2008 Woodie Awards
'Emma' ads draw praise, fire
Andrea Waterfield - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 10/17/06 Section: Metro
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Silly rabbit, condoms aren't for kids.
Or are they?
The Emma Goldman Clinic, which, it says, has a "feminist approach to health care," has furthered its advertisement efforts by placing ads for various services on mainstream television channels in Iowa City.
"We worked hard to design [the commercials] so that they would be educational, informative, and locally produced," said Karen Kubby, the clinic's executive director.
The commercials, whose content came from the most popular questions on the "Ask Emma" feature on the clinic's website, cover such issues as condoms and forms of emergency contraception. Kubby said she hopes the commercials are fun, educational, and reach all types of audiences.
The commercials run on various cable channels, including CNN, VH1, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, and Lifetime. Because the advertisements use the word "condom," they do not air until after 10 p.m., Kubby said.
"We meet all [Federal Communications Commission] regulations," she said. "We don't use any of the banned words in the commercials."
Despite the clinic following all federal regulations, some say the commercials aren't fit for the channels on which they air.
"It's really inappropriate that [the commercials] appear on Cartoon Network," said UI graduate student Anita Jayachandran. "Especially if people are like, 'Oh, it's after 10 p.m.; let's sneak one in.' That's just unacceptable."
Julie Andsager, a UI associate journalism professor, agreed with Kubby, emphasizing the importance of putting the clinic's advertisements on channels other than those syndicated on campus.
"I think the more people you can inform, the better," she said. "It's not likely that people will be watching campus channels when they are drinking or fooling around. At that point, they might be watching Comedy Central. People would be more likely to take advantage of that kind of information and retain it if it's presented [on mainstream channels]."
Or are they?
The Emma Goldman Clinic, which, it says, has a "feminist approach to health care," has furthered its advertisement efforts by placing ads for various services on mainstream television channels in Iowa City.
"We worked hard to design [the commercials] so that they would be educational, informative, and locally produced," said Karen Kubby, the clinic's executive director.
The commercials, whose content came from the most popular questions on the "Ask Emma" feature on the clinic's website, cover such issues as condoms and forms of emergency contraception. Kubby said she hopes the commercials are fun, educational, and reach all types of audiences.
The commercials run on various cable channels, including CNN, VH1, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, and Lifetime. Because the advertisements use the word "condom," they do not air until after 10 p.m., Kubby said.
"We meet all [Federal Communications Commission] regulations," she said. "We don't use any of the banned words in the commercials."
Despite the clinic following all federal regulations, some say the commercials aren't fit for the channels on which they air.
"It's really inappropriate that [the commercials] appear on Cartoon Network," said UI graduate student Anita Jayachandran. "Especially if people are like, 'Oh, it's after 10 p.m.; let's sneak one in.' That's just unacceptable."
Julie Andsager, a UI associate journalism professor, agreed with Kubby, emphasizing the importance of putting the clinic's advertisements on channels other than those syndicated on campus.
"I think the more people you can inform, the better," she said. "It's not likely that people will be watching campus channels when they are drinking or fooling around. At that point, they might be watching Comedy Central. People would be more likely to take advantage of that kind of information and retain it if it's presented [on mainstream channels]."
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
JW Haga
posted 10/17/06 @ 8:24 AM CST
Chip, I doubt Emma runs 2nd and 3rd trimester abortions spots on Nick at Night.
If you want to bark at someone bark not at Emma but the Cable Advertising provider. (Continued…)
John Doe
posted 10/17/06 @ 6:04 PM CST
Please do tell us what they asked you to do before you left the church? I do not even understand one word you are using. Abortion is murder, end of story. (Continued…)
chewy1215
Brian Francis (former Ia City resident)
posted 10/17/06 @ 9:42 PM CST
If I want info on safe sex, premarital sex, or even (God forbid) abortions, I'm not going to trust anything I see on T.V., hear from a radio add, catch on the web, or read in a newspaper. (Continued…)
jenna
posted 10/20/06 @ 10:59 PM CST
I love that the Campus Crusade for Christ spokesman seems to think that the Emma Goldman Clinic exists only to squeeze in ads for abortion among the regular retinue of sugary cereals and flashy toys on Nickelodeon. (Continued…)
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