Ethics in Advertising: Review, Analysis, and Suggestions

The Pontifical Council's monograph on Ethics in Advertising (EIA) raises several important moral issues confronting advertising. This topic is one of ongoing importance to the advertising world, business community, educators, and society at large. For example, the perennial issue of sex-appeal advertising continues to raise tough questions from an ethical standpoint. The perspective I take in the early sections of this article is that of an academic reviewer of the EIA document. First, I discuss the strengths of the monograph. Second, I examine the overall and specific weaknesses of it. Third, I address the current status of advertising ethics in America, and fourth, I provide several suggestions for improving ethics in the field of advertising.