-
Opinion
Outlook is cloudy for McDonald’s mood app
If you’ve been on YouTube this morning, you’ve probably been boinked squarely between the eyes by the McDonald’s home page takeover.
If you follow the link, it’s an apparently ambitious digital campaign that looks like its merely fails in the execution. Read more »
Why every agency boss needs to hear how Goodby got its groove back
In the last three years I’ve probably sat through dozens, if not a couple of hundred, industry-related presentations. Just a handful stick with me. Read more »
With a little PR magic from Max Markson, Naomi Robson’s lizard didn’t happen and neither did the cannibals
I had an intriguing press release from publicist Max Markson today.
Naomi Robson is back in front of the camera. Even if it’s only online. And Markson Sparks PR is helping her with the launch of The Naomi Show. Read more »
Coke’s phoney happiness machine is a fail for me
In this guest posting, Tony Richardson argues that the Coke Happiness Machine viral sucks.
The folks at Coke have created a viral video and as hoped it’s being circulated worldwide … but for all the wrong reasons. The main one being that it is possibly the lamest viral ever created. Read more »
Saying no to copy approval
“We’d dash back to the office to knock up a dry, arse-licking account of our “intimate chat” with Peter Andre to email to CAN, who would duly remove every trace of insight or humour, before making us feel sooooo special by perhaps deigning to allow us to publish it. No thanks.”
Will Renai LeMay’s new media business model work?
I’ve been curious for a few days now on what Renai LeMay’s plans are.
Since announcing he was leaving ZDNet, he’s been coy about what he’d be doing next.
Which of course made it all the more interesting. Read more »
Where are our marketing heroes?
“The great Australian tradition of attacking success and anyone that sticks their head above the parapet is stronger than ever. In my recent experiences around the world I can honestly say I have never experienced such collective distaste for one’s own kind.”
The Australian tries to win back Kevin
“One might wonder whether News Ltd feels the need to get on the right side of the Prime Minister, having managed to get itself thoroughly offside with him since the 2007 election.”
Bernard Keane on why Rudd was The Oz’s Australian of the Year
AFR falls four days behind The Oz
On Saturday, we woke up to discover that Wall Street had suffered a big fall. Read more »
Tips for better ideas
While it’s rather cool that Vancouver agency Rethink funds a scholarship for future art directors and designers, the ad they’ve created around it offers even better advice on the creative process. Read more »
Sack the copywriter
Here’s a nice innovation from consumer watchdog Choice, rounding up the best of the month’s Aussie ad blunders. Read more »
If agencies were bands…
The other day I was chatting to the boss of a new agency that’s about to launch.
I asked her what she wanted her agency to stand for. If it was a band, which would the agency be, was my question.
Which then got me to thinking about which bands Australia’s existing agencies would represent. As I began to make notes, I began to realise that it doesn’t look good… Read more »
When a global marketing blunder is a local problem
Sometimes I wonder if being a brand with an international affiliation is more trouble than it’s worth.
Jenny Craig – a weight control brand that’s doing very well in Australia, thanks very much – is the latest to face blowback from an international gaffe. Read more »
Vegetarian and chicken ads prove Sam’s lamb is still the one to beat on Australia Day
When Sam Kekovich’s latest pro-lamb Australia Day address was unveiled last week, a fair bit of the debate centred on whether it was time to change the strategy. Read more »
In defence of disaster journalism
The somewhat grubby tussle between Seven and Nine over who gets credit for rescuing baby Winnie from the Haiti rubble makes an easy target for those who see disaster journalists as vultures.
After all, what can the media do, but get in the way? Read more »
Ads and editorial move closer at News Ltd
The narrowing gap between editorial and advertising within News Ltd has been highlighted by two initiatives by the company.
In an offer to media agencies from News Magazines, advertisers who buy a $30,000 package of full pages ads across sports magazines Alpha and Australian Golf Digest receive a guaranteed product shot and copy in both Alpha’s “Most Wanted” section and AGD’s Shop section. They also receive a mention in the Alpha e-newsletter “Subject to editorial approval”.
And in another move, Fred Pawle, editor of The Australian’s Executive Lifestyle section, appears in an online ad in The Australian’s business section for Braun shavers.
The ad – which enlarges on the page – mainly consists of grooming and style tips, with a link through to a more overtly branded Braun website.
-
RSS Feeds
-
Email Newsletter
THE MUMBO REPORT
You can now watch clips of the Mumbrella Readers Choice Awards ceremony category by category.
The first clip is the shortlist round up and winner of media and marketing blog of the year, which went to Ben Shepherd’s Talking Digital.
Read more »
Latest News
- Starcom trio breaks away to launch media agency and production company
- ABC's Scott attacks article in News Ltd's The Australian as 'ludicrous'
- Mixed response to debut of Ten's new show The Circle
- Nine wins the night, while ABC1's Australian Story sees strong return
- Vodafone hands Host creative account
- Slow start for Naomi Robson's new online dating show
- Qantas hires The Lab's GM into key marketing role
- AMP highlights customer-centric approach in new ads
Dr Mumbo
- How Evermore rocked the Nova party from behind the curtain
- Guess who’s hunting an editorial director...
