Washington Post produces first Super Bowl ad

The Washington Post will air its first ever Super Bowl commercial during Sunday’s matchup between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams, the paper reported Friday.

The 60-second advertisement, which highlights the importance of reporting and the dangers journalists often face, will be narrated by actor Tom Hanks. 

{mosads}The spot will air during the fourth quarter of the game and will depict news events from World War II through the present day, according to the paper. The Post reported that Hanks describes journalists’ role in relaying facts to the public throughout the years. 

The commercial will end with The Post’s logo and its slogan, “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”

“The Super Bowl is a remarkable moment to recognize the courage and commitment of journalists around the world that is so essential to our democracy,” said Fred Ryan, publisher and CEO of The Washington Post. “We decided to seize the opportunity to make this a milestone moment in our ongoing campaign.”

The commercial will depict journalists who have been killed or detained around the world while reporting for The Post and other media outlets, including Austin Tice, a freelance reporter who has been missing in Syria for more than six years, and Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was killed in at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October.

Choosing Hanks as the ad’s narrator is a reference to his performance in the movie “The Post,” in which he played Ben Bradlee, the paper’s executive editor.

Ryan said the ad was purchased last week. CNBC reported Wednesday that CBS is charging $5.25 million for a 30-second slot. 

“This was a chance for a broader message about the role journalists play in our everyday lives and the risks they take to bring us the facts,” Ryan said.

The commercial will be published on the Post’s website and its social media platforms after the game.