"We interrupt this program to bring you the following
update..."
From time to time I like to remind clients of specific network
guidelines to keep in mind when developing advertising. One such
guideline involves news simulation in advertising.
A few years ago we published an article regarding the use of
news simulation techniques in advertising. Below is an updated
version of the previous article adapted to today's
standards.
According to network guidelines, advertising may not contain
language, visual techniques, or sound effects associated with
newscasts when such advertising is likely to confuse or alarm the
audience, or trivialize actual newscasts.
Examples of language and techniques that are unacceptable
include: "Breaking News," "Bulletin,"
"Flash," "Live," "Special Report" and
"We interrupt this program to bring you...," horizontal
crawls at the bottom one-third of the screen and teletype sound
effects. Such techniques are reserved specifically for
