On Friday 23 November, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced a ban on adverts for junk food on London's transport network. Posters for food and drink high in fat, salt and sugar will disappear from the Underground, Overground, buses and bus shelters. But just how effective is advertising? That was the topic of this debate at the Battle of Ideas 2018 festival, produced in partnership with Diageo. (More details here.)
INTRODUCTION
Advertising has become a familiar target of hostile campaigners. Public health campaigners and quangos want bans or restrictions on adverts for foods and drinks that are high in sugar, salt or fat. Campaigns around alcohol, gambling and ‘payday’ loans demand bans on the promotion of these activities. Others seek to suppress adverts featuring models who are excessively thin – or, indeed, models who are overweight. Why are all these campaigners so convinced by the manipulative power of advertising? What is the evidence that advertising can control behaviour? Can it really do any more than influence consumers to choose one brand over another?
SPEAKERS
DR SHIRLEY DENT
communications specialist and PR lecturer; co-author, Radical Blake
CARL MILLER
research director, Centre for the Analysis of Social Media, Demos; author, The Death of the Gods: the new global power grab
CHRISTOPHER SNOWDON
head of lifestyle economics, Institute of Economic Affairs; editor, Nanny State Index; author, Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism
STEVE SODEN
director, Best Interests Ltd
Still in the race: understanding Trumpism
Trust me, I’m your doctor: are GPs in crisis?
Jack Hues in conversation: Reflections of a Rock Star
Cancel culture comes for Claire Fox
Satirical art and the Culture War, with Miriam Elia
Gary Lineker: free speech, political debate and impartiality
No, Minister! Crisis in the Civil Service
Should teachers strike during an education crisis?
Podcast of Ideas: demystifying the deal
Have Brits fallen out of love with work?
Podcast of Ideas: Frank Furedi on the Ukraine War first anniversary
What does 2023 hold for the arts?
Is the Government right to veto Sturgeon’s self-id bill?
Debating Matters Beyond Bars: Jon Floyd and Heather Phillips
#SportscastofIdeas: World Cup - the final
#SportscastOfIdeas: World Cup 2022 Upsets and Underdogs
#SportscastOfIdeas: World Cup 2022 begins
Call To Courage: Winning The Battle Of Ideas
Podcast of Ideas - Claire Fox: ’Liz Truss is gone, but this isn’t over’
Is the UK heading for economic meltdown?
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free