- Channel 10's Groundhog Day
- Hungry Jack's: reliably bad
- Whatever you do, don't tune in to SBS2 in the early hours of Tuesday - or you may have to watch a weather forecast
- The biggest spender
- After the twebsite, the pebsite
- Australia's Olympians left out of Coca Cola's snowballing global conflict
-
Latest Comments
- FPP on Slow start for Naomi Robson’s new online dating show
- Adam on Outlook is cloudy for McDonald’s mood app
- Anja on SMH editor Fray stands by McGurk reporting
- kelly stevens on Mixed response to debut of Ten’s new show The Circle
- Ben on Slow start for Naomi Robson’s new online dating show
- mumbrella on Slow start for Naomi Robson’s new online dating show
- Martin Walsh on Qantas hires The Lab’s GM into key marketing role
- mumbrella on Mixed response to debut of Ten’s new show The Circle
Other News
Cosy deals keep faces of finance on TV
Sydney Morning Herald
Internet nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Mashable
Did ACA fake the hoon footage?
Crikey
Apple unveils iPad to take on Amazon’s Kindle
PC World
AFR’s dodgy ‘win a million’ promo
Crikey
Just 35 subscribers for Newsday pay site
New York Observer
How the ABC’s Mark Scott seduced Annabel Crabb
National Times
Google revenue soars in fourth quarter
Wall Street Journal
Most Discussed
- Foster's stands by VB's new brand positioning in spite of decline
With 59 comments - Unbranded ads featuring a frog on a goat unveiled as new Trading Post campaign
With 57 comments - Robert Morgan: Ad agencies suffering from lack of women in creative roles
With 55 comments - Hill & Knowlton battles to keep account after manager's anti-Sensis tweets
With 44 comments - New digital agency Reading Room: time to end the big agency bullshit
With 43 comments - Pepsi promotion to rerun after winner exposed as agency staffer
With 40 comments - Peace talks held over autorefresh rates for websites
With 38 comments - Sunny Queen Farms turns the smile upside down with Whinging Poms eggs
With 38 comments
- Foster's stands by VB's new brand positioning in spite of decline

Comments
9 Nov 09
5:49 pm
I’m sorry, but is this new??
9 Nov 09
6:16 pm
Nothing surprising here. News Ltd editorial, op-ed and ‘news’ all regularly toe the Murdoch line. It is less ‘news’ now than it ever was. On another note, Labor/Rudd are right to be p*ssed at this organisation. They rarely receive good coverage and often receive negative press thru Murdoch media. The Australian is an embarrassment – was once a fine paper. Sadly there is little by way of alternative if you want national/global news in print media.
9 Nov 09
7:37 pm
when ever you book 1 or more pages with any publisher, you get guaranteed editorial in the form of 1/4 page mentions or similar. It’s been happening for a long time…and often you don’t need to spend $30k
10 Nov 09
10:19 am
Have to agree, this is like acting surprised and outraged that the army uses guns.
10 Nov 09
10:23 am
if you’re going to cover news ltd for doing this then you need to cover all the FTA channels, pay tv, mag publishers, every website, radio etc.
this is not media news.
10 Nov 09
1:29 pm
What I actually was quoted in the Walkley mag article as saying…
“The extremes with which [the separation of church and state] was applied in the past are a luxury that perhaps we cannot afford anymore.”
…The words in brackets were added by the reporter.
10 Nov 09
1:41 pm
I think if News Ltd (and I’m referring particularly to The Australian) are going to market themselves as the paper business of integrity, accuracy, quality, non-bias – and boy do they keep shoving that crap down out throats – then advertorials should not be part of their activities.
And good luck Rupert with your efforts to charge consumers for “accurate, quality, unbiased news” on-line.
10 Nov 09
2:42 pm
Isn’t this just lazy publishing? And mag publishers collectivley wonder why their circs are falling….
10 Nov 09
3:44 pm
@skins what the frack is “good” about the Rudd administration? So The Australian decides to frack the spin and report on the substance of the situation. Ergo, no substance, no happy headline for Chairman Rudd. Declare yourself as a dissatisfied left-of-centre Fairfax reporter increasingly depressed that News Limited is no longer a career option, leaving you with the realisation that you will eventually be retrenched and live out your remaining days as Crikey contributor.
10 Nov 09
4:00 pm
Terry T – that’s not fair. They could contribute to Mumbrella as well.
As a former Fairfaxian this advertorial policy was in wide use there as well.
10 Nov 09
4:37 pm
Geez, the angry lunatic Right pops up everywhere with inanity and abuse.
No vested political or media affiliations held here – just a simple observation which seems quite clear to me anyway.
Sure which there was a moderator to counter the fruitloops who throw their weight around in places like these. Sigh…
10 Nov 09
4:51 pm
Sure, lets censor this forum as well.
10 Nov 09
4:57 pm
No, just remove abusive posts that make no contribution to the actual debate, and make accusations against or personally attack others. That should sound familiar. That’s all from me. I’m sure others are more interested in a proper debate.
11 Nov 09
1:15 pm
Let’s debate independent journalism. Ha! This is so representative of the state of the world. The more dollars, the less independent. Government, the press and other media, lobbyists, they’re all just moving with whose spending the dollars, those guaranteeing the power, yes, the great, greedy and grotesque. That’s like a metaphor for Bush (or Howard, he just wasn’t drowning in oil), Murdoch (or Packer for that matter, either snr. or jr.) and corporate power mongers (you know those whose lined pockets are more important than the homeless, starving, malnurished, discriminated, polluted waters, soil, etc. etc. and certainly honest, unfettered, unbiased, factual media reporting). Get used to it, it ain’t getting better! And skins, relax, everyone has a lunatic in them, that’s why we’re on the verge of collapse!
Trackbacks/Pingbacks