Advertising

As more routes of advertising get closed off to cigarette makers, cigarette pack designs are taking on greater importance as marketing tools -- and carrying more meaning for smokers.

AdAge reports that those supporting Obama-style health care reform are "hoping to avoid a costly ad war they would stand a good chance of losing. 'The Democrats in Washington are clearly hoping for a short fight,' said Evan Tracey, president of the TNS Media's Campaign Media Analysis Group, in a blog post. ...

The newly-passed FDA tobacco bill, and the restrictions it places on cigarette advertising, are already drawing opposition from the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), a group of 340 companies that spend more than $100 billion a year on marketing and advertising.

The new American Legacy Foundation "truth" Campaign ads use a candid-camera approach to educating the public about the health hazards of smoking. To create the ads, the Campaign ran real online announcements seeking employees for executive-level positions at a tobacco company. The "stage" was a mock job recruiting office in New York City.