Behind the scenes ... Being an Independent Reviewer (13 November 2006)
Continuing our series of interviews behind the scenes of the self-regulatory system, Sir John Caines explains his role as Independent Reviewer of ASA Adjudications ...
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Lessons from the Big Brother promotion: advertisers urged to make their promotions crystal clear (13 November 2006)
The Big Brother house hit the headlines again in October, but this time it had nothing to do with the weird and wonderful antics of the housemates. It was because the ASA published yet another upheld complaint adjudication against confectionery brand Nestle and Channel 4, which ran a "Golden Ticket" promotion giving viewers the chance to be a housemate.
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The ASA gets to grips with advertising for broadband packages (13 November 2006)
With technological improvements occurring at such a rapid rate, high-speed Internet connections, are now available to thousands of homes nationwide. This has led to a flood of headline-grabbing claims for broadband and telephone packages. Recent rulings from the ASA have highlighted some of the contentious areas in advertising for these types of products.
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ASA Consumer Conference 2006 (13 November 2006)
The ASA is always keen to hear the views of consumers of advertising, as it provides us with a valuable insight into public opinion which can guide us in our decision-making process. This year, the ASA held its Consumer Conference at the Watershed Media Centre, Bristol on Thursday 30 November. A cross section of the community gathered to learn more about the ASA and take part in workshops and debates.
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Former Culture Secretary Chris Smith to be next ASA Chairman (13 November 2006)
Asbof and Basbof, the bodies responsible for financing the self-regulatory system, have this week announced that they have appointed the Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury as the next ASA Chairman. Lord Smith will succeed current ASA Chairman, Lord Borrie QC on 1 July 2007.
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Former Culture Secretary Chris Smith to be new ASA Chairman (07 November 2006)
The Advertising Standards Board of Finance (asbof) and its broadcast equivalent, basbof, have appointed The Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury to be the new Chairman of the Advertising Standards Authority. He will succeed the current Chairman, Lord Borrie QC, on 1 July 2007.
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The ASA Students Awards Scheme 2007 (17 October 2006)
The ASA Student Awards gives students who can demonstrate a keen understanding of advertising regulation the opportunity to win £150 or one of two runners-up prizes of £50 each. To be eligible you need to be studying a business, media, marketing or advertising related course. To find out more click below.
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The CAP and BCAP Consultation on Gambling Advertising has now closed (04 October 2006)
The CAP and BCAP Consultation on Non-broadcast and Broadcast Advertising of Gambling closed on 15 September 2006. CAP and BCAP would like to thank all those who responded.
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Smillie reception for ad complaints (03 August 2006)
Number six in our series of articles looking behind the scenes of the advertising system turns its focus to the important role performed by the Complaints Reception Team. Barrie Smillie writes ...
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Food advertising to children: a fourth option is proposed to Ofcom (03 August 2006)
In response to Ofcom's public consultation on food advertising to children, trade bodies representing the food and advertising industries have suggested a fourth proposal for how food and drink ads should be regulated.
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Taking the gamble out of ads (03 August 2006)
The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) and the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) are consulting on new rules for gambling ads, following the passing of the Gambling Act 2005.
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12th ASA Consumer Conference - Bristol, 30 November (03 August 2006)
The ASA is holding its annual consumer conference in Bristol on Thursday 30 November and is calling on all those with a view on advertising content to come along to the free event.
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Ask an Adviser – and win Amazon.com vouchers (06 July 2006)
If you work in advertising or marketing, click below to find out how to enter our ‘Ask an Adviser’ prize draw and you could be in with the chance to win Amazon gift vouchers.
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ASA refers One TV to Ofcom (28 June 2006)
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has referred the teleshopping channel One TV to Ofcom to consider formal sanctions. This action follows an ASA upheld ruling against One TV on 10 May 2006. One TV has repeatedly failed to fulfil customer orders and provide refunds.
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Making headlines (26 April 2006)
The fifth in our series of articles looking behind the scenes of the advertising regulatory system, takes a look at the work of the press officer within the ASA's Communications team.
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Ofcom leads the debate on food and drink TV advertising to children (26 April 2006)
With almost a third of UK children overweight, how TV advertising for food and drink should be regulated is one of the most hotly contested debates taking place in the marketing industry today.
