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How to make money and have ethics in advertising - it can be done! |
Any business, and more specifically, the communication industry, is set up with the major goal of earning money. Although earning money is everyones utmost desire, earning it at the cost of ruining others is not acceptable. The main aim of advertisement is to increase the popularity of a product so as to ensure its maximum sale. However, the advertiser and ad creator should ensure that an advertisement should not lead to any disaster. In fact, advertisements should always be based on certain ethics.
Advertisements that help to corrupt anyones morals are unethical. For example, it has been observed that many children are affected by superheroes advertisements, as viewed by them on television. Such advertisements take them into a world of fantasy, and they may actually try to emulate these superheroes. In this process, they may sometimes even injure themselves. Advertisement creators and even their sponsors should keep in mind that such advertisements, which affect the minds of people in a negative manner, are unethical, and are a bane for society. The destruction of one's property is bearable, as it can be regained. However, once a persons mind is affected in a negative manner, it may cause untold and irreparable damage to the way one may think. Therefore, all advertisements, especially television advertisements, should follow certain ethics.
The advertiser and ad creator must consider the fact that advertisements are a means of mass communication. For example, if some extremely violent or provocative advertisement is telecast, it can affect the masses. Such an advertisement may have serious repercussions and the advertiser and ad creator may be legally penalized for it. Therefore, they must keep in mind that advertisements should not be created just for the purpose of earning money, but also have to follow certain ethics.
Another aspect to be considered is that advertisements should not hurt the religious sentiments of any community. Any such advertisement may cause riots, and will be therefore unethical. Earning money should not be the sole aim.
Disorienting the minds of minors through advertisements is an offence, and therefore, the advertiser and ad creator must always ensure that an advertisement should not negatively affect the tender minds of children, as their mind is very sensitive and is easily affected. An advertisement may take them into a world of dreams. Therefore, if an advertisement causes the viewers to injure them, the advertiser and ad creator company may have to face legal proceedings and penalized.
At times, a catchy ad compels a consumer to buy a product. But during the use of the product, it is found that the product is not worth the money paid to purchase it. In such situations, the product manufacturer, and in consequence, the ad creator and advertiser might have to suffer from the loss of reputation. And if circumstances become more unfavorable, the entire stock might stagnate in the manufacturers godown, unsold. Therefore, advertisements should be based on the ethic of truthfulness. Advertisements must project reality. A little bit of fancy and creativity in ads is ok, but making them absolutely out of the world might land its creator in trouble. The advertiser must follow these ethics in ads to ensure that they enhance the awareness, fame, and popularity of the product, rather than bringing upon the advertiser, controversies and legal suits.
About the Author
Gary A Milke owns and operates http://www.newcorporateethics.com Corporate Ethics
Article source http://w4rum.com/2748.t
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| [By Kimber Fulcher] [07/Jul/07] |
