In its first-ever Super Bowl ad, The Washington Post extols a vibrant free press
On social media, many applauded the message of the minute-long spot. Others questioned the wisdom of spending $5 million on a commercial amid industrywide staff cuts.
It’s an ad for an industry, a life’s purpose, rather than for an individual business.
Fittingly, it drew favorable and unfavorable responses from an array of sources.
The Washington Post produced its first-ever Super Bowl commercial, costing a reported $5.2 million and running one minute. The ad features the voice of actor Tom Hanks and images of iconic moments in U.S. history—along with the faces of journalists who have died for their work.
The moving spot begins with shots of memorable news events — the March on Selma, the moon landing, the Oklahoma City bombing — but then shifts to paying tribute to journalists who have been captured or killed.
Among those the ad memorializes is Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, whose murder was reportedly ordered by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Following Khashoggi’s death in October 2018, Trump has so far refused to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the killing.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
