Ad Watchdog Launches Its Own Campaign

MADISON, Conn., March 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Non-profit advertising watchdog truthinadvertising.org (TINA.org) today launched its first national advertising campaign, using humor to engage consumers on the serious issue of misleading marketing.

The ads place people in the position of telling surprising truths, and close with the line, "The truth's not always easy, but in advertising, it's the law."  The campaign encourages the public to report misleading marketing to TINA.org.  The ads will run in display, digital, and video form in major newspapers including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, online publications and websites as well as through social media.

"TINA.org is building an online community where consumers can report deceptive marketing and take an active role in advocating for change," said TINA.org Executive Director Bonnie Patten.  "We need the public's help to be our eyes and ears in the marketplace and let us know when they see a questionable ad."

The organization's website, TINA.org, exposes false advertising, highlights breaking news, and details legal action taken against companies found to be deceiving consumers.  TINA.org's first full year of operation included four legal actions, more than 200 ad alerts, another 200+ news articles and blog posts, reports on 232 false-advertising class actions, three petitions, and more.

The "Truth in Advertising" campaign was created by award-winning Creative director, Jonathan Cranin (who led the creation of the MasterCard "Priceless" campaign), who worked with TINA.org's PR agency, Zito Partners. The video for the campaign was directed by Justin Reardon, co-creator of the Budweiser "Whassup" ads.

For more information and to see the ads, please see TINA.org on its website, Twitter and Facebook pages.

About the Client: TINA.org
TINA.org is a non-profit organization based in Madison, Conn. that uses investigative journalism, education, and advocacy to empower consumers to protect themselves and one another against false advertising and deceptive marketing. TINA.org is independently funded and does not accept any advertising dollars to support its work.

About the Creative Director: Jonathan Cranin
Cranin, founder of craninthink, retired from McCann Worldgroup in 2007 after 14 years, the last five as Worldwide Chief Creative Officer. He was responsible for the largest global accounts such as GM, Microsoft, Intel, Nestle, the US Army and Mastercard. 

About the Video Director: Jonathan Reardon
In addition to the "Whassup" campaign, Reardon also co-created the Jersey Boys' "Howyadoin'" campaign for Budweiser. His first feature, "A Many Splintered Thing," a romantic comedy with Chris Evans, will be released later this year. He has a second feature in development as well—"Convention," a science-fiction comedy starring Ben Kingsley. Justin recently directed a series of ESPN commercials with Wieden+Kennedy NY.

About the Agency: Zito Partners
Zito Partners advises organizations on brand strategy, advertising, marketing and communications. The agency was established in 2010 by Bob Zito, who has more than 30 years' experience in the sports, financial, pharmaceutical and entertainment industries working at respected brands such as NYSE, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Sony.

Media Contact: Ray Pellecchia
[email protected]
845-245-8138

SOURCE truthinadvertising.org