If it is familiar, it has not eaten you yet.

Great article in the Boston Globe about why (not just how, but why) easy-to-read fonts, great product names, and catchy copy make things (like arguments and ad copy) more believable.

It's partly thanks to our survival instinct: "If it is familiar, it has not eaten you yet."

Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood

If you want to responsibly market to families, you have to be aware of the frat boys who are working to turn children into brand-savvy drones way before their time.

Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood, is a spot-on documentary being shown in screenings throughout the country. Both brand marketing managers and parents will get angry watching it -- for very different reasons.

Here's the trailer: (if you have trouble viewing it, click here.)

Et tu, SpongeBob?

Here's a Burger King happy meal ad that won't make any parents happy:



The ad ran during the NCAA men’s basketball championship and other programming last night. The ad, viewable above, features The King singing a remix of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s 1990’s hit song, "Baby Got Back” with the new lyrics, “I like square butts and I cannot lie.” The ad shows images of The King singing in front of women shaking their behinds for the camera intercut with images of SpongeBob dancing along.

“It’s bad enough when companies use a beloved media character like SpongeBob to promote junk food to children, but it’s utterly reprehensible when that character simultaneously promotes objectified, sexualized images of women,” says Dr. Susan Linn, a psychologist at the Judge Baker Children's Center and director of the Coalition for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC).

At one point during the ad, The King even measures the behind of one of the woman who has stuffed a phonebook under her dress. After the King informs children about the free SpongeBob toy they get with the purchase of a Burger King Kids Meal, the ad ends with Sir Mix-A-Lot—lounging on a couch with two female admirers—saying, “Booty is booty.”

“No parent watching a major sporting event with their children should have to worry about being assaulted by sexualized imagery,” said Joe Kelly of TheDadMan.com, a CCFC Steering Committee Member. “Featuring SpongeBob in an ad like this is a new low. Parents who hope to instill values in their children like respect for women would do well to steer clear of Burger King and Bikini Bottom.”

Added Dr. Linn: “Cartoon characters play a powerful role in the lives of young audiences. That Burger King and Nickelodeon would sell Kids Meals by associating a beloved, male character like SpongeBob with lechery shows how little either company cares about the wellbeing of the children they target.”

CCFC, a national coalition of health care professionals, educators, advocacy groups and concerned parents, has begun a letter-writing (via email) campaign to Burger King and Nickelodeon to tell them to take the ad off the air. Add your voice here.

This is why frat boys shouldn't run family tv. Visit www.rolemodel.tv for an idea whose time has come.

Congratulations Barbie?

Barbie's big year got a little more exciting. 
On the world's most famous doll's fiftieth birthday, the
Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) announced that Mattel's Barbie Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Doll won its inaugural TOADY (Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young Children) Award for the worst toy of the year.

In an online vote by more than 6,000 CCFC members, Barbie handily beat four other nominees. 
Rated by Mattel as appropriate for children age six and up, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Doll comes with the shortest of short shorts, stiletto boots, and a revealing halter top. 

The CCFC is a well-regarded, influential organization that has taken on Bratz dolls and Scholastic Book Clubs.  It says out loud what many many many parents are thinking -- including me.

Companies like Mattel, MGA (makers of Bratz) and Scholastic have to watch their suggested age ranges, for sure.  But, more importantly, they need to take every opportunity they can to work with parents to make sure that their products are hailed as princes, not toads.

Ambassador Bird Plays Times Square!

Ambassador Bird billboards have just gone up in Times Square as part of a new marketing campaign for my client, Green Symphony, a natural foods cafe.

Go inside for delicious hot and cold food, wraps, and smoothies.  Sign up for their upcoming email newsletter.  And don't forget to get your free Ambassador Bird "Increase the Peace" sticker!

Green Symphony is in the old New York Times building at 245 West 43rd Street.  Call 212-391-4747 for free local delivery.

Children now use YouTube for searches

The New York Times just reported that children are using YouTube as a search engine for homework:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/business/media/18ping.html?hp

Isn't it time for RoleModel.tv?

Happy 40th Sesame Street

Why is Sesame Street still going strong after almost 40 years (their anniversary is November 10, 2009)?

Because they combine topical humor, child-appropriate vocabulary, and always always always a point.

Children Taking the Lead in Eco-Discussions

From the October 10, 2008 New York Times: Pint-Size Eco-Police, Making Parents Proud and Sometimes Crazy

No more Bratz in School

Scholastic, Inc. will no longer be promoting the highly sexualized Bratz brand in schools.

In April, 2007, the Campaign for a Commercial-free Childhood launched a letter-writing campaign urging Scholastic to stop promoting Bratz items at their book clubs and book fairs. CCFC members flooded Scholastic with emails urging them to stop selling books such as Lil' Bratz Dancin Divas, Lil' Bratz Catwalk Cuties, and Lil' Bratz Beauty Sleepover Bash.

Scholastic's initial response was to claim that the Bratz books were important to reach "reluctant readers." But CCFC kept the pressure on.

In the end, more than 5,000 emails from CCFC members were too much to ignore. Scholastic has confirmed that they will no longer be selling Bratz Items in schools.

Coming soon: Creativity At Work the E-Zine!

Beginning in September, Creativity At Work will turn into an E-Zine, taking on an easier-to-read, well-organized format.

Each issue, scheduled to mail every three weeks, will contain an "Ask Bill" section*, personal recommendations, and updates on studio projects.

To make sure you are on the mailing list, click here.

*Bill will be answering marketing questions posed by E-Zine readers. To ask a question, click here.