Category Archives: The Ad Watchers Show Notes

Episode Show Notes: What Should You Consider Before Making Cosmetics Claims?



Ad Watchers’ episode three of season two provides insights into what advertisers should consider before making cosmetic claims. Eric Unis, Senior Attorney at the National Advertising Division (NAD), is joined by colleague Annie Ugurlayan, NAD’s Assistant Director, to walk listeners through the various cosmetic claims they encounter at NAD. Both experts provide an in-depth summary of what defines sufficient evidence and highlight emerging issues presented to the advertising self-regulatory program.

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Episode Show Notes: How to Get Consumer Perception Surveys Right?



Ad Watchers season two is underway. In this second episode of the season, hosts La Toya and Eric are joined by a special guest, Professor Joel Steckel. Professor Steckel is a Marketing Professor at the Stern School of Business at New York University and the Vice Dean for Doctoral Education. He joins in on a dynamic conversation centered on consumer perception surveys. In season one’s episode, “What Does it Mean to Have a “Reasonable Basis” Standard,” your hosts promised loyal listeners a conversation addressing reliable consumer surveys.

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Episode Show Notes: How Can You Avoid the Grey Areas of Green Claims?



Accountability Studios presents season two of Ad Watchers—a unique podcast series brought to you by the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs, a team with 50 years of experience investigating and resolving disputes over the truthfulness and accuracy of national advertising campaigns.

In the season’s first episode, La Toya and Eric walk listeners through environmental benefit claims, or “green claims,” such as sustainability, to help advertisers and practitioners think about the questions they should ask when advertising in this arena.

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Episode Show Notes: What Evidence Do You Need to Support Health Claims?



In the final episode of season one of Ad Watchers, the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs podcast series, hosts Hal and La Toya discuss health claims. These are any claims related to human health or wellness. These claims have a unique position in advertising claims substantiation because they require competent and reliable scientific evidence, also known in the industry as “CARSE.”

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Episode Show Notes: When Are Advertisers Responsible for Consumer Ratings and Reviews?



In this episode of the Ad Watchers, Hal and La Toya discuss endorsements and testimonials. Their conversation also takes a deeper look into the broader category of user-generated content in advertising. 

They began the conversation by talking about the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Endorsement Guides, which offer good insights for the National Advertising Division (NAD) and the industry. They, along with several NAD decisions on the topic and the additional guidance from the FTC, cover the basics of how to use endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

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