Our Mission

Commercial Alert's mission is to keep the commercial culture within its proper sphere,
and to prevent it from exploiting children and subverting the higher values of family, community, environmental integrity and democracy.

Our Issues

Campaigns

Flickr photo by abdshomad

Infant Formula Marketing

Keep infant formula marketing out of healthcare facilities.

Commercial Advertising in Schools

Commercial Advertising in Schools

Keep commercial advertising out of schools.

Latest News

April 9th, 2012

Commercial Alert to Hospitals: Stop Handing Out Industry-Provided Samples of Infant Formula

Hospitals should stop including industry-provided samples of infant formula in new mothers’ discharge bags because the distribution is unethical and violates good public health policy, Public Citizen said in letters, co-signed by more than 100 other organizations, sent to more than 2,600 hospitals across the country. The letters are part of a new, nationwide Public Citizen campaign that is aimed at both hospitals and major formula makers. 

Continue Reading...

May 16th, 2012 | SHARON TERLEP, SUZANNE VRANICA and SHAYNDI RAICE | The Wall Street Journal

GM Says Facebook Ads Don't Pay Off

General Motors Co.  plans to stop advertising with Facebook Inc. after deciding that paid ads on the site have little impact on consumers’ car purchases, according to a GM official.

Continue Reading...

May 16th, 2012 | Alexis Madrigal | The Atlantic

The New Culture Jamming: How Activists Will Respond to Online Advertising

Through the 1990s, a practice called “culture jamming” grew in popularity and sophistication. It aimed to disrupt consumer culture by transforming corporate advertising with subversive messages.

Continue Reading...

May 16th, 2012 | STUART ELLIOTT and TANZINA VEGA | The New York Times

More Pitches Accent the Spanish

ALTHOUGH the word “upfront” is English rather than Spanish, the broadcast networks and cable channels that aim programming at Hispanic viewers are again increasing their presence during the annual television upfront week.

Continue Reading...

May 16th, 2012 | Benjamin Kabak | 2nd Ave. Sagas

At Atlantic Ave., an updated name with a corporate twist

It sure does seem like ages ago that the MTA announced its first — and, so far, only — subway station naming rights deal, but after three years, the Barclays Center is coming to the subway system. As we learned back in June of 2009, the MTA is earning $200,000 annually for 20 years for the right to append the name of the new arena to the subway station name, and the new moniker is now showing up on maps and at the station.

Continue Reading...