More clients are looking to their media partners for creative guidance. It’s forcing the industry to once again ask what, exactly, a media agency does and if creative is part of it. A creative practice within a media agency is no new concept, but traditionally they’ve been small. Now, a changing industry characterized by fewer…
As Agencies Struggle to Stay Staffed Up, VMLY&R Shows How It’s Investing in Talent Retention
When an employee requests time off for bereavement, it is usually because there’s been a death in their family. But grief comes from a wider range of pain points; Jacquie van der Veur wants more workplaces to recognize that. The senior communications manager at VMLY&R has faced multiple miscarriages, and when she went public with…
Write Your Agency Story—Before Someone Else Does It for You
A lot of people I know are starting agencies, and a lot of them come to me for advice on public relations–asking something like, “How do we get our share of the attention before we have the clients or the work?” Don’t think about PR yet, I tell them. You’re not ready for it. The…
Celebrity Cruises Brings All Aboard With Diverse Photo Database
How do you get Annie Leibovitz on board with Celebrity Cruises? By helping her bring everyone else aboard as well. The superstar Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and Vogue portraitist joined a host of other high-profile photographers for Celebrity Cruises’ All-Inclusive Photo Project (AIPP). Touted as “the world’s first diversity-focused open-source image library,” the AIPP gallery…
HBO Max and HBO Hit 76.8 Million Subscribers in Final Quarter Under WarnerMedia
Warner Bros. Discovery is starting with a strong streaming foundation. HBO and HBO Max combined to reach 76.8 million subscribers in the first quarter of the year, a gain of 3 million from the quarter prior. While (former) parent company AT&T said that growth was primarily driven by international markets, there are 48.6 million U.S….
Instagram: How to Use the Earth Chat Theme
Instagram released an “Earth” chat theme in honor of Earth Day April 22. This theme adds bees and vines to a conversation’s background. Our guide will show you how to use the Earth chat theme in the Instagram application. Note: These screenshots were captured in the Instagram app on iOS. Also note, this Earth chat…
IBM Watson Advertising & Weather CMO on Moving with Agility, Velocity and Conviction
This just in: Randi Stipes, CMO of IBM Watson Advertising & Weather, has led an exceptionally successful career leading, learning and leaning into the constantly evolving media and technology and landscape. From content to new product development to ad sales and partner solutions, Stipes has continued to bet on herself, encouraging women in our industry…
Patreon Invites Creators of Color to ‘Pull Up’ With New Incubator Program
Since its inception, Patreon has provided a space for independent creators to make additional income while connecting directly with their most fervent supporters. For many marginalized creators, the membership platform is a vital, if not wholly necessary, extension of their small business or portfolios. But any venture is only as effective as the resources at…
Instagram: How to Use the Coachella Chat Theme
Weekend 2 of the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will take place April 22-24. To honor the occasion, Instagram released a Coachella chat theme that adds a pastel landscape background to users’ chats. Our guide will show you how to use the Coachella chat theme in the Instagram application. Note: These screenshots were…
Blake Lively on Betty Buzz’s Rapid Growth and Starring in Her Brand’s First Ad
Most startups can’t wait to produce their first ads, but for Blake Lively’s Betty Buzz line of alcohol-free mixers, there wasn’t too much of a rush. That’s because since the Hollywood star launched her brand in September 2021, it’s seen strong support from fans and retailers alike, giving the new beverage challenger a chance to…