Latest News > Media Release
23 June 2010
Minister calls on advertisers to support AANA in online advertising self regulation
The Australian Association of National Advertisers will take heed of a warning by Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, to ensure its Code of Ethics deals with the risk that children could be exposed to sexualised content in advertising on the internet and other digital media.
“If the industry wants to avoid the imposition of government regulation in this space it must get behind the AANA and self-regulate online advertising as actively and effectively as it does all other forms of advertising,” said Senator Conroy.
AANA will also take into account the findings of new research commissioned by the Advertising Standards Bureau into public attitudes to sex in advertising as it begins the process of reviewing the Code of Ethics that self-regulates advertising in Australia.
In launching the research, Senator Conroy said, “The Australian Government recognises how important it is that advertising treat these matters with sensitivity and will monitor the effectiveness of industry initiatives such as; The Practice Guide on Managing Images of Children and Young People; and the AANA codes as they apply to sex, sexuality and nudity in advertising over the next 12 months.”
He added, "In relation to the codes, I am pleased that the AANA has moved to ensure that the codes do cover internet advertising and websites and I urge the AANA to work with relevant bodies, and online publishers like Google and others, to ensure that self-regulation is as effective in the online space as it is in the traditional media."
Recently the AANA Code for Advertising & Marketing Communications to Children was amended to introduce an outright ban on the sexualisation of children,” said CEO Scott McClellan. “So advertisers are clearly aware that this issue needs to be treated with sensitivity and with regard to the audiences concerned.
“The upcoming Review of the Code of Ethics will examine whether the current wording is adequate.”
For further information: Scott McClellan, Chief Executive, AANA (02) 9221 8088