Essay 150

For your consideration…

Consider New Mexico and Arizona, where the governors declared a state of emergency due to increased illegal immigration. Declarations of this magnitude are usually made in response to a natural disaster. For example, officials in Louisiana declared a state of emergency after Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans. Louisiana is dealing with a deluge of floodwaters. Arizona and New Mexico are facing a deluge of foreigners. Clearly, “state of emergency” is a highly subjective term.

Consider Shona Seifert, the advertising executive convicted of falsifying client billing records at Ogilvy & Mather. In addition to receiving a hefty fine and prison sentence, Seifert was ordered to draft a Code of Ethics for the advertising industry (see Essay 134). The ultimate document is uninspired — and critics claim it’s unoriginal, sharing similarities with the Advertising Federation of Australia’s Agency Code of Ethics. Guess it was a bad idea to seek ethical advice from a felon. Then again, it’s not unprecedented for ad hacks to rip off others’ concepts. Now Interpublic Group of Companies acknowledges “possible employee misconduct” with its accounting practices. Looks like illegal billing in advertising agencies will be analogous to steroid use in Major League Baseball. Although so far, no adpeople have pulled a Rafael Palmiero by insisting they’ve never done anything improper.

Consider the recent study presented by Education Trust-West, an advocacy group in Oakland. Based on a survey of salaries, it appears that California schools with predominately poor and minority students employ less-experienced and lower-paid instructors. In short, the kids with the greatest needs get the worst teachers. Factor in the worst facilities and resources to create a truly separate and unequal scenario. Then again, there’s nothing too shocking revealed here. The worst kid from the worst facility could have drawn the same conclusions without all the statistical data. For more details, visit www.hiddengap.org — or any school in California with mostly Black and Hispanic students.

Consider how the upcoming Advertising Week in New York truly reflects the industry. Except for a handful of programs highlighting the currently in vogue Hispanic marketing, there’s little evidence of diversity — aside from the ultra-segregated Diversity Achievement & Mosaic Awards, which isn’t even listed on the featured events. The overwhelming majority of photographs at the advertisingweek.com Web site showcase White people. In fact, the only colored folks include a shot of minority students (undoubtedly the recipients of some humanitarian public service initiative) and Tony the Tiger. However, Juan Valdez is reportedly the leading vote recipient in the icon contest. No word yet on the totals for Colt 45’s Billy Dee Williams. There’s a program being held at the Apollo Theater, where adpeople will compete in a special Amateur Night. It’s always uncomfortable watching White contestants perform on the famed stage. Sandman Sims will be working overtime.