In an uncharacteristic breaking of the U.S. advertising trade association ranks, the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A's) Tuesday morning issued a joint statement blasting remarks made last week by Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) CEO David Cohen characterizing Washington lawmakers as "extremists" hellbent on destroying the ad industry, reports Mediapost.
"In an era of inflamed political tensions and growing division, the art of nuance and listening is quickly jettisoned for the short-term sugar highs of polarizing political rhetoric," reads the ANA/4A's statement, adding, "And while polarizing political rhetoric might produce short-term results, it does nothing to achieve the kind of balanced, lasting consensus needed to effectuate real solutions."
The IAB's Cohen made the incendiary remarks during the bureau's annual conference, and it make headlines across industry trade publications.
In their joint statement, the ANA and 4A's said they "reject the acerbic tone, texture and prescriptions offered by the IAB at their recent ALM conference.
"Our industry was built on a foundation of responsible marketing. While we, as an industry, may not always get it right, we do know when we must lead to restore balance – especially when we have created the conditions for our industry to be 'out of balance."
In its place, the advertiser and agency trade associations offered ideal examples of industry leadership.
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