Usually, when publications want to increase their ad sales they hire
more and better ad sales people. But in New York City, if you’re a
minority-owned media outlet, all you have to do is get the city council
to hold hearings and demand to know why ad agencies aren’t buying more
ads in black and Hispanic publications. So much for voluntary choice in
the advertising market. As reported in Ad Age magazine (registration required):
Madison Avenue, under fire for its failure to build diverse workplaces,
was also slapped today for not buying enough ads in media outlets owned
by African-Americans, Latinos and other minorities. In hearings at New
York City Hall, media owners and City Council members blasted the
industry for what one described as an environment where these outlets
are “devalued and relegated to leftovers.” But it wasn’t just media
plans that got the goat of the council. What raised the council’s ire
and brought out some of the loudest verbal fireworks was the decision
by agency executives not to show up and testify.
Good for them.
