Nice package!
In today's USA Today, The American Advertising Federation, apparently somewhat in response to a negative article in the Feb. 12th Ad Age, ran a full page ad with the above image. The ad's headline screams Hey Recruiters! and it's tagged with an 800 number to call to receive a CD with résumés of promising minority ad grads. And it looks like they used actual students here, not attractive fake models! Nice! (click image) I hope, in addition to the "sure I can" voice chip, Mr. Account Guy here also comes with the "the client wants it jazzed up 10%" and BIG FAKE LAUGH chips.previously in minorities in advertising:
1. Ad Age White Christmas.
2. R&R minus R&B.
3. Diversity has a Mascot.
related on Gawker: Advertising Week 2006.
posted by copyranter @ 10:30 AM
7 Comments:
actually, the images on the depicted box appear to be stock photos. the real students are in a group portrait at the bottom of the ad — barely recognizable in a b&w newspaper ad.
other potential voice chip phrases:
i'm the jackie robinson of madison avenue.
no, i'm not related to puff daddy.
thank you for noticing i'm articulate.
(additional commentary at my blog)
What does a goatee-wearing black guy know about selling my shit to rich white people?
Put him on the OE8 account.
There goes highjive calling out our industry again. Sounds bitter. Our industry is one of the more accessible for those with talent, no matter hwat race, creed, sexuality, disability (except for maybe age + looks which is discriminated against). I've never met a CD who would turn away a great book/great personality combo. It's funny, I work with a lot of minorities at a very good shop. Usually, aren't people hired on their skills? Hey HighJive, how's your work?
Anonymous,
My work’s fine, thanks.
The issues in our industry remain complex. The efforts of the NYC Commission on Human Rights have actually blurred things, in my opinion. Too many people seem to categorize this as a race issue. While there are certainly racial components, it goes beyond that.
Our industry thrives on networking and hiring people you know. Friends hire friends, family, neighbors, clients’ offspring, etc. Not convinced there is deliberate discrimination happening across the board — it’s just the result of fishing in a talent pool that ought to be broadened.
It’s not a matter of direct discrimination, but rather, exclusivity. At the same time, there are pockets of blatant discrimination on Madison Avenue, just as there are in other industries. You note that age + looks are discriminated against. It’s interesting that you wouldn’t be open to the possibility that it goes beyond that.
Like you, I’ve known few CDs who reject people for reasons outside of the sample book. But I know few CDs who are actively looking beyond the routine, monotone candidate stable.
The AAF ad presented here seems mighty bizarre to me. I would argue that the students would rather not be labeled as minority candidates. They should simply be viewed as candidates. But that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.
"I would argue that the students would rather not be labeled as minority candidates. They should simply be viewed as candidates."
Highjive: you hit it right on the mark with that comment. In fact, I recently wrote an article for the Austin Ad Fed that echoes that sentiment to a T. As a member of this years Most Promising Minority Student roster, I can say that I don't considered myself in a separate category from the rest, at least not because of my race. I think I've worked hard enough to be considered among the entire pool of potential employees, not just among those with multicultural backgrounds. My successes mean more to me when I know that my competition wasn't limited in any way. To quote my own article (yes, I know, it's lame), "Please don't hire me because I'm the hardest-working Asian American you know. Please hire me because I'm the hardest-working person you know."
EXACTLY. Somehow I think this "collect-em-all" attitude towards diversity kinda sums up allot of problems in ad-land, inside and out. This guy is just another "character" to usa and tnt. He's a businessman....but he's black! Tony Shalaub, watch your back!
So that's where Hootie is now.
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