WWESPND: What If The ESPN Casting Call Had Not Been "Leaked"?

Costa Mesa, CA (Nov 14, 2008) - WWESPND? Yes, what would ESPN do if their ad agency had not had their casting call for an upcoming ad campaign had not been "leaked" and published on Awful Announcing? Would they have issued the following statement?

"Our marketing department just learned of this casting call today and the campaign is not something we will pursue. The language and approach reflected in that document were not approved by us and in no way represent ESPN or the respect we have for the college community."

Somebody in the organization had to have given the green light to the ad agency to move forward with the project. Is it conceivable that nobody in the ESPN marketing organization had a clue what was being planned? From a business controls perspective, this statement may have a hard time passing the straight face test (where you have the person quoted in the statement say it verbally in public and keep a straight face).

So kudos to Brian Powell of Awful Announcing for posting the casting call yesterday.

Thumbs down to Michael Hiestand of USA Today for blatantly leaving out the male and ethnic stereotypes in his print report of the incident today. After all, guys have feelings too!

Related Link(s)

• Awful Announcing: Have You Ever Wondered What A Casting Call For An ESPN Commercial Is Like?
  
  
• Michael Hiestand: ESPN drops ad campaign that was to portray college stereotypes