Prompt 2: Marketing Ethics

By Lindsey Murphy

The marketing and advertising industries don’t have the best reputation, but I believe they are improving their deceptive and stereotypical ways over time. According to the American Marketing Association’s website, marketers uphold ethical values such as honesty, responsibility, fairness, respect, transparency, and citizenship. The preamble states that,”As marketers, we recognize that we not only serve our organizations but also act as stewards of society in creating, facilitating and executing the transactions that are part of the greater economy.” The code of ethics stresses the importance of integrity when it comes to marketing to avoid “deception in product design, pricing, communication, and delivery of distribution. This code of ethics corresponds well to my code of ethics. I think respect and responsibility are some of the best qualities to have.

Honesty is the best policy, especially when you’re trying to sell a product to someone. Although, I wouldn’t say that the marketing industry always maintains this code of ethics. For example, Carl’s Jr. used a woman’s naked body in one of its commercials to advertise a so-called natural burger. This isn’t very respectful, and many other companies use sex appeal to advertise pretty much anything. Advertising is also seen as deceptive by many. Have you ever seen a commercial for a big mac? Chances are if you order one from McDonald’s, the burger is a lot smaller in person than how the advertisement shows. These examples are a few of many that can show that marketing and advertising strategies aren’t always truthful or respectful. The FTC and FDA control this so nothing gets out of hand with inappropriate, deceptive material or false advertising. Could you imagine what the world would be like if the way products were marketed wasn’t controlled? I think we would all be suffering from some trust issues.

"American Marketing Association." American Marketing Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2017.

Realino, Jeyl. "Blogpost 4: Truths and Lies About What We Buy." Blogpost 4: Truths and Lies About What We Buy. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 05 Feb. 2017.