The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) got some heat after this ad appeared in the Wall Street Journal last month (photo courtesy of MyFoxDetroit):
It cost MEDC $144,000.
MEDC is a public-private entity and functions as a marketing firm for the state of Michigan. MEDC officials say only private money was spent on the Wall St. Journal ad.
But tying the state's 'Pure Michigan' brand to a controversial new law was roundly criticized by Democrats and by some advertising experts.
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder said the ad was "too specific, and possibly divisive."
The Detroit News reports today that MEDC won't do it again:
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has halted use of the Pure Michigan logo in advertisements promoting the new right-to-work law following backlash from Democrats and criticism from Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. "At this point any further advertising on that level or in that style has been put on hold," Jim McBryde, vice president of government affairs, told the House Tourism Committee Thursday morning. Mike Finney, president and CEO of the MEDC, is re-evaluating use of the tourism logo in economic development advertisements, McBryde said.
