Advertising, generally speaking, is the promotion of goods, services, companies and ideas, usually performed by an identified sponsor. Marketers see advertising as part of an overall promotional strategy. Other components of the promotional mix include publicity, public relations, personal selling, and sales promotion.

History

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In ancient times the most common form of advertising was by word of mouth; however, commercial messages and political campaign displays have been found in the ruins of Pompeii. Egyptians used papyrus to create sales messages and wall posters, while lost-and-found advertising on papyrus was common in Greece and Rome. Wall or rock painting for commercial advertising is another manifestation of an ancient media advertising form, which is present to this day in many parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. For instance, the tradition of wall paintings can be traced back to Indian rock-art paintings that goes back to 4000 BCBhatia (2000). Advertising in Rural India: Language, Marketing Communication, and Consumerism, 62-68. As printing developed in the 15th and 16th century, advertising expanded to include handbills. In the 17th century advertisements started to appear in weekly newspapers in England.

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NPR Topics: Business

Boeing Workers Vote To Strike
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:07:00 -0400
Boeing's machinists have voted to strike, but also to return to the bargaining table for one last try. Boeing and the International Association of Machinists will have 48 hours to see if they can close the gap on pay, benefits and job security.
Overbooking Blues: Stuck In The Middle Seat
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:57:00 -0400
With more flights filled to capacity, airline passengers are rediscovering the middle seat. Airplanes are now typically more than 80 percent full, and that can translate into a host of problems for travelers — including the possibility of getting bumped.
Why Politicians Like To Talk About Scranton
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0400
The gritty Pennsylvania city has emerged as a symbolic battleground this election season. We talk with the Obama campaign and a neighborhood organization about how a slumping economy is affecting Scranton.

Latest financial news - CNNMoney.com

Boeing machinists say they'll strike
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:38:43 -0400
Read full story for latest details.
GE faces accounting fines
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:07:03 -0400
Read full story for latest details.
Ford seeks loan guarantees for green tech
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:58:52 -0400
Read full story for latest details.

The Financial Page

James Surowiecki: What drives market volatility?
James Surowiecki Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
American investors are frazzled. True, oil prices have fallen from their most vertiginous highs, the dollar is a bit stronger, and the stock market has actually risen over the past month. But none of those things have happened in a smooth and steady fashion. The stock market’s “ascent,” in particular . . .
James Surowiecki: Too many stakeholders can be a deal-breaker.
James Surowiecki Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
In the second decade of the twentieth century, it was almost impossible to build an airplane in the United States. That was the result of a chaotic legal battle among the dozens of companies--including one owned by Orville Wright--that held patents on the various components that made a . . .
James Surowiecki: Sponsoring Recklessness
James Surowiecki Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:00:00 -0000
When do the words “not guaranteed” actually mean “guaranteed”? Whenever the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are involved. The two companies have long been required to tell investors that their securities are not guaranteed by the federal government. But in the financial markets everyone has always assumed that . . .

Reuters: Business News

Treasury near GSE bailout plan: report
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:51:11 -0400
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department is close to finalizing a plan to buttress mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
Boeing machinists to strike as contract talks fail
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:14:22 -0400
NEW YORK/EVERETT, Washington (Reuters) - Boeing Co's 27,000-strong machinists' union declared it will strike at midnight Pacific time on Friday, as the plane maker failed to improve its contract offer after two days of emergency talks.
Jobless rate at 5-year high
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:26:21 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An unexpectedly steep 84,000 U.S. jobs were lost in August and the unemployment rate hit a five-year high of 6.1 percent, fanning worry ahead of November's presidential vote that the economy was near recession.

ABC News: Money

84K Jobs Lost, Unemployment Hits 5 Yr High
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:28:18 -0400
The job losses were much worse than economists expected.
Foreclosures, Late Payments Break Records
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:02:49 -0400
Delinquencies, foreclosures rise to more than 9 percent of U.S. home loans.
High Life: Medical Marijuana's Boomtown
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:59:27 -0400
Humboldt Country's high: How one community thrives on legal pot.

