What are the top marketing and advertising stories this week? We’re glad you asked. Catch up on the news you need to know this week with our Weekly Must Reads.

Built Ford Proud

Ford is no longer just “Built Ford Tough” – now they’re also “Built Ford Proud.” This weekend Ford launched a new campaign entitled “Built Ford Proud,” focusing on loyal Ford employees, the company heritage and their manufacturing background. The new advertisements will be used mostly with non-truck vehicles, but will integrate with their existing “Built Ford Tough” truck messaging.

With this new campaign, Ford hopes to create one common slogan and reinstate pride in their long-standing brand. The ads also feature actor Bryan Cranston, who has done voiceovers for Ford for years. Do you think Ford’s latest messaging strategy will stick? Check out the first ad here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkiley5/2018/10/19/ford-teams-with-bryan-cranston-to-sell-pride-and-swagger-in-new-marketing-campaign/#37d7b12e7a97

Sears Files for Bankruptcy

After 132 years of business, Sears filed for bankruptcy last week. The news comes following years of decreased sales and mounting debt. The store that was once the largest retailer in the US fell out of favor when it failed to match competitors on convenience and price. It didn’t help when they slashed advertising spending. Other once-beloved retailers like Toys “R” Us have faced similar fates and ended up closing their doors for good. Can Sears survive this financial crisis? Read the full story here: https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/15/business/sears-bankruptcy/index.html

Nebraska’s Snarky New Slogan

The state of Nebraska may be regarded as a fly-over state, but that might be about to change. Last week, Nebraska announced their new self-deprecating slogan: “Nebraska. Honestly, it’s not for everyone.” The state also released a series of ads following the sarcastic theme, using phrases like “Famous for our flat, boring landscape,” and “Lucky for you, there’s nothing to do here,” next to photos of their geologic parks and waterfalls.

The campaign hopes to catch people’s attention and pull Nebraska out of last place in the list of states vacationers are interested in. Do you think their snarky idea will pay off? https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/nebraska-snubs-its-haters-with-new-tourism-slogan-honestly-its-not-for-everyone/

Kleenex’s Gender Inequality Controversy

In the U.K., Kleenex’s popular “Mansize” tissues will see a re-brand due to concern over its hyper-masculine name. The tissues, described as “confidently strong and comfortingly soft,” first hit shelves 60 years ago as a disposable alternative to cotton handkerchiefs. On Thursday, Kleenex announced they will switch the name to simply “Kleenex Extra Large.”

Kleenex is the latest in a line of brands faced with branding controversy due to changing social views. Recently, BiC saw backlash from their pink and purple pens advertised “for her.” Are these product names sexist or just outdated? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/kleenex-rebrand-mansize-tissues-gender-complaints-58582322

Insta Novels

One of the most innovative organizations on Instagram right now is….a library? Believe it. The New York Public Library has created a series of Instagram stories to bring classic stories like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to life digitally. The stories include videos introducing each chapter as well as the actual text from the book. Since starting these stories, the library has seen their Instagram following grow by 100,000 and eReader downloads spike. Check out the article for all the details: https://www.forbes.com/sites/katetalbot/2018/10/10/what-brands-can-learn-from-the-new-york-public-librarys-instagram-stories/#c6607ff36b4b