USA Today on diploma mills, with an ironic twist

Short article on diploma mills today (Sept. 24), page D8:
"Agencies struggling to put 'diploma mills' out of business."

Irony: The article appears precisely 6 3/4 inches from the advertising section in which eight (today; often it is more) non-wonderful schools appear.

I did point out to the reporter, during my interview, that USA Today was one of the worst offenders in running such ads (along with The Economist). I could practically hear her eyes rolling.

Especially distressing is that she says nothing in the article about fake and unrecognized accreditation. I stressed this as one of the surest signs of a useless school. Nearly all the USA Today advertisers claim to be accredited. None has recognized accreditation.

 

Dr, Bear and others,

Is it legal to advertise fake degree programs in a magazine or newspaper? What can we do about this? These ads are misleading and annoying and if we don't stop them, some of the uninformed learners will be traped.

 

that, or informed non-learners will trape.

Tony

 

Well, if it's trape, it sure ain't gosher.

 

I read USA Today several times weekly, and each time I read a copy my eyes are magnetically drawn to the school ad section. Looking at the American College Ph.D. for $199, I often think "Surely, no rationally thinking human being would believe such a degree is legitimate, credible or of any value."

WRONG!!!!

This type of degree ends up in resume after resume, but of course, USA Today isn't at fault. After all, they are only providing an advertising service to the community.

RIGHT?

 

not exactly on topic,

but I was reading this month's edition of Psychology Today and in the back they have an ad for off shore drugs.

It says

Off Shore Drugs

No Perscriptions Needed !

then is has Prozac, Viagra, Riddlin all with prices quoted

 

Forgive them, Uncle Janko, they just didn't get it.

(I did.)

 

Paul: Is it legal to advertise fake degree programs in a magazine or newspaper? What can we do about this?

John: The best answer I can think of: The FTC (which was the lead agency in fighting diploma mills in the 1940s and 50s) has the power to regulate the use of certain words in advertising, including the word "accredited." If only they would enforce their own rule, they could prevent schools without recognized accreditation from using that word, and prevent media from running ads with that word.

But they don't.

 

The article is now available online: Agencies struggling to put 'diploma mills' out of business.

 

What about the Soldier of Fortune lawsuit? The press has been held liable for advertising it accepts. The decision was unjust but I believe it still stands.

What is needed is a diploma mill grad to sue for having his credibility and livlihood destroyed. The ads would soon stop.

 

Hmm... Now there's a thought. Although, if folks would take the time to write their Governor's office, Congress, and Dept. of Ed. offices, there might well be a grass-roots initiated purge!

Cheers...Randy

 

For the benefit of non-Yiddish speakers, traiff (sp?) means non-kosher hence the very good pun.

Jim (aka the kibitzer)

 

For the benefit of non-Yiddish speakers, traiff (sp?) means non-kosher hence the very good pun.

Jim (aka the kibitzer) [/B][/QUOTE]

I would have known that but I went to YEESHIVA university, it is OK'ed by the World Congress for Accreditation of Hebrew Institutions and Diploma Mills.