JANUARY 25, 1991

Full News Archive

• Headline: Advertising Industry Developments. Impact: Ketchum Public Relations buying into a UK firm caused a ripple effect that made the phrase 'global synergy' a cliché in boardrooms worldwide, resulting in eye-rolls from interns everywhere.. Fact: Acquiring companies is like buying a new pair of shoes; you think it will make you feel good, but you end up just hurting your wallet..
• Headline: Bozell Wins Esquire Campaign Contest. Impact: Winning the Esquire contest launched Bozell Advertising into the spotlight, leading to a series of increasingly bizarre ads that made people question not just the products, but their own life choices.. Fact: Public education campaigns often rely on shock value, proving that sometimes a coffin is the best way to grab attention—at least until TikTok came along..
• Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING -- ADDENDA; Accounts. Impact: Westin Hotels switching agencies caused a minor earthquake in the advertising world, sending shockwaves of confusion as other hotels scrambled to figure out who they should hire next. Spoiler: they still don't know.. Fact: Changing ad agencies is like switching hairdressers; you hope for a better outcome but often leave with more split ends..
• Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; History Written Off at California S.& L.'s. Impact: Ignoring the savings and loan crisis in advertising created a generation of homeowners who went into debt without understanding what that even meant, leading to a national obsession with financial ignorance.. Fact: The only thing more dangerous than ignoring a crisis is doing so while trying to sell your product as ‘quaint’ and ‘traditional.’.
• Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING -- ADDENDA; 3 New Posts At Ross Roy. Impact: Ross Roy's new positions meant three more people were now responsible for coming up with inventive ways to sell you things you didn't know you needed, perpetuating the cycle of consumerism.. Fact: Creating new positions in advertising is just a fancy way of saying, 'We have no idea what we’re doing, but let’s throw some more people at it.'.
• Headline: Review/Film; How Evil Can One Person Be?. Impact: The disturbing Dutch thriller sparked a wave of films that made us wonder if our own relationships were as stable as we thought, leading to an uptick in therapy sessions across the globe.. Fact: Thrillers often remind us that sometimes the biggest villain is the person you trust the most—like your roommate who eats your leftovers..
• Headline: SUPER BOWL XXV; First Downs Will Be Key. Impact: Super Bowl XXV's focus on first downs turned football into a strategic nightmare, leading to an entire generation of fans who can debate statistics while forgetting to enjoy the game.. Fact: The Super Bowl is really just an excuse for people to eat their weight in nachos while pretending to care about a ball game..
• Headline: Review/Film; When You're Gay But Must Beget an Heir. Impact: The film about gay siblings and legacy opened the door for more inclusive storytelling, ultimately leading to a world where everyone can feel represented in the most farcical of situations.. Fact: Sometimes, the best family stories are the ones that make you cringe, especially when they involve awkward heirloom discussions at Thanksgiving..