11th Annual Consumer Conference (13 December 2005)
The 11th ASA Annual Consumer Conference saw over 60 members of the public take the opportunity to meet with representatives from the ASA and to have their say on what they think about advertising standards.
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£150 Student Award up for grabs! (17 November 2005)
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has launched its Student Award 2006 scheme for students able to demonstrate a keen understanding of its work.
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Inside Investigations (28 October 2005)
In the third of our articles looking behind the scenes of the advertising regulatory system, ASA Agenda now turns its attention to the work of those in the Investigations teams. Rupa Pattni explains the investigative process...
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The ASA's "Rubbish" ad (28 October 2005)
The Advertising Standards Authority has launched its own advertising campaign, raising awareness that it is “keeping advertising standards high”. Nearly a year since it took on the additional role of regulating broadcast advertising, the ads remind the public that the ASA is a one-stop shop for all their complaints about harmful, misleading or offensive advertising.
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Slimming down the truth? (28 October 2005)
A new survey flags up slimming ads as an area of particular concern to the ASA and to the unsuspecting public. Only half of the ads reviewed in this study that was undertaken by the ASA were found to satisfy the CAP Code, which contains specific rules regarding the advertisement of slimming products and services.
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Misleading, harmful, offensive? What do you think? (19 October 2005)
The people of Yorkshire are being invited to have their say about some of the controversial and provocative issues that surround advertising today as the ASA holds its Annual Consumer Conference in Leeds on Wednesday 23 November.
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Recruitment Drive For New ASA Council Member (05 October 2005)
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is looking to recruit a member of the public to serve on the ASA Council – the body responsible for adjudicating on complaints about advertising content.
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ASA Welcomes High Court Ruling on Jamster ads (21 September 2005)
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has welcomed a judgement in the High Court dismissing an application for an injunction to prevent publication of its adjudication on TV advertising by Jamba! GmbH. In his ruling, the judge, Mr Justice Lloyd-Jones, accepted the ASA’s arguments that the interests of the public interest was best served by publishing the adjudication now, notwithstanding Jamba’s request for an Independent Review.
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Could this be the worst ad ever? (20 September 2005)
The Advertising Standards Authority is launching a new ad campaign on Wednesday 21 September. Designed to raise public awareness of the ASA, what it does and why, the campaign will appear across all media. Focusing on what the ASA is good at – removing ads that are offensive, harmful or misleading, the campaign also highlights what the ASA is less good at, making ads of its own!
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Have your say (28 July 2005)
The ASA's 11th annual consumer conference will be held on Wednesday 23 November in Leeds.
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Magazine Monitor (28 July 2005)
In the second of our articles looking behind the scenes of the advertising regulatory system, ASA Agenda now focuses its attention on the Compliance Team. Alistair Taylor, who has worked on the Compliance Team for two years, explains the team's role in maintaining advertising standards.
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'Fifteen minutes of Fame' (28 July 2005)
The ASA has issued a warning to aspiring actors, actresses, dancers, models and other performers to take care when responding to ads appearing to offer employment in these fields.
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Brrr-ringing mobile phone ads into line (28 July 2005)
As the mobile phone industry grows, so too have the number of complaints to the ASA surrounding ads for associated products and services.
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Are copycat ads always bad? (28 July 2005)
In the last six months, a number of ads have elicited complaints to the ASA that children might mimic the behaviour shown. With some complaints upheld and others rejected, this public concern has put the spotlight on the ASA's stance regarding emulation in advertising.
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National Press Survey 2004 (21 June 2005)
A National Press survey published by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) reveals an encouragingly high 99.3% compliance rate with the advertising industry’s code of practice – the CAP Code. The survey was undertaken over a six month period between March and August 2004.
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Self-regulation effective alternative to statutory control (15 June 2005)
Advertising self-regulation can offer an effective, alternative model to regulation by statutory authorities, saving € millions in public expenditure. This is the message from the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) as it visits the European Parliament on the eve of the UK Presidency.
