Benefit from Embedded Messages in TV Shows without Writing the Check

As a society we’re hit with so many messages that sometimes we don’t even realize we’re being marketed to. Messages and brands are now embedded in YouTube, Facebook and even our favorite TV shows. But at least all of them aren’t trying to push the newest product, some are for the common good. Check out this recent New York Times article. 

Back in the 80’s, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control started working with television networks to subtly embed AIDS messages into television programming. At that time, it was as simple as having a PSA poster visible on camera. Now, it’s become more complicated, but in a good way. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which spends billions of dollars on a wide array of organizations around the world, has coordinated a first of its kind, pay-for-play type model with Viacom. The agreement will involve various important health messages being woven into plot lines on some of the networks popular television programs include Law and Order SVU and even ER before it ended. This could open the door to a whole new style of public service advertising.

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New CVP Survey: America’s Recycling Programs are Riding Out Economic Storm

CVP has just released the findings from an online survey we conducted to gauge how community recycling programs are coping with the economic slowdown. Here is a peek at a few of the key findings:

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There’s Never Been a Better Time to Get Free Ad Space

The sixth edition of the Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism’s annual report on the State of the News Media in the United States  reveals (not surprisingly) that journalism and media outlets at large are feeling the pinch, or in this case, vise-grip, of the economic crisis.

In the case of the media industry, the economic crisis hit at a time when the industry was already down, largely trying to adjust to the shift in expanding online vehicles and venues.

It’s been more than a little troubling to learn of the collapse of some larger print newspapers, most recently the Seattle Post Intelligencer. The number of Americans who now regularly go online for news jumped 19 percent in the last two years but oddly online advertising revenue to news Web sites appears to be flattening and in newspaper is actually declining.

Companies have less to spend on advertising and news media outlets are giving them less reason to spend their ad dollars with them. This creates an opportunity for people interested in pushing a public cause, such as recycling.  Local media outlets in particular want to show their relevancy. Demonstrating that they are in touch and linked with the community they serve is more important than ever. This tells us that more and more people are picking and choosing exactly where they want to get their news. 

This means it is a great time to approach your local media outlet and ask them to donate space, air time, etc. to promote and encourage residents to participate in your recycling program. Everyone knows that recycling is good but give them a little bit more. Use the Recy-culator on this site or other environmental calculators to provide local statistics that reveal the impact of recycling or the detriment of not.  And in the case of your local newspaper, be sure the ads are running in the online version as well as the hard copy!  

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