Broadcast date: Saturday April 26, 2008
Listen to this episode as streaming audio (runs 27:30):
After thirty years of hearing "I hate advertising", Terry's springing to the
defence of his industry. Will he argue that all advertising is great? No.
But he will make a case that maybe, just maybe, it doesn't suck as much as
some people like to think.
This week, Terry O’Reilly tugs on Superman’s cape, he spits in the wind; more recently he was seen inquiring as to the whereabouts of the Lone Ranger. In this surly frame of mind, Terry makes the case of the defence of advertising in modern culture. By the magic of radio, he’ll show you what the world would be like... if advertising had never been born. Then he’ll take you on a tour, and show you why an ad-free world might not be the cultural paradise some might imagine.
Terry O'Reilly is back exploring the countless ways marketers permeate your life, from media, art, and language, to politics, religion, and fashion. 
Comments
This episode was a really light-hearted approach to the reality that without advertising and marketing, a growth economy wouldn't be possible, and a lot of us would go hungry and then to the grave. You are, Mr. O'Reilly, the first person I've heard state this without sounding like a neo-con jerk. Well done...
Posted by: CT Moore | April 26, 2008 11:43 AM
I am here to celebrate the end of advertising as we know it not to mourn it. :)
Context based advertising is the future, as gmail uses, is the future.
Common sense tells you that exposing everyone to a message meant for only a tiny fraction of its recipients is a waste and a nuisance. I don't buy light beer. I never will. I don't buy ecocidal overpackaged cleaning products; never will. On the other hand, there has been more than one occasion now where while using gmail, google has suggested a product that i needed very much right at that moment, and had no idea that it existed. I think that non-targeted advertising should be taxed out of existence as the social pollution it is.
Posted by: IdealPragmatist | April 26, 2008 11:59 AM
Love the show. I have developed a respect for good advertising and a distain for crap, largely thanks to your show. If more people listened to your show I think the level of advertising would have to improve due to a more discerning public.
I think one of my favorite parts of the show are the credits. Not surprising you would make a traditionally boring thing into something to look forward to.
When does the permalink stream become activated. It sems to come on some time on Monday.
Cheers to all
Peter Millican
Posted by: peter Millican | April 28, 2008 11:05 AM
This is IMHO the best show around!
The time you folks spend researching this stuff very much appreciated. The production is outstanding. This is a class act, and you people do an incredible job!
CBC, could we get a podcast of this series someday? (I've missed many episodes, and this show gets a crappy timespot for me)
With all of the attention that the cbc is paying to podcasting, I'm quite surprised that this show doesn't make the cut.
Cheers to all involved in this terrific production, though.
Cheers,
Colin
Posted by: Colin Woods | April 29, 2008 12:36 AM
First of all, thanks for the great comments. We figured this episode would be somewhat controversial. The majority of people don't value advertising, but it does have a very critical purpose in a free economy. But it still should do everything it can to be creative, and smart and meaningful.
Thanks CT Moore for the kind words. Very appreciated.
And IdealPragmatist, you are aptly named. I think, in many ways, you are correct, and you are describing the advertising of the future. Reaching specific audiences with specific products is finally becoming possible with the net. But don't hold a wake for mass advertising just yet.
And Peter, you have just distilled the essence and core of our show. Mike and I created the show so people could be more discerning and better informed about advertising. And we wanted to celebrate good advertising, and hold our noses at the bad stuff. So it's music to our hears to hear you say that.
And yes, every Saturday episode gets streamed on Monday.
Posted by: Terry O'Reilly | April 29, 2008 09:57 PM
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