FRONTLINE: THE PERSUADERS (TV)

Summary

One in this documentary series. This edition examines how advertising is affecting people and the world around them. Correspondent Douglas Rushkoff reports.

Bob Garfield of Advertising Age magazine discusses how ads are "historically ... quite bad," and that one can't help but be bombarded by advertising in every aspect of life. Mark Crispin Miller, media critic and New York University professor, discusses America's ongoing cultural crisis and what happens when marketing and advertising mix with the world of politics. Naomi Klein, author of "No Logo," discusses the hiring of higher-priced consultants and their long-range effect on ads.

Rushkoff then examines life in the "persuasion age." He goes to meet several notable "persuaders," beginning at a cocktail party for the 2003 launch of Song airlines, a low-priced spinoff of Delta Airlines. He examines how the Song persuaders work to capture the public's imagination. Finally, he examines how successful these Song persuaders are at their jobs.

Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Details

• NETWORK: PBS
• DATE: November 9, 2004 Tuesday 9:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:26:41
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:84757
• GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
• SUBJECT HEADING: Documentary; Advertising
• SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1983-
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Muriel Soenens … Producer
• Rachel Dretzin … Producer, Director
• Barak Goodman … Producer, Director, Writer
• Douglas Rushkoff … Writer
• Douglas Rushkoff … Reporter
• Bob Garfield
• Naomi Klein
• Mark Crispin Miller