Why I’m happy I didn’t get the MSNBC porn ad

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Duncan Riley> For those who missed it, MSNBC have placed ads on blogs via BlogAds that feature “simple seedy-looking neon silhouette outline of a woman’€™s body” (quote: CBS, picture right). The main stream media and blogs are running stories on the ad, and BlogAds is quite rightfully happy about the size of the order (approx $1 million + 800 blogs). Now, I wasn’t selected for the ad, and I’m really happy I wasn’t. The ad links to the MSNBC TV main page and seems be nothing more than a ploy for clicks. The text is even weirder given where the page takes you:

“Porn. It’s jumped out of the seedy theaters and back-alley video stores, and into the family computer. See where it’s heading next”

Now I’m no prude, but this is a PG rated site, I use @ and * in breaking up language that may offend (well…really offend) but I’ve really got to question why so many allegedly respectable sites, like Jeff Jarvis’ Buzz Machine for example, are running ads that use porn imagery and text to entice clicks. I’ve always been conscious that my readership (being primarily American) is fairly conservative, and that American society is generally conservative in relation to porn/ sexual imagery in their mainstream media, compared to say Australia. The Janet Jackson nipple slip is a great example. The media here played the whole thing unedited over and over, it never raised an eyebrow here and yet caused an outrage in America….always the more bizarre I’ve thought given how seemingly acceptable violence on American TV is. And yet maybe porn is becoming more mainstream in the United States? who am I to judge being an Australian, but I’m still happy not to have to had made a call over the ad…its still bizarre that conservative US commentators chose to run it.

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Food for thought.

View Comments (8)
  • A sillhouette is a far cry from porn imagery. The text contains the word “porn.” That’s as close to porn as the ads get. I thought twice about running the ad, but there’s nothing actually offensive about it. Apparently the ad will change from time to time depending on the programming MSNBC is offering.

    As far as mainstreaming, as we all know, we Americans (viewed as a whole) are hypocritical. We want to ban porn but we can’t get enough of it in the media (Paris Hilton, Janet Jackson’s nipple, etc.). “Porn” is just another way to sell more stuff.

  • Sorry, I have to bring this one up. How is the Michael Jackson ad on the right not any worse or more disturbing than what MSNBC has posted? I know that because it has MJ’s head that it’s a joke and all, but it’s not like he looks like a guy or anything. Haha, you even have a headline with “free crack pipes” in the ad…

  • I agree with the above poster.
    Also, I believe most people would find the Michael Jackson and the Save the Sheep ads you have up right now to be more offensive than MSNBC’s campaign. The MSNBC ad is a silhouette, that Save the Sheep ad has a naked woman.

  • I guess it takes quite a bit to offend me – I did want to share a little story about the M.Jackson ad though –

    While reading blogherald over the weekend – my husband and one son (soon be 13) came in my office and peeked over my shoulder. All you could see was the lower portion of the MJ ad so both were doing cat calls and whistles. You can’t imagine how tickled I was to lower the screen just a bit more –

    Talk about a Priceless family moment!

    Thanks Duncun!

  • I would echo dave and scrivs- I would say that the photoshopped images of MJ and the sheep ad are just as likely to offend someone as the MSNBC ad

  • The people who may have complained about the ad are out there crying and bitching about the so called “war on Christmas”. The Janet Jackson Nipple Gate was blown way out of proportion by these same religious nut jobs and right wing groups like the Parents Television Council, Family Research Council.

    In July the president of the PTC filed 23,542 complaints to the FCC, the total number of complaints the FCC received was 23,547 for that month. Everyone else in the country: 5 complaints sent, the PTC: 23,542. See what we have to deal with here.

  • according to methodshop.com, the msnbc porn ads are to promote a rita cosby segment about the “big business” of the porn industry not actual porn.

  • All ads are a ploy to get interest in something. Either by a direct response or branding. It’s a bit flimsy trying to take a shot at them by saying the ad is: “nothing more than a ploy for clicks”. I’ve never heard a marketing manager brief their ad agency with “Ok, I want an ad that will not get noticed”. The ad is fine, morally and it’s fine creatively/strategically because it works well with the story they’re promoting. It’s just an awesome show of confidence in the blogosphere by MSNBC’s ad people. Well done those blogs that got selected in this media buy and well done MSNBC.

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