Marketing

Advertising students at New York University are running a marketing campaign for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

A study of newspaper ads for 17 top university medical centers found they "employ some of the same advertising techniques doctors often criticize drug companies for -- concealing risks and playing on fear, vanity and other emotions to attract patients." Of the 122 ads examined, 62% used emotional appeals and one-third "used slogans focusing on technology, fostering a misperception that high-tech medicine is always better." Twenty-one ads promoted specific services, including one proclaiming, "We do Boto

Mining giant BHP-Billiton's proposed acquisition of WMC Resources, a major uranium mining company, poses no problem for the global ethical investment fund Sustainable Asset Management (SAM). While some ethical funds avoid both BHP-Billiton shares, following the Ok Tedi environmental disaster in Papua New Guinea, and WMC shares, due to its uranium project, SAM holds both. SAM's research manager, Francis Grey, explained that while they don't agree with uranium or nuclear power, company projects owned before 1994 do not affect SAM's "ethical" rating system.

Two former Ogilvy & Mather marketing executives were found guilty of conspiracy and false claims, for inflating labor costs on a government account with the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy. The decision is "certain to prompt more questions among marketers about just how their ad agencies come up with prices and fees," wrote the Wall Street Journal.