The states of Texas and Alabama have gone on record asking Channel One News to refrain from advertising foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV). The Texas Public School Nutrition Policy lists chewing gum as a FMNV.
Yet Channel One News continues to not only run ads for chewing gum and bubble gum, but they are using their unique access to schoolchildren to introduce new brands and new product changes. (As if young people need MORE sugared food products in their lives.)
Take a look at the Winterfresh commercial from the September 21 show (one of many days it has run). The message is that your breath will be so much better with this sugared gum that you will find romance. “Buy this gum and you will kiss the girl (boy).” It’s that simple. It’s that untrue, but that is what advertising is about.
Obligation’s Jim Metrock said, “Schools are suppose to tell students the truth – the truth about history, about math, about life. In schools that are forced to show Channel One to keep their TVs, the school is showing films that everyone knows are lies. These films are the commercials that Channel One employees have chosen because they will make Channel One the most money. Imagine a parent or grandparent walking into a classroom and the students are all watching two people kissing on the classroom TV screen. Then imagine they realize the students have been watching a commercial for a sugared chewing gum as part of their mandatory school day. This nonsense happens because Channel One sees students as a target market and not much more.”
Channel One advertisers have always used sex to sell products. The message to middle school students is: Winterfresh gum will allow you to kiss with confidence. The subtext of this commercial is: No telling where you will go from that kiss.
See what your children are spending their school time watching:
