Susanna's Online Magazine

Award-winning journalist and freelance copywriter, Susanna K. Hutcheson, presents news, thoughts and ideas on the world of business, marketing, copywriting and much more.

Friday, 10 February 2012 10:10 am

 Subscribe in a reader
Add to Google Reader or Homepage Add to My AOL Subscribe in Bloglines Subscribe in NewsGator Online Stumble It!



Home » Archives » December 2004 » When Advertising is Not a Good Thing.

[Previous entry: "Switch to a Safer Browser --- Lots of People are Doing it."] [Next entry: "What it Takes to be a Great Copywriter."]

12/19/2004: "When Advertising is Not a Good Thing."


Generally I believe in advertising. Why? Simply put, it works. Ah, fact is, in some cases it works too well.

Celebrex has been one of the most heavily promoted prescription drugs in advertising aimed at consumers. For the first nine months of this year, Pfizer spent almost $71.2 million on Celebrex, up about 55 percent from almost $46.1 million spent in the same period a year ago, according to data from the research firm TNS Media Intelligence/CMR. The effect of such advertising, many doctors say, was to drive the consumer demand for COX-2 drugs far beyond the bulk of those patients who really benefit from them.

Now Celebrex, like Vioxx before it, is being taken off the market for causing heart problems, possibly even heart attacks.

I think the drug companies make a mistake in advertising their drugs to the general public. We non-doctors do not understand drugs. No drug is totally safe. Even doctors very often give drugs when they should not. But to hoist them on the public through advertising campaigns which make them look safe and just great is not a good thing.

Drugs are not dog food, soap or sodas. Drugs have the ability to injure and kill. The ad industry can't take that lightly.


Susanna K. Hutcheson

Susanna K. Hutcheson is a well-known, prolific writer and copywriter. She started her career in 1967 and has been a reporter on numerous newspapers, a feature writer on major magazines and trade publications and editor and owner of several weekly newspapers. She is executive copy director of Power Communications. She is also a press card-carrying award-winning journalist.



SponsoredTweets hire me badge

What Freelance Copywriters Charge

Latest Marketing & Advertising News
Facebook me!


[Valid RSS]




MAIN MENU
Home
Archives
Taglines
Copywriting Service
Freelance Copywriter
Copywriting Jobs Available


Copywriting Fees

Copywriter Jobs
Legal


December 2004
SMTWTFS
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 

Blog Links

[Valid RSS]

Blog Directory
Blog Flux Directory
BlogRankings.com
Blog search directory
Daily Toon Click to enlarge
ANDERTOONS.COM BUSINESS CARTOONSBusiness Cartoonsby Andertoons



Valid CSS


Powered By Greymatter


More blogs about susannahutcheson.com.

Creative Commons License
This weblog is licensed under a Creative Commons License.