The Persuaders

No, I don’t like the title either, but the upcoming Frontline documentary on which I served as writer and commentator is a pretty good portrait of the American messaging marketplace. It’s supposed to air on PBS stations Tuesday November 9 – but check your listings.

We’re doing a panel about it next Tuesday in New York, at the Museum of Television and Radio. I’m not doing a lot of appearances these days – and won’t be until March or April of next year. But I’ll promise to stay a while after this one to say hi to people. They claim you need to call the number below and make a reservation, but I doubt they’d turn people away, either.

The Museum of Television & Radio
25 West 52nd Street, NYC

MUSEUM SEMINAR
Decoding “the Message”:
A Preview of Frontline’s The Persuaders
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Reception: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Seminar: 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Panel:
Douglas Atkin, Partner and Chief Strategic Officer, Merkley + Partners
Rachel Dretzin, Producer/Director
Doug Rushkoff, Correspondent

Additional panelists and moderator to be announced. 

America is awash in messages suggesting to consumers what they should buy, whom they should trust, and what they should think. Producers Barak Goodman and Rachel Dretzin, acclaimed for their previous Frontline special The Merchants of Cool, now examine how these not so hidden persuaders—ad people, copywriters, market researchers, pollsters, consultants, and even linguists—have refined techniques to influence decision making of all types. After previewing a section of The Persuaders, the panel will discuss how marketers are now targeting their messages to individual consumers.

This event has been underwritten by Frontline. Admission is free, but reservations are required: (212) 621-6600. Seating is limited.