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The issue of HFSS advertising and the proposed 9pm watershed ban has featured again in the press this week. Both The Sun and the Daily Mail have featured articles, quoting our Chief Executive Stephen Woodford, which highlight findings from the Government’s impact assessment for the consultation on further advertising media restrictions.
The Sun article led with the headline: “WAIST OF TIME – Banning junk food adverts before 9pm will cut just two calories a day from children’s diets — equal to less than half a Smartie”. A ‘Sun Says’ editorial also emphasised that: “The Government itself now knows its “nanny state” bullying over our diets will have zero impact on obesity.”
The Daily Mail article had the headline: “Government’s plan to ban junk food adverts before 9pm ‘will cut just TWO calories a day from children’s diets’, according to its OWN research”. The article included comment from NGOs, and other ways the Government is aiming to curb obesity, as well as statistics showing the areas where the problem is most prevalent.
Stephen’s original comment in full was: “The Advertising Association has long said that further advertising restrictions are not the answer to the UK’s childhood obesity problem and the Government’s own estimates now support our view. According to their figures the proposed ad ban would only reduce children’s calorie consumption by 2 calories a day – this is a drop in the ocean.
“Encouraging children to lead more active lifestyles would be a far better way to tackle obesity than a ban on advertising that pays for the popular shows we all enjoy.”
The Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, of which the AA is the official UK representative, has continued in its mission to celebrate creativity that changes the world for the better. This week it was announced that the jury guidelines have been updated to ensure the work entered does not contain negative stereotypes or inequalities.
These guidelines are the result of a collaboration between Cannes Lions and the Unstereotype Alliance, the industry-led initiative convened by UN Women. The initiative brings together leaders from across the business, technology and creative industries to address the portrayal and endurance of harmful stereotypes in advertising and content.
Chairman of Cannes Lions, Philip Thomas said: “The Lions our Juries award each year act as a benchmark for the global creative community, and it is more important than ever for our industry to showcase and champion inclusive, empowering, forward-thinking ideas. As consumers demand more of brands and businesses, these guidelines will, we hope, help to ensure that the work honoured at Cannes Lions is admired not only for its creative brilliance, but for its reflection of the world as a place of equality and tolerance.”
You can find more information on the Cannes Lions website here. Make sure you keep a look out for our upcoming CreativityIsGREAT hub on our website too!
You’ve made it this far – why not treat yourself to watching our ad of the week?
Want the full edition to land in your inbox every Friday? Drop us an email on aa@adassoc.org.uk and quote ‘Ad Matters’.
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