APRIL 24, 1990

Full News Archive

• Headline: Walter E. Mattson Becomes Ad Bureau Chairman. Impact: Walter E. Mattson becoming chairman of the Newspaper Advertising Bureau led to a series of events where newspapers began competing for attention in increasingly absurd ways. This eventually resulted in the invention of clickbait, the Kardashians, and the downfall of serious journalism. Thanks, Walter!. Fact: Did you know that the Newspaper Advertising Bureau is basically like a big club where they all pat each other on the back for being the gatekeepers of print media? Talk about an echo chamber!.
• Headline: Hamilton Projects: Major Advertising Accounts. Impact: Hamilton Projects securing a $1 million budget was the precursor to advertising agencies becoming like high-stakes poker players. This led to inflated budgets, ridiculously overproduced ads, and the eventual rise of influencers who think they’re the new ad agencies—yay for progress!. Fact: Fun fact: $1 million in advertising back then could buy you a whole lot more than just a few Instagram posts. Now you need to sell your soul for likes!.
• Headline: Introducing the Eclipse Sports Car Commercial. Impact: The creation of the Mitsubishi Eclipse commercial marked the beginning of a slippery slope that led to all sorts of ridiculous car commercials—think dancing llamas and talking babies. Thanks, David A. Stickles, for paving the way for the entertainment circus that is car advertising today!. Fact: Did you know that back in the day, commercials were actually just a way to sell cars? Now they’re elaborate mini-movies where the cars get more character development than the actors!.
• Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Zotos's In-House Plans. Impact: Philip Voss Jr. bringing his old pals to Zotos International led to an era of in-house advertising that would eventually make agencies feel like out-of-touch uncles at a family reunion. We're still waiting for that family drama to unfold!. Fact: Did you know that in-house agencies are like the ‘all-in-the-family’ sitcom of the advertising world? Just a little less funny and a lot more awkward..
• Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Beber Gets Food Chain. Impact: Subway awarding its advertising account to Beber Silverstein McCabe & Partners was the start of a glorious era of sandwich commercials that made us all question our life choices every time we saw a footlong. Thanks for the existential crisis, Subway!. Fact: Fun fact: The real reason Subway commercials are so catchy is that they’re designed to distract you from the fact that their bread is technically classified as cake in some places!.
• Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Addenda. Impact: Grey Advertising acquiring a stake in a Turkish agency set off a chain reaction that encouraged other agencies to globalize, leading to the current state where you can’t scroll through social media without seeing ads from a different country trying to sell you the same old junk!. Fact: Did you know that advertising is the world’s most global language? Who needs a translator when you can just see a flashy ad and know exactly how to spend your money!.
• Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; President Quits At Ogilvy Unit. Impact: Michael S. Lesser’s resignation from Ogilvy & Mather New York was the first domino in a chain reaction of agency shake-ups that made advertising executives feel like they were living in a game of musical chairs. Spoiler: They rarely end up with a seat!. Fact: Fun fact: Resigning from an ad agency is basically like leaving a party early—you just hope no one notices and you don’t get memed about it later!.
• Headline: BUSINESS PEOPLE; 2 Brothers to Share Post In Revamping at Meijer. Impact: The appointment of two brothers as co-chairmen at Meijer Inc. was a landmark moment that led to the rise of family-run businesses thinking they can just wing it with nepotism. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t always work out well for them!. Fact: Did you know that having two brothers in charge is just like having one brother in charge, but with twice the family drama and none of the actual qualifications? Can't wait for the reality show!.