as much as I could about the situation, so I don't know.
But what's "right" for the American people to view (because something like 83% of the U.S. watches the Superbowl - it's an incredibly American thing to be a part of) CBS, or whichever network broadcasts the game, gets to determine what's appropriate. Usually, the biggest offender is GoDaddy.com. It's gotten to the point, I believe, that they make commercials with the sole purpose of being rejected, getting attention to their commercials online anyway, without having to pay the cost of the Superbowl commercials.
So, I am not really sure what the right answer is. But it certainly is an interesting question.
As a graduate from KU's William Allen White School of Journalism, this is such an interesting situation. Ethically, socially and media-related.
The Superbowl is such a huge advertising phenomenon and every year the cost of a 30-second commercial and banned commercials is news-worthy. Thirty-seconds of air time for, usually, America's most prominent brands. Is Coke really going to convince us to drink more Coke? Especially if Pepsi doesn't advertise? Ironically, the fact that Pepsi IS NOT advertising is news. Especially since they are planning on donating the money. Basically, it's a big deal.
Specifically in this year's situation, it comes down to ethics. Going into Journalism, I always had the idea that you do/write about what is right. But after my Ethics class, I was definitely more aware of the gray areas in journalism; both in the areas of marketing/pr and reporting. Is CBS doing acting on what's "right" (whatever that is) or are they sticking to their policies that they've recently changed? Is it one in the same? I don't know as much as I could about the situation, so I don't know.
But what's "right" for the American people to view (because something like 83% of the U.S. watches the Superbowl - it's an incredibly American thing to be a part of) CBS, or whichever network broadcasts the game, gets to determine what's appropriate. Usually, the biggest offender is GoDaddy.com. It's gotten to the point, I believe, that they make commercials with the sole purpose of being rejected, getting attention to their commercials online anyway, without having to pay the cost of the Superbowl commercials.
So, I am not really sure what the right answer is. But it certainly is an interesting question.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Things about the economy, etc
What? You don't want to be a "dancer".?
Ok, maybe our economy is sucking, but we solved this problem.
Also, this is troubling to hear when you work for a state university. Just so the karma gods know, I really like my job and am very grateful for it. *amen*
Somewhat related (?) check out this ridiculous Gawker entry about the creation of Pepsi's new logo. It is so elaborate it is either totally brilliant or the biggest load of crap ever. Either way, very imaginative (or something). And Pepsi does have a cool new branding theme. As always, cool and young, but this year it also includes a little bit of that Obama-Hope.
Pepsi, along with alcohol, makeup, fast food joints and desperate car companies will be the only advertising you see besides primetime infomercials. Oh, the horror.
Ok, maybe our economy is sucking, but we solved this problem.
Also, this is troubling to hear when you work for a state university. Just so the karma gods know, I really like my job and am very grateful for it. *amen*
Somewhat related (?) check out this ridiculous Gawker entry about the creation of Pepsi's new logo. It is so elaborate it is either totally brilliant or the biggest load of crap ever. Either way, very imaginative (or something). And Pepsi does have a cool new branding theme. As always, cool and young, but this year it also includes a little bit of that Obama-Hope.
Pepsi, along with alcohol, makeup, fast food joints and desperate car companies will be the only advertising you see besides primetime infomercials. Oh, the horror.
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