Protecting Privacy, Promoting Consumer Rights and Ensuring Corporate Accountability

The Role of Interactive Advertising and Marketing

Perhaps the most powerful - but largely invisible - force shaping our digital media reality is the role of interactive advertising and marketing. Much of our online experience, from websites to search engines to social networks, is being shaped to better serve advertisers. Increasingly, individuals are being electronically "shadowed" online, our actions and behaviors observed, collected, and analyzed so that we can be "micro-targeted." Now a $20 billion a year industry [2007 estimates] in the U.S., with expected dramatic growth to $80 billion or more by 2011, the goal of interactive marketing is to use the awesome power of new media to deeply engage you in what is being sold: whether it's a car, a vacation, a politician or a belief. An explosion of digital technologies, such as behavioral targeting and retargeting, "immersive" rich media, and virtual reality, are being utilized to drive the market goals of the largest brand advertisers and many others.

A major infrastructure has emerged to expand and promote the interests of this sector, including online advertising networks, digital marketing specialists, and trade lobbying groups.

The role which online marketing and advertising plays in shaping our new media world, including at the global level, will help determine what kind of society we will create.
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Web 2.0 in the Public Interest

Today’s media system is not a top-down environment, but a “web 2.0” world where each of us can create the content and tell our own story. The key to cultivating this space, is to take our digital destiny into our own hands, by working together in communities across the country to help build a digital media system where democracy, fairness, creative opportunity and social justice are key measures for success.
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What to Look for When Choosing a Retirement Community

Deciding where to live in retirement is one of the most important decisions people will make. For those considering a move to a retirement community, there are more choices than ever before that cater to a variety of lifestyle and health care needs. These tips can help you make the best possible decision.
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What is Medicare?

Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Certain people younger than age 65 can qualify for Medicare, too, including those who have disabilities and those who have permanent kidney failure or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). The program helps with the cost of health care, but it does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care.
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Reloading Scams

If you've been a victim of telemarketing fraud once, chances are you're on a list to be called-and scammed-again. Telephone hucksters call these 'sucker' lists. They include names, addresses, phone numbers, and other information, and they are created, bought, and sold by crooks. They're considered invaluable, because dishonest promoters think that consumers who have been tricked once are likely to be tricked again. Find out how reloading scams work.
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