The Advertising Association promotes the role and rights of responsible advertising and its value to people, society, businesses and the economy. We represent UK advertisers, agencies, media owners and tech companies on behalf of the entire industry, acting as the connection between industry professionals and the politicians and policy-makers.

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The Advertising Association focuses on major industry and policy areas that have huge ramifications on UK advertising. This section contains our work around public health, gambling advertising, data and e-privacy, trust, the digital economy and more.

Credos is the advertising industry’s independent think tank. It produces research, evidence and reports into the impact and effectiveness of and public and political response to advertising on behalf of UK advertisers in order to enable the industry to make informed decisions.

Front Foot is our industry’s member network of over 90 businesses across UK advertising. It aims to promote the role of responsible advertising and its value to people, society and the economy through a coalition of senior leaders from advertisers, agencies and media owners.

We run a number of events throughout the year, from our annual LEAD summit to the Media Business Course and regular breakfast briefings for our members. We are also the official UK representative for the world’s biggest festival of creativity – Cannes Lions.

Media Smart

/ February 4th 2020

Media Smart is the industry’s flagship education programme with a mission to ensure that every child in the UK, aged 7-16, can confidently navigate the media they consume including being able to identify, interpret and critically evaluate all forms of advertising.

The programme provides free teaching resources and parent and guardian guides on subjects including social media, digital advertising, body image and influencer marketing. These are delivered in the classroom, assembly, youth club or at home. Ultimately, Media Smart builds media and digital literacy in young people, resulting in greater emotional resilience and wellbeing.

The programme is a demonstration of how the advertising industry can work collectively to tackle important issues – with over 25 supporters across media, brands, agencies, trade bodies and Government organisations. Running since 2002, it has adapted and innovated over the last 18 years, ensuring resources continue to reflect changes to media and how young people consume it in their everyday lives.