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Most complained about ads of 2005 (26 April 2006)
Nearly one in five of all the complaints lodged with the ASA in 2005 concerned the ads featured in the top 10 list of most complained about ads. Of these, one-third related to KFC's TV ad featuring call centre workers singing with their mouths full, racking up a total of 1,671 - making it the most complained about ad ever.
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26,000 complaints to advertising one-stop shop (26 April 2006)
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has today published its Annual Report for 2005. The Report, which covers the ASA's first full year of regulating TV and radio as well as non-broadcast advertising, reveals that a total of 26,236 complaints were lodged in 2005 - a 16% rise on the number of complaints received in 2004.
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Have your say (26 April 2006)
The ASA's 2006 Annual Consumer Conference will be held in Bristol on Thursday 30 November 2006 at the Watershed Media Centre.
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ASA withdraws pool betting advertisement (30 March 2006)
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ordered print advertisements for ThePool.com, an online betting site, to be withdrawn with immediate effect. The ASA is investigating a complaint from a member of the public that the ads appeal to 16 and 17 year-olds. The non-broadcast advertising code prohibits gambling ads being directed at people under 18.
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Television advertising of food and drink products to children (28 March 2006)
Ofcom press release on proposals for new restrictions on television advertising of food and drink products to children
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ASA hits airwaves with another bad ad (16 March 2006)
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is launching its first radio advertising campaign with what might be the worst advertisements ever. Whilst each one is decidedly and deliberately unprofessional, they are designed to convey that the ASA's strength lies in removing ads that are offensive, harmful or misleading.
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Future proofing advertising freedom (09 March 2006)
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Chairman, Lord Borrie QC has challenged the advertising industry to protect its interests by engaging with the question: Is self-regulation still the best way to protect advertising freedom?
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New appointments to the ASA Council (06 March 2006)
Lord Borrie QC, has appointed two new members to serve on the ASA Council - Elizabeth Fagan, Group Media Director for DSG International, and Professor Gareth Jones, Chair of Christian Theology at Canterbury Christ Church University.
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Winners of the ASA Student Awards 2006 Announced (06 March 2006)
We are delighted to announce the winners of the ASA’s 2006 Student Awards. This year’s awards were expanded to make them more accessible to a greater number of students. For details of the winners, click below.
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ASA predicts financial loss for consumers who respond to psychic scams (15 February 2006)
Psychic mailings are nothing more than mass-marketed advertising scams. They prey on the insecure and vulnerable in society and can be both financially and emotionally detrimental to consumers. The ASA is warning the public how to avoid falling for them.
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ASA backs scams awareness campaign (06 February 2006)
The ASA is using February to focus on advertising scams, highlighting how they work and how to avoid them.
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The Copy Consultant (25 January 2006)
The fourth in our series of articles looking behind the scenes of the advertising regulatory system, takes a look at the work that is done to try to prevent problematic advertising from ever seeing the light of day. Dan Watt discusses the role played by the Copy Advice team ...
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Direct concern (25 January 2006)
New research from the ASA shows that consumers generally believe that regulation of traditional media is improving. However, less than a third of respondents believed that the same was true of direct mail.
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ASA lends support to OFT scam awareness drive (25 January 2006)
The ASA is lending its support to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Scams Awareness Campaign to help raise public awareness of the problems with scams.
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Young's dealt a bitter blow by new alcohol rules (25 January 2006)
The first ban on an alcohol ad since new rules came into force last year shows that the ASA is set to take a tougher stance on campaigns.
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Serial complaints (25 January 2006)
Food advertising, especially when directed at children, is set to be one of the hottest issues for the ASA in 2006. With healthy eating firmly on the UK’s public and political consciousness after high profile campaigns, such as chef Jamie Oliver’s push to improve school dinners, a growing number of manufacturers are keen to promote the benefits of their products.
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Be a savvy shopper (25 January 2006)
January is the month when high street shops are adorned with bright red signs screaming ‘Sale!’, but before you shop ‘til you drop beware of common retail tricks of the trade. The vast majority of advertisers are truthful and honest, but here are few tips to make sure your shopping spree is not spoilt by the few that are not.
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ASA warns advertisers of the regulatory demands of digital (19 January 2006)
"The advertising business cannot afford to abandon self-regulation in the digital world," Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Director General Christopher Graham told an audience of international business leaders in New York last week.
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