News

1.   in Recruiter: “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
2.   in ECD: “The client changed direction.”
3.   in CCO: “It’s not Cannes-worthy.”
4.   in C-Suite: “We’re realigning to better meet client exigencies.”

Consumers are using more connected personal devices to organise, curate and discover media. In other words, in theory, consumers can go anywhere they want for news and information. The industry is responding and is designing offerings to revolve around these personal preferences. This offers many new opportunities for brands but it also comes with challenges.

Months after the novel coronavirus was first detected in the United States, the COVID-19 crisis continues to upend Americans’ lives and livelihoods. The pandemic has disrupted nearly every routine in day-to-day life. The extent and duration of mandated lockdowns and business closures have forced people to give up even some of their most deeply ingrained habits—whether spending an hour at the gym after dropping the kids off at school, going to a coffee shop for a midday break, or enjoying Saturday night at the movies.

As this blog nears the end of its existence I cannot help but reflect on the different themes that run through its 14 years of content – don’t worry, this is not another post about the importance of perceived difference to brand growth – however, it is a related subject: how often brand marketers get led astray by data.  by Nigel Hollis

During this quarantine we’ve been naming new products, creating new campaigns, doing planning and/or resetting objectives for clients and business prospects because we’re certainly in uncharted territory. It’s like playing a game while the rules are changing (We play to set the new rules.) I’d like to share some thoughts that I’ve identified as a result of this process.  By Pablo Carpintero

Over 1,000 advertisers have paused ads from Facebook for the month of July to support the Stop Hate For Profit campaign that seeks to pressure the social media network to make a better effort to remove hate speech and harmful content from its platform. In response, Facebook shared plans to address demands.

The State of Data is a recurring research initiative designed to help U.S. advertising, marketing, and media practitioners better understand how their peers are investing in and using audience data as a fundamental pillar of their customer acquisition and engagement efforts.

A majority of Americans think social media companies have too much power and influence in politics, and roughly half think major technology companies should be regulated more than they are now, according to a new Pew Research Center survey that comes as four major tech executives prepare to testify before Congress about their firms’ role in the economy and society.

As Americans continue to cope with the uncertainty of health risks, economic downturn and restrictions in day-to-day living caused by COVID-19 and intensified by flashpoint events highlighting systemic racism in the United States, nearly half (45%) say their brand preferences have changed. Close to three quarters (74%) said the recent protests against racial injustice have made it more important to support businesses that improve diversity and inclusion, according to new research by global communications consultancy Ketchum.

Working from home has become commonplace globally. The dramatic workplace changes introduced in response to COVID-19 have provided organizations the opportunity to reset team dynamics. This major shift can, and should, also serve as a catalyst to embed more inclusive practices and more effective leadership skills. Since working remotely could become permanent for some employees in the next normal, organizations and teams should not miss this opportunity to introduce new, valuable habits.

You don’t need a smart-arse blogger to tell you that these are uniquely difficult times, nor that some things won’t ever be the same again. All of us have examples to hand – from our attitudes towards home working, to how we feel about walking into shops or eating in restaurants right through to the likelihood of ever again paying for anything with cash.  By Brian Jacobs / The Cog Blog

The report highlighted that identifying diverse suppliers represents a significant challenge for marketers. To help the marketing/advertising community, the ANA has curated a list of certified diverse suppliers that work in our industry.

EstrellaTV announced that its hit talent search show Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento recently resumed production amid new COVID-19 safety protocols.

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly and completely reshaped the consumer landscape at the start of 2020. At the same time consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies were looking to break out of a decade of inconsistent growth, many saw their expectations of growth replaced by a struggle for survival, while others had to ramp up production to meet never-before-seen spikes in consumer demand.

The combination of the pandemic and social unrest has spurred brands and organizations to think anew about what they truly stand for

As Americans hunkered down under stay-at-home orders for much of March and April, they unsurprisingly consumed more mobile media. The added mobile time, however, wasn’t distributed equally. Some long-term trends, such as greater consumer interest in mobile video and gaming, accelerated as people sought diversion. Other longer-term trends, including digital audio, stagnated as commuting time fell precipitously.

COVID-19 has created a massive humanitarian challenge: millions ill and hundreds of thousands of lives lost; soaring unemployment rates in the world’s most robust economies; food banks stretched beyond capacity; governments straining to deliver critical services. The pandemic is also a challenge for businesses—and their CEOs—unlike any they have ever faced, forcing an abrupt dislocation of how employees work, how customers behave, how supply chains function, and even what ultimately constitutes business performance.

The multi-cultural and international film industry is poised to develop true, realistic and un-sensationalized cultural-image-identity in the movie and series production business sector to reflect in-depth cultural nuances that are integral and loyal to a human segment regardless of the culture.

Driving performance, improving efficiency and boosting working dollars are three primary focus areas of marketers the world over. COVID-19 and the related budgetary pressures aside, this has been a focus of marketers, and will continue to be well into the future.

Beau Ferrari has been promoted to Chairman of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, effective immediately.   Ferrari succeeds Cesar Conde, who was recently named Chairman, NBCUniversal News Group.