BBC News | Business | UK Edition

UK food prices show 8.3% increase
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:07:46 -0000
UK food prices have risen by 8.3% on average since January, with meat and fish up 23%, according to a study for the BBC.
Global economy woes shake markets
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:35:26 -0000
Worsening US job figures heighten fears of a global economic slowdown - undermining stock markets around the world.
US rules out new economic package
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:19:26 -0000
White House says it does not see need for new measures to stimulate economy despite sharp rise in unemployment.

The Economist: Business

Alcatel-Lucent: Bring down the barriers
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:30:35 -0000
Ben Verwaayen’s talents will be sorely tested in his new roleAFTER Alcatel SA merged with Lucent Technologies Inc two years ago, almost the last thing the new company could afford to worry about was balancing the interests of its French and American parts. But although less than half of the combined group’s turnover comes from its home countries, Alcatel-Lucent failed to transcend its national origins. Two small, weak telecoms-equipment firms became one big, weak one, beset by low-cost competition from new Chinese rivals and struggling in a business that internet technology was changing beyond recognition. Worse, demand has been weakening across the industry. Appointing people on the basis of nationality rather than ability is never a good idea; in conditions like these, it spelled disaster.Cost savings either failed to materialise or were swallowed by falling prices; despite hacking 16,500 jobs from a workforce of 88,000, Alcatel-Lucent made losses for six consecutive quarters and its share price fell by more than half. At the end of July it said that Serge Tchuruk, its French chairman, and Patricia Russo, its American chief executive, would depart. This week their replacements were named: a French chairman, who lives in America, and a Dutch chief executive, who will be based in Paris. Both Philippe Camus and Ben Verwaayen have the personality and experience that could iron out the beleaguered telecoms group’s problems. ...
Executive compensation in China: False options
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:30:35 -0000
A study of share options reveals a vast amount of untouched wealthHOW executives are rewarded is one of the many mysteries of China’s increasingly powerful companies. Unravelling it is important, not least because it should help to explain corporate China’s transformation from a state-controlled to a consumer-driven creature.Research on this question has been surprisingly sparse. A new study by Zhihong Chen and Yuyan Guan, of the City University of Hong Kong, and Bin Ke, of Pennsylvania State University, casts a rare beam of light. However, its main achievement is to reveal how little is understood about the incentive structure of Chinese business. ...
Dealing with the downturn: Accounts not receivable
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:30:35 -0000
Companies are taking longer to pay one anotherAS THE world economy slows, the number of people who have fallen behind on loan and credit-card payments is soaring. But although dud consumer loans have attracted much attention, individuals are not the only ones failing to pay on time. Firms are struggling too. A recent survey of large public companies in America conducted by REL, a consultancy, and CFO, a sister title of The Economist, highlights this trend. It shows that “days’ sales outstanding” (DSO)—or the number of days it takes companies to collect money owed to them, often by other firms—hit an average of 41 in 2007, up from 39.7 in 2006. That might not seem a big increase, but the indicator has rarely risen or fallen by more than half a day a year. When America went into recession in 2001, DSO averaged 38.9. ...

Business News - UPI.com

Canwest shares fall on deletion fears
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:33:21 -0400
TORONTO, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Shares of Canwest Global Communications Corp. closed down more than 9 percent Friday after an analyst said it might be deleted from a benchmark stock index.
Boeing machinists call midnight strike
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:21:41 -0400
CHICAGO, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- The Machinists union in Seattle announced on its Web site Friday afternoon its members at Boeing would go on strike at midnight.
Grain prices off sharply in Chicago Friday
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:18:48 -0400
CHICAGO, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Grains traded lower on the Chicago Board of Trade Friday although the U.S. Department of Agriculture Export Sales report came in close to expectations.
Toronto exchange index ends losing streak
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:44:12 -0400
TORONTO, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- The Toronto Stock Exchange's main index closed up a hair Friday, ending a three-day losing streak and one of the exchange's worst weeks on record.
Crude oil prices gain slightly Friday
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:38:30 -0400
NEW YORK, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices held relatively stable Friday, gaining 35 cents on the New York Mercantile Exchange to $106.65 per barrel.
UPI NewsTrack Business
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:31:49 -0400
U.S. markets turn in mixed day Friday ... Deals on shipping have consumer appeal ... Canadians snap up U.S. homes ... China's central bank strapped, sources say ... News from United Press International.

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