Feb. 6, 2003 – In America's advertising profession, Howard Bell is an icon. A lawyer who has been an ardent advocate of First Amendment freedom of expression for half a century, he is also an unwavering believer that the ad industry should be ethically responsible and must be self-regulating.
He was a leading spokesman for the industry as president of the American Advertising Federation for an unprecedented 24 years, from 1968 to 1991. Last year, he was named chair of the National Advertising Review Board, the appeals board for the National Advertising Review Council that is part of the profession's self-regulatory system.
Bell will bring his experience, expertise, conclusions and convictions to the Virgin Islands as guest speaker for the next Professional Series luncheons on St. Thomas and St. Croix of the Advertising Club of the Virgin Islands.
His presentation, "The Public's Love/Hate Relationship with Advertising (and What to Do about It)," will be Tuesday noon at the Old Mill on St. Thomas and Wednesday noon at the Caravelle Hotel on St. Croix.
Bell holds a journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a juris doctor degree from Catholic University Law School. He began his career as sales promotion manager for a Washington, D.C., radio and television company in the 1940s. In 1951, he moved to the National Association of Broadcasters, where he was assistant to the president. In 1963, he became director of the NAB Code Authority. In this position, he played a key part in drafting the Television Code and in creating the Television Bureau of Advertising.
That work led to a leading role in the creation of the advertising industry's landmark self-regulatory National Advertising Review Board and its investigative arm, the National Advertising Division. Both are volunteer policing agencies that have upheld truth and accuracy standards in advertising for more than 25 years — while, industry observers have pointed out, averting government intrusions.
As AAF president, Bell sought to educate lawmakers, the media and the public, articulating advertising's informational and educational values, along with its capacity to stimulate competition, lower prices and create greater freedom of choice for consumers.
"No one could perform this critical job better than Howard," the federation's current president, Wally Snyder, said. "He was one of the instrumental leaders in 1971 who created the advertising self-regulation system that has worked so well throughout all these years."
In 1981, under Bell's direction, the AAF went a step further, launching the Local Advertising Review Program as a joint project with the Council of Better Business Bureaus.
In 1996, he was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame. Advertising Age magazine named him one of the 100 most influential advertising leaders of the 20th century.
Bell's involvements with numerous industry organizations have included serving on The Advertising Council board of directors, American Society of Association Executives board of directors, National Advertising Review Council, Advertising Educational Foundation, American Advertising Museum advisory board, Smithsonian Advertising Center board, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Public Relations Committee and the U.S. Information Agency Marketing Advisory Committee.
Currently a member of the Washington, D.C., law firm Wiley Rein & Fielding, Bell has participated in a number of commercial speech cases before the U.S. Supreme Court in which the high court ruled in favor of First Amendment protection for advertising.
About the Ad Club
In its Professional Series, the Ad Club hosts presentations by guest experts on a variety of business-related subjects. The luncheons are open to anyone in the local business community.
The St. Thomas luncheon takes place Tuesday at noon at the Old Mill restaurant. The cost is $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Reservations are required and may be made through noon Monday by calling 776-7828. Anyone who reserves and fails to appear will be billed.
The St. Croix luncheon will be on Wednesday in the conference room of the Caravelle Hotel in Christiansted. The cost is $18 for members and $23 for non-members. Reservations are due by noon Tuesday and may be made by calling 719-0578. Again, anyone who reserves and fails to appear will be billed.
Membership in the Ad Club of the Virgin Islands is open to representatives of advertising, public relations and marketing agencies, publishing and broadcasting media; graphic artists and Web site designers; and any businesses that employ communications specialists. The Professional Series is supported by Gold Sponsor Sapphire Beach Resort and Silver Sponsors Tutto Moda Couture, FirstBank and Seaborne Airlines.
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