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==History==
A history of Ad Council published by itself in 2002 described its origins as arising from the hostility to business after the Depression. "Advertising people were concerned that criticism could erode the credibility of advertising and lead to legislation that would tax its use and regulate its content," it stated. By 1940 and 1941 the dominant view was that the best response would be to "run ads explaining the economic value of advertising in creating jobs, wealth and low prices." Instead, James Webb Young proposed that what was needed was promotion of business but with advertising as just one component of it. On November 13-15 1941 the [[Association of National Advertisiers]] (ANA) and the [[American Association of Advertising Agencies]] convened a meeting to canvass the future of advertising. At the meeting Young proposed public service advertising. "He saw this kind of communication as a powerful way to help people while rebuilding respect for American business and the competitive economic system which business had helped to create and needed to thrive, the Ad Council later wrote. <ref> Ad Council, ''[http://www.adcouncil.org/download.aspx?id=191 Matters of Choice: Advertising in the Public Interest The Advertising Council (1942-2002)'' undated 2002 (approx). 2.2MB file </ref>
The Ad Council was incorporated in February 1942 as the War Advertising Council for the purpose of mobilizing the advertising industry in support of the war effort. Early campaigns encouraged the purchase of war bonds and conservation of war materials. The long-running Forest Fire Prevention campaign, with [[Smokey Bear]] as its famous mascot. After the conclusion of the Second World War the War Advertising Council changed its name to the Advertising Council and shifted its focus to peacetime campaigns. <ref>[http://www.adcouncil.org/timeline.html "The Story of the Ad Council"], Ad Council, accessed October 2007.</ref>
