BADvertising Institute

BADvertising is the act of "doctoring-up" misleading ads to create a more accurate picture. By superimposing an honest image over a dishonest ad, the truth of the matter becomes very clear. The BADvertising images answer the question: "What would this ad look like if it were really telling the truth?" The act of BADvertising can be accomplished by:... Physically cutting and pasting the ads, Manipulating the images on a computer screen, or Correcting the images in your own mind every time you see a deceptive or misleading ad. While many products and their advertisers are willfully misleading the public with deliberately deceptive advertising, no deception is currently more blatant that of the tobacco industry--- And nowhere are the consequences so deadly! The BADvertising Institute is dedicated to immunizing young people against deceitful, seductive tobacco tactics by giving them the skills for recognizing the "tobacco tricks" and mentally correcting the imagery whenever they see the ads. Ultimately, in this way, every tobacco ad becomes its own counter-ad in the eye of the beholder. NOTE: To Advertise means to make something known to the public. For ease of discussion, an "ad" here includes any image, item, action, concept, or gimmick used to promote, market, or make us think favorably about a product, or about smoking in general, regardless of the medium. This includes: Ads on billboards and in magazines Brand names and logos on racing cars, cocktail napkins, clothing and personal accessories; Smoking in movies, news, and TV programs; Free cigarettes and give-away's in the bars; "Public service" ads; Activities by "front groups"; Gifts to schools, hospitals, arts groups, and other charities; Lobbying activities; Partnering with and associating themselves with otherwise respectable companies; Funding and promoting biased or "junk science"; Corporate positioning; etc.Read More