Books
For years, books were one of few media free from huckstering. But publishers have recently put product placements in books, especially those targeted at children. And so there are now children's books touting many brands of junk food, including Froot Loops, M & M's, Reese's Pieces, Skittles, Hershey's chocolates and Oreo cookies.
Product placement is coming to more adult works, too. For example, Fay Weldon's work, featuring the Bulgari jewelry company, is an advertisement, not a novel.
We are working to stop the creep of product placement into the publishing industry. It is a threat to the cognitive commons and our ability to read and think without being bombarded by commercial messages.
More Information
News Releases
Commercial Alert Asks Book Reviewers Not to Review Ad-Laden Children's Series "Mackenzie Blue"
Robert Weissman | March 12th, 2008
Commercial Alert Letter to HarperCollins Children's Books Regarding "Mackenzie Blue"
Robert Weissman | March 12th, 2008
Commercial Alert Asks Book Review Editors Not to Review New Teen “Book” w/ Product Placement
Gary Ruskin and Jonathan Rowe | June 12th, 2006
Nader, Authors to Borders CEO: Don’t Limit Access to Books, Ideas
Gary Ruskin | June 26th, 2002
Authors Ask Editors to Treat Fay Weldon's New Work as an Ad, Not a Book
Gary Ruskin | September 30th, 2001
Stop Peddling Junk Food to Children, Commercial Alert Tells Publishers
Gary Ruskin | September 22nd, 2000
Related Articles and Links
Related Articles
Are books for kids where little ideas - or big brands - grow?
John Mangan | The Age (Australia) | March 16th, 2008
Authors Strike Deals to Squeeze in a Few Brand Names
Laura Petrecca | USA Today | September 11th, 2006
Teen Novel Is Given The Corporate Make Over
Dalya Alberge | The Times (of London) | June 21st, 2006
The Art of The Deal
New York Times | June 17th, 2006
Product Placement Deals Make Leap From Film to Books
Motoko Rich | New York Times | June 12th, 2006
The Goat at Saks and Other Marketing Tales
Lorne Manly | New York Times | November 14th, 2005
Drug Business Prescribes a Novel Cure for Its Ills
Lloyd Grove | New York Daily News | October 17th, 2005
Publisher Pushes Textbook Ads; McGraw-Hill Targets Students; Critics Warn Plan Could Backfire
Rick Westhead | Toronto Star | June 7th, 2005
Borders Sets Out to Make the Book Business Businesslike
Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | Wall Street Journal | May 20th, 2002
Now, Many Words From Our Sponsor
David D. Kirkpatrick | New York Times | September 3rd, 2001
Snack Foods Become Stars of Books for Children
David D. Kirkpatrick | New York Times | September 22nd, 2000
Oreos and M&M's? Learning Tools
Judith Gaines | Boston Globe | January 23rd, 2000