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Being an ... ASA Council Member (25 April 2005)
“I suddenly felt I’d led a very sheltered life and I had an inkling this was going to be a very interesting experience for me,” – ex-ASA Council member, Pauline Thomas reflects on the six years which she spent serving on the ASA’s decision-making body.
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Putting the “self” into self-regulation (25 April 2005)
So what does the “self” in self-regulation actually mean? CAP – the advertising industry’s Committee of Advertising Practice – is the “self” in the advertising regulatory regime. CAP’s work is often left in the shadow of that of the more high-profile ASA, however, it is no less important in upholding standards in UK advertising.
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The twenty most complained about ads (25 April 2005)
The ASA’s Annual Report for 2004 reveals the most complained about advertisements for 2004. Reflecting its new responsibility for broadcast advertising, two top ten lists of most complained about ads have been published - one of non-broadcast advertisements; the other for broadcast commercials. All of the ads featured in the broadcast listing attracted complaints to the previous broadcast advertising regulator, Ofcom.
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You’ve ad it? – ASA Annual Report 2004 (25 April 2005)
The ASA’s Annual report for 2004, which is published today, reveals that the number of complaints received about misleading or offensive non-broadcast advertising has fallen for the first time in eight years. The number of complaints received by the Advertising Standards Authority was down 10% on the record 14,000 complaints received in 2003.
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ASA more effective as regulatory role expands - annual report 2004 (24 April 2005)
The Advertising Standards Authority’s 2004 Annual Report, published 26 April 2005, reveals a record 1,835 non-broadcast advertisements changed or withdrawn as a result of ASA action. The Report also reflects the changes to the ASA’s role as it took over responsibility for broadcast advertising from Ofcom on 1 November 2004.
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ASA takes action to end misleading promotion (14 April 2005)
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has asked the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to consider taking legal action against Tower House Promotions Ltd, an advertiser who runs prize promotions, under the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations (1988) as amended.
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New Council members (21 March 2005)
The Chairman of The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), Lord Borrie, QC, has appointed two new members to join the ASA Council: Colin Philpott, Head of the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television and Diana Whitworth, co-director of Grandparents Plus, a charity concerned with promoting the role of grandparents and extended family members in caring for children.
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European City Guide (23 February 2005)
The European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA) has issued new advice for companies wishing to complain about the European City Guide.
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Control of Political Advertising (21 February 2005)
The ASA Director General, Christopher Graham, has written to leaders of political parties in the UK to outline the policy that the ASA will be adopting towards political advertising in the run up to the general election.
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ASA supports 'scams' awareness drive (15 February 2005)
As part of an initiative to spread awareness and increase consumer protection The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is supporting a drive to highlight the problem of ‘scam’ advertising.
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Teleshopping News (21 January 2005)
Ofcom’s recent decision to revoke the broadcasting licence of teleshopping channel Auctionworld whilst also issuing the channel with a record £450,000 fine, sends a clear message to advertisers that they cannot ignore the broadcast Codes.
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Terms and conditions apply? (21 January 2005)
When called upon to defend a flight promotion that it had run on behalf of the wine producer, Ernest and Julio Gallo, promotional agency MKM Marketing & Promotions pointed to the small print which stated “terms & conditions apply” and “all flights are subject to availability”.
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Religious Offence in Advertising (21 January 2005)
Last Christmas brought with it a spate of complaints about advertising that caused offence on religious grounds.
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Expert consumers ready to give advice (21 January 2005)
The Advertising Advisory Committee (ACC), chaired by Elizabeth Filkin (pictured), has hailed its first meeting a success in which it identified alcohol and food advertising as two key areas it will be focusing on over the next year.
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ASA clamps down on misleading promoters (06 January 2005)
The Advertising Standards Authority has asked the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to consider taking legal action against Fones4Free.com which is running a “free” flights promotion on its website despite being asked to withdraw it by the ASA on the grounds that it is misleading.
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