Through both content analysis and an audience evaluation of antismoking
advertisements, this paper examines: (1) what kinds of antismoking
advertisements are currently available in US youth magazines where
cigarette advertisements are heavily placed; and (2) how young audiences
evaluate the different types of advertisements. It finds that antismoking
advertisements in youth magazines are virtually unnoticeable. Even among
the small number of antismoking advertisements, campaigns sponsored by
the American Legacy Foundation and two tobacco companies seemed to
employ different themes and to have different level of advertising
effectiveness. In particular, low rating by audiences toward Phillip Morris
and Lorillard campaigns in terms of memorability, attention getting,
likeability, and persuasiveness question whether their intention is to prevent
smoking or to perform empty gestures of corporate responsibility. This multi-method study suggests that antismoking ads are not effectively
executed in response to the tobacco industry's youth-targeting advertising
strategy. To achieve intended results, campaigners should practice more
exposure, more sophisticated media planning and creativity techniques, along
with more rigorous pre-testing.