Esuvee ads. On the media on the media.
When I first saw them, I thought the "esuvee" ads glorified those noxious vehicles; other than that I couldn't guess what the ads are for. A friend of mind had the opposite reaction, and thought the ads were against SUVs and making fun of those who drive them.
It turns out the ad campaign is supposed to promote safe SUV driving. Ford Motor Company funded the project as part of a settlement in a lawsuit against Ford for falsely advertising SUV safety.
Now the ads' oddness makes sense; consider the cocktail of motivations: ostensibly promote driving safety, government's orders. On the other hand, don't disparage SUVs since that's what you're selling.
How does the media interpret these ads? I googled up the links below. Uncritical CBS takes the ads in earnest, and reiterates their safety advice. The private blog picks up on Ford's ulterior motives. Bizjournal is facty, not so much a sucker like CBS, but still uncritical. Interestingly, Detriot news has the most balanced article, including a safety advocate's criticism on how ads draw attention from the real issue--SUV accidents aren't due to bad drivers, as the ads imply; they're due to bad SUV design, says the safety advocate. The Newsday columnist may have the most neutral commentary; he includes comments by the ad's creators, who give insight on their end of the deal.
CBS News: Safe SUV Driving No Accident
Blog: SUV PSAs esuseekay
BizJournal: Ad campagin warns of SUV risks
Detriot news brief
Newsday columnist
Canadian person-on-the-digital-street opinions included for fun. The Popmatters article is extended blah blah on the ups and downs of PSAs in general, the Ford ads being only the latest example.
Canadian opinions
Popmatters online mag
It turns out the ad campaign is supposed to promote safe SUV driving. Ford Motor Company funded the project as part of a settlement in a lawsuit against Ford for falsely advertising SUV safety.
Now the ads' oddness makes sense; consider the cocktail of motivations: ostensibly promote driving safety, government's orders. On the other hand, don't disparage SUVs since that's what you're selling.
How does the media interpret these ads? I googled up the links below. Uncritical CBS takes the ads in earnest, and reiterates their safety advice. The private blog picks up on Ford's ulterior motives. Bizjournal is facty, not so much a sucker like CBS, but still uncritical. Interestingly, Detriot news has the most balanced article, including a safety advocate's criticism on how ads draw attention from the real issue--SUV accidents aren't due to bad drivers, as the ads imply; they're due to bad SUV design, says the safety advocate. The Newsday columnist may have the most neutral commentary; he includes comments by the ad's creators, who give insight on their end of the deal.
CBS News: Safe SUV Driving No Accident
Blog: SUV PSAs esuseekay
BizJournal: Ad campagin warns of SUV risks
Detriot news brief
Newsday columnist
Canadian person-on-the-digital-street opinions included for fun. The Popmatters article is extended blah blah on the ups and downs of PSAs in general, the Ford ads being only the latest example.
Canadian opinions
Popmatters online mag
posted by fragments of angry candy at 10:06 PM
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