What if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad subscribes to Mumbrella? This advert could be juts the thing that tips him over the edge.

It’s irresponsible.

Thanks for letting me in on the secret.

I’ll let you in on one too, I don’t think so either.

I think it’s irresponsible to indicate/joke around as has been done, particularly when the situation is so serious.

Cheers

Rowan

I’ll let you into a secret. I don’t think our correspondent really does think that Oral B is sponsoring the putdown of the Iranian uprising. I think he’s using hyperbole to make his point. I suspect that most folk would interpret it that way.

Cheers,

Tim – Mumbrella

My comment is not about where and how the advertising was placed on the SMH.

My point is about the wording on your website.

Currently mumbrella.com.au is claiming that “It would seem that Oral B sponsors or at least endorses the shooting of Iranian Protesters.”

Are you seriously suggesting that a toothbrush company is sponsoring or endorsing the actions of the Iranian government in the shooting of it’s own citizens to suppress protestors after an election?

Really? Is that what you’re proposing? Because that’s what your website says.

I doubt very much, and I hope you don’t believe, that OralB does in fact sponsor or endorse the shooting of Iranian Protestors.

This article has always read: “Look, an oral B ad happened to appear in a contextually akward spot, that’s pretty funny isn’t it…Discuss…”

Thanks for your comments.

I suspect you’re perhaps misinterpreting what the person who pointed this out means. They do understand advertising and are in a position to know how it works.

But to the casual reader, not in the business, who doesn’t understand how advertising works, that’s how it could appear.

Which would be why Fairfax have taken it down.It was a very unfortunate placement that tended to link the advertiser with the content, and they’ve removed it.

Cheers,

Tim – Mumbrella

Dr Mumbo’s correspondent doesn’t give any indication that either they did or attempted to contact the SMH or the parent company of – or any subsidiary of – Oral B prior to publication to see if there was any truth whatsoever to the statement made that “Oral B sponsors or at least endorses the shooting of Iranian Protesters” as claimed.

Tim, you should unreservedly apologise for publishing this rubbish and find a new Dr Mumbo correspondent too.

Disgraceful.

I don’t think you have anything to apologise for here.

Mumbrella seem to have been the ones taking advantage of an unfortunate ad placement to promote their own agenda.

It is outrageous of Mumbrella to conclude

“Dr Mumbo’s correspondent concludes: “It would seem that Oral B sponsors or at least endorses the shooting of Iranian Protesters.””

If they believe that is true they obviously do not understand how advertising and media work. If they don’t believe it is true then why are they saying it.

Thanks for letting us know.

Cheers,

Tim – Mumbrella

We now feel this has been resolved and apologise if any offence was caused.

Best Wishes,

Paul Sigaloff – National Sales Director

so an advertiser could only run next to stories about football or mining or the recession?

really??????

Dave

Just like the video on an online news site last week that feature an underwear show – placed next to an article about a rapist with an underwear fetish. The unfortunate placement was just a matter of both the article and the video having a similar keyword and being deemed as related by the content management system. Nothing sinister or intentional.

Yes to some degree maybe there should be some human checking to get over these hurdles. But lets be honest here, no-one other than us marketing/PR types go into a blind frenzy about these things. Most people just don’t give a hoot and move on to the next page.

Dave