November 2008 Archives

Wednesday November 26, 2008

"There's Never a Marques of Queensbury Around When You Need One"

Broadcast: November 27 (Originally Broadcast: January 12th, 2008)

Terry explores the long history of "attack ads" and political dirty tricks, and shows how changing media have changed the nature of election campaigns, from a discussion of issues to an assessment of personalities.

Major campaign ads are assembled by hand-picked "dream teams" comprised of many of the greatest creative minds in the business. Yet somehow these campaigns invariably descend into a paint-by-numbers litany of personal attacks and stratospheric promises.

To voters they're a blight, but to broadcasters, they're manna from heaven: prompting hefty airtime buys from warring parties, and fueling news and political panel shows (who respond in kind: giving free airtime to the more incendiary ads.)

Listen to this episode as streaming audio (runs 27:30)

Categories: Past Episodes

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Wednesday November 19, 2008

"Do This Or Die"

Broadcast Date November 20, 2008 (Originally Aired June 21, 2007)

A generation ago, one of the greats of the Ad business, Bob Levenson, wrote perhaps the most remarkable - and least-celebrated - ads in history.

Titled "Do This Or Die", it was both a manifesto and a warning to the Ad Industry.

It was a plea for candour and intelligence among advertisers, and for authentic dialogue with consumers. This week on The Age of Persuasion, Terry O'Reilly explains why today's advertisers ignore this plea at their peril.

Listen to this episode as streaming audio (runs 27:30)

Categories: Past Episodes

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Wednesday November 12, 2008

The Future of Persuasion

Broadcast Date: Nov 13, 2008 (Originally Aired June 14, 2007)

Advertising is a six hundred billion dollar industry these days - and that doesn't take into account its impact on the products and services it promotes.

But nobody really seems to know where the ad industry is headed.

This week on The Age of Persuasion, Terry O'Reilly explains how marketers are slow to adapt to new technologies. But at the same time, advertising is fast moving away from conventional forms and "messaging."

Listen to this episode as streaming audio (runs 27:30)

Categories: Past Episodes

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Friday November 7, 2008

The Wall of Cynicism

Broadcast Date: Broadcast Date November 6, 2008 (Originally Aired May 31, 2007)

According to one survey, six per cent of North Americans believe the moon landings were faked.

Given that degree of pervasive cynicism, it's not surprising that it's hard to convince people that your brand of laxative, athletic footwear or luxury sedan is worth buying.

This week, on The Age of Persuasion, Terry O'Reilly traces the erosion of people's trust in advertising, media, and institutions - from the early Snake Oil salesmen to Orson Welles' infamous "War of the Worlds" broadcast - the 1938 radio drama that caused a real-life panic.
Terry also explores some of the ways today's marketers try to break through that distrust.

Listen to this episode as streaming audio (runs 27:30)