Advertising to Chinese youth: a study of public service ads in Hong Kong
Abstract
Purpose
Hong Kong youth's general attitudes toward government publicity were studied and their responses to two public service advertisements promoting green lifestyles were measured. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Thirty‐four Chinese youths in Hong Kong aged 17 to 22 were questioned about their understanding of and attitudes toward public service advertising in face‐to‐face interviews. Their opinions of two government television ads promoting “green living” were then solicited.
Findings
The interviewees described government publicity in general as credible and practical. Some liked the green living ads for their creativity but others disliked them as boring, unrealistic, irrelevant and uninformative. Recommendations are presented for designing public service campaigns that target youth.
Research limitations/implications
The results were based on a small convenience sample. More than one interviewer participated, so the results were subject to differences in interviewing techniques.
Practical implications
The study developed useful information for those organizing public service ad campaigns, especially campaigns aimed at Chinese youth.
Originality/value
This has been the first study to measure youth's attitudes toward public service ad campaigns in the Hong Kong context.
Keywords
Citation
Chan, K. and Chang, H. (2013), "Advertising to Chinese youth: a study of public service ads in Hong Kong", Qualitative Market Research, Vol. 16 No. 4, pp. 421-435. https://doi.org/10.1108/QMR-06-2013-0042
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited