Ambushed by a Deodorant Ad

Everyone has heard of reality television, but what about reality advertisements?  For some innocent bystanders in an airport waiting area, the concept became all too real.

Nivea is a maker of skin care products and the company is based in Germany, where the ad takes place.  Several waiting passengers in the airport were targeted unknowingly to be in an ad for Nivea’s new product, Stress Protect deodorant.  The concept of the ad was to cause a person stress, which Nivea succeeded in doing with flying colors! 

Each target had their photograph taken without their knowledge.  The photo was then quickly inserted and printed on the front page of a newspaper with headlines indicating that the photographed person was a wanted criminal and highly dangerous.  With the entire thing being filmed, an actor would sit within eye-shot of the targeted person with the fake newspaper so the target would see their own face on the front page.  Obvious stress and panic starts to overcome the target.

As if that were not enough, an announcement comes on over the intercom with a full description of the targeted person’s appearance and a request to report any sighting of the individual to authorities immediately.  Following the announcement, what appears to be a real news broadcast (which is in fact being filmed live from another area in the airport) comes on the televisions stationed in the airport.  The news anchor reports with the same photo in view that the identified target is dangerous and on the run and pleads citizens to report any sightings or whereabouts to authorities. 

We see the targeted individual on camera sitting in the airport looking panic-stricken and frazzled.  Stressed seems to be an understatement at this point.  Other passengers in the airport waiting area are beginning to stare, point and whisper.  Then, out of nowhere, several men dressed as the authorities carrying big steel briefcases enter and surround the targeted individual.  One of them asks her, “Are you stressed?” while opening the briefcase to reveal Nivea’s Stress Protect deodorant.  Relief washes over the targeted woman’s face as she realizes she has not been confused for a wanted criminal, but rather is the target of a hoax. 

If she wasn't wearing Nivea’s Stress Protect deodorant, chances are she may want to change her clothes. 

- Samantha Ayres

Social Media and the Pope

When Pope Benedict XVI steps down on February 28 he will not only be handing the seat as Pope off to the next person elected but he will also be relinquishing his social media accounts. His most prominent social media account is his Twitter @Pontifex since sending his first tweet on December 12 the Pope has sent over 30 tweets and has amassed over 1.5 million followers. Thats a pretty large following. 

When originally making the Pope’s twitter account Forbes Magazine reports that the Vatican’s officials were hesitant to make the original account because of all of the negativity that may surround the creating. Monsignor Paul Tighe who is one of the leaders of the Popes social media efforts even said that when Benedict originally posted they did receive some nasty and spiteful attention. He also added though that while there was some negativity like they'd planned there was also a lot of goodness to come out of the creation. It will most likely be considered a stepping stone to getting the next Popes messages out to the world faster than ever and with more reach than ever before. 

When people talk about Pope Benedict in the future it is possible that they will speak about him in a manner that he was the Pope to bring the Vatican into the digital age. Benedict's Successor will have an amazing opportunity for himself to be able to grab the bull by the horns and jump head first into the social media world.One of the first steps that may need to be taken for the next pope is to have someone on board who truly understands social media. The current system while it is the best they can do is not necessarily working. The entire Vatican is running its social media without a single social media expert.  

Pope Benedict XVI sending his first Tweet via an iPad. Picture: The Guardian, UK

The next few months will be hectic while the selecting of a new pope is going on but when he he takes the reins he will be getting into just a little bit more than most Popes are usually getting into. 

- Joey Frongillo