BY MARTHA MARRAZZA

In print | Published November 2, 2006

Just in time for the November elections, retired advertising executive Burt Manning will be coming to Swarthmore today to lecture on “What Political Advertising Does to College Students’ Politics.” Manning will address students, faculty and other Swarthmoreans in Science Center 101 at 4:15 p.m.

Manning is the chairman emeritus of the board and CEO of J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, one of the largest advertising companies in the world. Psychology Professor Barry Schwartz worked to bring Manning to campus and also organized a panel consisting of Professors Carol Nackenoff, Robin Wagner-Pacifici and himself to comment on Manning’s lecture.

“I thought the community would be quite interested to hear people talk about political advertising,” Schwartz said. “He’s going to give the talk, then Robin, Carol and I are going to get up and say a minute or two’s worth of something.”

Nackenoff will offer commentary from her perspective as a political science professor. “As far as I know, we’re simply serving as commentators based on our own knowledge of campaign advertising,” she said. “Presumably we have familiarity with campaign advertising from what we teach.”

Manning will discuss a timely and important topic, Nackenoff said. “I mean, this is the year of the YouTube and any gaff a candidate makes is going to be picked up and broadcast,” she said. “It creates an environment in which candidates can’t completely control the messages that are going out there by way of advertisements.”

Schwartz said the lecture is open to faculty members and Swarthmore borough residents, but it will mainly target college students. “[Manning] is certainly interested in how political advertising is turning [young people] off to politics altogether,” Schwartz said. “I think he will be happy he’s talking to the audience he is.”

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