Report on Advertising Ethics in Principles of Marketing and Management

This report delves into the realm of advertising ethics, examining its evolution and the factors that have shaped it. It begins by highlighting unethical advertising practices from the 1940s and 1950s, such as misleading health claims for cigarettes and objectification of women. The report then contrasts these historical examples with current ethical standards, emphasizing the role of government policies, business laws, and public demand in driving change. It underscores the importance of truthfulness in advertising and the shift towards responsible marketing strategies. The report also notes the impact of education and awareness on both consumer behavior and corporate practices. It emphasizes how ethical advertising practices are crucial for maintaining consumer trust and protecting the well-being of individuals, especially children. The report uses references to support its claims.

Running head: PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT 1
Principles of Marketing and Management
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PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT 2
Principles of Marketing and Management
Advertising requires a company to apply some levels of ethics. Examples of adverts that
had no ethics in the 1940s and 1950s include the following; cigarette firms used to advertise
tobacco as promoting health and this is not true at all. The 7UP beer was advertised as being
bought by youngest customers and had a baby taking the contents of the bottle; the baby is more
than what young was referring to. The Drummond pullover company of 1950s advertised the
sweaters claiming that mean were better than the women which made the women inferior beings
(Dore, 2018, p. 132). The woman was depicted being in the cliff under the mercies of the men
above wearing the pullovers. The Marlboro cigarette company used the picture of kids to
advertise the product which made it look something good for babies and children. Advertisers
failed to tell the truth and thus offended morality and went against the law.
However, advertising has since evolved tremendously with advertisers currently being
required to tell the truth about their products. Nowadays, products for grownups like beer and
cigarettes use adults for advertising while those for babies can either use the babies, young
children or adults but not vice versa. The factors causing the change include government
policies. The government has forced companies to apply ethics in advertising (Kotler, and
Armstrong, 2010, p. 69). Business law is a factor that has led to the change that demands
businesses to tell the truth about the products they sell. Public demand is another factor. People
have complaint about the impact that adverts have on young children leading to change.
Education factor has made people realize that wrongful advertising affects peoples’ lives and that
of the company as well and had to change to using morals.

PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT 3
References
Dore, M., 2018. 3.6 Controversial humor in advertising. Not All Claps and Cheers: Humor in
Business and Society Relationships, p.132.
Kotler, P. and Armstrong, G., 2010. Principles of marketing. Pearson education. P. 69.