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February 2nd, 2012 | Elizabeth Ben-Ishai
Report: Cash-Strapped Schools Raise Only Minimal Revenues Through In-School Advertising
Faced with state funding cuts and shrinking budgets, many school districts across the country are seeking to raise funds by selling commercial advertising on school properties. Ads appear on school lockers, lunch trays, wall spaces, athletic facilities, websites, school buses and elsewhere. But the risks to children of commercializing schools far outweigh the miniscule revenues raised by these schemes, according to a report released today by Public Citizen.
In “School Commercialism: High Costs, Low Revenues,” Public Citizen found that school advertising programs are providing less than half of one percent of school revenues, and often far less. Public Citizen surveyed the nation’s 25 largest school districts; 10 reported that they maintained in-school advertising programs or were considering such programs. No program reported raising more than $250,000. No program reported raising more than .03 percent of the school system’s overall budget.
Continue Reading...February 6th, 2012 | CBS St. Louis
New Missouri Bill Would Allow Advertisements On School Buses
A new bill proposed by House Republican Mike Kelley, of Lamar, will offer advertising space within and outside school buses.
Continue Reading...February 6th, 2012 | Raj Patel | The Atlantic
Abolish the Food Industry
If public health is a legitimate reason to curb corporations’ advertising to kids, why limit bans to cigarettes, booze, and toys in happy meals, and not include, say, all unhealthy food?
Continue Reading...February 6th, 2012 | Editorial | Philadelphia Daily News
DN Editorial: Your ad here?
Philadelphia City Council, and Blondell Reynolds Brown in particular, are to be commended for thinking of creative new ways to fund the schools. We think that one idea - keeping bars open an hour later to capture more drink tax - frankly is less harmful than the idea of allowing advertising on school buses.
Continue Reading...February 6th, 2012 | Elizabeth Ben-Ishai | Citizen Vox Blog
Public Citizen’s Commercial Alert: Taking on commercialism at every juncture
Breakfast cereals equivalent in nutritional value to Twinkies are heavily marketed to children using cartoon mascots and online “advergames.” Schools display advertisements for everything from fast food to the U.S. Army on every available surface, from lockers to flat-screen televisions in cafeterias to report cards. Corporations hire student “brand ambassadors” on college campuses to subtly push their product on classmates and friends. Public art galleries, subway stops, and roadways are named for the highest corporate bidder. Historic bridges and parks are draped with advertisements. Infant formula makers market their products in doctors’ offices and hospitals.
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