Did anyone notice something peculiar on page 9 of the April 9, 2007, issue of Advertising Age?

On page 9 is a full page advertisement for Advertising Age’s “The Green Conference,” created to promote eco-sensitive marketing practices.

The message is somewhat obfuscated, though, by the media attached to it. There - in the middle of the page is a tipped in piece of paid advertising - a large and thick piece of lenticular plastic. Probably not eco-sensitive.

The promotion has nothing to do with the conference or vice-versa, as far as I can tell. Nonetheless, such an unfortunate juxtaposition can’t be a good thing for Advertising Age or its paid-advertising client. Definitely not marketing-savvy.

It’s all, most likely, an unfortunate accident. Yet, it serves to provoke some thought on how Green Trumps Green. In this example, Advertising Age jumps on the current, cyclical wave of eco-friendly orientation, while it still gladly accepts dollars from advertisers whose offering may be otherwise.