The campaign has been launched to build confidence in the industry and reverse negative images of junk mail, cold calling and spam emails.
A spokesman for the DMA said: "The campaign is about explaining there are places you can go to opt out, places where you can complain and to show that the industry is responsible."
The media campaign, which launches next month and is being handled by Hotwire PR, involves promoting DMA's consumer advice and preference services as well as a schools competition.
Another focus of the campaign is to show consumers that DM campaigns are targeted and have a positive aim to inform consumers of goods and services that are relevant to them.
Hotwire managing director Kristin Syltevik said: "The direct marketing industry is hugely important to the success of the UK economy however there are clearly serious consumer misconceptions that must be corrected.
"The campaign will position the DMA as being on the side of consumers as well as its members."
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