It’s likely you’ve just about had enough with television ads approved by presidential candidates Barack Obama or Mitt Romney. But perhaps you’ll gain more of an appreciation for them if you understand the “science to making political advertisements.”
PBS Newshour has recently launched a create-your-own political ad tool in collaboration with Mozilla and Ocupop on AdLibs.
Watch PBS’s announcement of the tool:
The tool gives Facebook users the ability to transform some of their profile material into an ad that either promotes or attacks oneself. Sorry no attacks on others with these ads.
With a lack of understanding for how political ads work, how they’re built and what they tell you, PBS writes, that it “put together a few samples for you to customize with your information and imagination.” It speculates “you’ll never watch campaign ads the same way again!”

(Image: PBS Newshour/Ad Libs 2012)
PBS gives you four options for your political ad’s theme: small town biographical, metro biographical, character attack and credentials attack.
To create your own, go to this part of PBS’s site; login to your Facebook account through the site; choose the type of ad you want to create; and answer questions that will provide content for your ad. You should understand that logging into Facebook using this app will allow it to pull together some of your profile information, including photos and status updates for the purpose of making your ad.
As PBS puts it, this is “a chance for you to ‘approve this message.’”
Give the 2012 Ad Lib tool a try yourself here. If you have a program on your computer that allows you to record your videos, send your clips to lklimas@theblaze.com and we might post them later on TheBlaze blog.
(H/T: Gizmodo)



















































































































blair152
Oct. 14, 2012 at 8:15pmSounds good.
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irishleo13
Oct. 14, 2012 at 6:23pmI did it, but I don’t have enough pics on facebook. They did capture one of my son and glenn, and a profile pic of my eye. Great app…LOL
http://bit.ly/Qmb5X0
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irishleo13
Oct. 14, 2012 at 6:25pmYou all are way too serious. I think this is just for fun folks!
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Goolash
Oct. 13, 2012 at 2:42pmUnfortunately, it seems to be broken anyway. The slogan at the end refuses input on every browser I have tried (IE9, IE9 64, Firefox, Chrome)
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Individualism
Oct. 12, 2012 at 5:52pmhow about not on facebook than i can do some gary johnson ads promoting him and ads smashing obamney and robama.
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SHOTGUN_CHUCK
Oct. 12, 2012 at 3:52pmHey look, you can make your own political ads!
“…Allowing Facebook Users to Make Their Own Political Ad”
“The tool gives Facebook users the ability…”
Nope nope nope nope nope
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SocialistSlayer
Oct. 12, 2012 at 4:41pmThis is LAME, LAME, LAME !
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2smart
Oct. 12, 2012 at 3:28pmI don’t do Facebook. Didn’t the Empty Suit say that we all should have equal everything, and somebody else will pay for it?
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Not Quite
Oct. 12, 2012 at 3:14pmI’m so tired of apps, contests, etc requiring a facebook login to participate. There are other 3rd party user management tools out there that are much better and much more secure.
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Go Glenn
Oct. 12, 2012 at 3:24pm“To create your own, go to this part of PBS’s site; login to your Facebook account through the site; choose the type of ad you want to create; and answer questions that will provide content for your ad. You should understand that logging into Facebook using this app will allow it to pull together some of your profile information, including photos and status updates for the purpose of making your ad”
This profile info will then be forwarded to the DNC and the David A$$HoleRod who will use it to flood your email with spam and lies. Also, your email account info will be given to at least 10,000 hackers who are sitting in their mother’s basement trying to destroy the competition.
Good idea allowing people to make their own ads but I don’t trust the deliverer.
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golfmax13
Oct. 12, 2012 at 11:33amThank you Liz! I’m Joe Spellman and I approved this comment.
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SamIamTwo
Oct. 12, 2012 at 11:20amIIRC Obama once told his minion to get out there and get in the face of your neighbors.
Am I off topic?
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woodyee
Oct. 12, 2012 at 11:18amHears my ad, BLAZE, based soley on the last two debates (Prez and VP).
“Obama doesn’t know, and Biden doesn’t care…vote Romney/Ryan, Nov.6″
- My name is Woodyee and I not only approve this message; I WROTE it!
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QuincySmith
Oct. 12, 2012 at 1:44pmGood one, Woodyee.
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sparkyrules
Oct. 12, 2012 at 11:09amIf the government wants to know every detail about a person,they have the means necessary to do it.Facebook is child’s play compared to what they have the power and resources to do.Your only kidding yourself if you think staying off social websites will keep you unknown to the ‘authorities’. Technology is a great thing until human nature abuses it.
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bald stick
Oct. 12, 2012 at 1:07pmI absolutely agree, but why give up info voluntarily ?
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SpankDaMonkey
Oct. 12, 2012 at 11:01am.
Bet they wouldn’t show mine……
I still think y’all should have voted for the SpankDaMonkey/Beck ticket
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Gonzo
Oct. 12, 2012 at 10:52amThanks PBS, how much did this cost me?
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RightThinking1
Oct. 12, 2012 at 11:37amGonz,
My thoughts exactly.
And here’s a twist…, since I am not a Face Book user, am I not being excluded from access to a publicly-funded service? To use one of the Left’s favorite-but-tortured words, ‘Disenfranchisement!’ Get Holder on the phone!
And, of course, there is the issue of whether the necessity of obtaining a Face Book account might be not be a burden, and in consequence, those without access to a computer, internet, etc. are experiencing ‘suppression’.
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The_Almighty_Creestof
Oct. 12, 2012 at 10:47amPBS? All I need now is the Big Bird costume…OK…I’ll admit it…I already own one.
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2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
Oct. 12, 2012 at 10:41amWhen I read “Make Your Own Political Ad With This PBS Tool” I thought the tool they were talking about was Bill Moyers.
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RightThinking1
Oct. 12, 2012 at 11:38amLol. Good one. Possibly Charlie Rose also.
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RightThinking1
Oct. 12, 2012 at 11:45amLet’s start a little contest. We’ll call it “Name the Propagandist” The tough part is that you only get to pick *ONE* CPB-funded person. Anyone who has ever been CPB associated is eligible, and god knows, there are dozens of choices.
I am torn between Cokie Roberts and Daniel Schorr, but Schorr gets the nod .
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Tigress1
Oct. 12, 2012 at 10:39amFanning the flames of narcissism. More “It’s all about ME!” crap.
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The-Monk
Oct. 12, 2012 at 10:31amHey Blaze…..
Just use this ad;
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/laughing-at-the-issues-you-have-to-watch-this-brutal-gop-ad-that-goes-after-biden-for-his-debate-performance/
And add Martha at the end with her quote during the debate….
“I want to move to Iran, let’s move to Iran.”
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bald stick
Oct. 12, 2012 at 10:25amSneaky way for the government to get into your facebook to acquire more personal info. Be afraid, be very afraid.
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Oct. 12, 2012 at 10:25amI refuse to get back on FaceBook again, and I will not give them any personal or biographical data, so shove it.
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SaturdaysWarrior76
Oct. 12, 2012 at 12:28pmAmen to that!
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