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Opinion | Features
Melissa Doyle is ready for prime time (but what does it mean for Today Tonight?)
It’s easy to be dismissive of TV presenters – particularly when they’re doing something as fluffy as morning television.
But today’s announcement of the departure of Mel Doyle from Sunrise is a reminder that it’s harder than it looks.
How bosses can build trust by baring themselves to staff
In this guest post, Simon Rutherford, CEO of Slingshot Media, argues that bosses should be vulnerable in front of their staff.
Winston Churchill once said: “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”
Fake it til you make it...as a radio newsreader
In a piece that first appeared in Encore, Emily Hoskins from ARN tells us how to do her job.
What does a radio newsreader actually do?
A radio newsreader has to be switched on from the moment they sit at their desk. At the Australian Radio Network each journalist writes, researches, edits and reads their own news bulletins under tight deadlines – every 30 minutes during the breakfast shift and every hour after 9am.
Keith Reinhard on freedom to fail, winning back Maccas and how agencies can survive
In an exclusive interview in Cannes today, advertising icon Keith Reinhard, one of the founding fathers of what is now DDB Worldwide, talked to Mumbrella’s Robin Hicks about freedom from fear, his favourite ads of all time, winning back McDonald’s and why the most important thing in advertising is passion.Savage counsel - little white lies
In a piece that first featured in Encore, Chris Savage tackles your career and agency dilemmas. This week, he talks about when it’s okay to lie to clients.
Hi Chris,
I often find myself telling little white lies at work – I tell people on the phone that I don’t want to speak to I’m about to duck into meetings. I told my colleague her new haircut was great when really it wasn’t and I praised someone’s work when actually it was kind of shit. After each of these occasions, I felt pretty terrible and wonder if you could tell me how can I speak with candour in the future – for my sake and others.
How to build a culture
How important is a company’s culture and how do you ensure you are breeding a good one? Matt Smith investigates, in a piece that first appeared in Encore.When production companies Cordell Jigsaw and Zapruder’s Other Films merged early last year, bringing the staff together within the walls of the Zapruder building proved to be something of a challenge. While the two companies weren’t strangers to each other due to six months of talks and negotiations, working together on a full-time basis was a different story.
Q&A Damian Keogh
In a piece that first featured in Encore, Val Morgan CEO Damian Keogh reveals his potential alternate career.
Who is the most powerful person in Australian media and why?
I’d say Kerry Stokes, slightly ahead of Harold Mitchell and Kim Williams. He controls the entity with the largest revenue across free-to-air, online, magazines and newspapers. On pure size alone, his influence and leverage over advertisers, media agencies and consumers is unmatched. Harold is still the king in media, slightly ahead of John Steedman, but Henry Tajer and Leigh Terry are the heirs apparent. Kim Williams controls News and that’s a big base to work from.
If a violent game is okay, then so is using a violent ad to promote it
An ad for video game Dead Island Riptide was banned by the ad watchdog. James Whitehead of online entertainment publisher IGN argues that it was the wrong call.A fortnight ago, it emerged that the Ad Standards Board had banned a television commercial for the video game Dead Island: Riptide, due to its depiction of violence – specifically suicide.
Why content makers are leaving our shores
In a piece that first featured in Encore, Craig Anderson says there simply isn’t enough opportunity for content makers in Australia, especially for those making comedy.Last year I had multiple meetings with production companies in Australia and discovered that apart from the odd commercial campaign, there’s no proliferation of paying platforms for comedy. From my own experience there’s iView, which will buy content once it’s already been made (though I live in hope that it will one day be granted the financial power to commission content). I’ve also had the odd informal commission from the SMH iPad consisting of two narrative series and a comical review show. But none of these endeavours were financially viable.
Managing your management style
In an article that first appeared in Encore, Stephanie Brown says the advertising industry often leaves people ill-equipped when it comes to managing staff, especially when they’re promoted into management roles.Managing people is hard. In fact, I actually think it’s the hardest job in the world. With no disrespect intended, I often joke that if my job didn’t involve other people to manage, it would be a walk in the park. I could get about my day’s work in a nice, linear fashion, happily checking off my to-do list as I go. I’m a process-orientated person. I get a kick out of getting things done.
Why the Facebook chase is making brands treat consumers like morons
You know how we look back at quaintly patronising ads from the 1950s and wonder what on earth the advertisers were thinking?
I’ve got a feeling that in a few years time, we’ll be looking at the behaviour of big brands on Facebook the same way.
An entire generation of marketers – or at least a sizeable proportion of them – have lost their minds.
So many have become so obsessed with generating user interactions at all costs, that all thoughts about overall brand perceptions or long term marketing goals have vanished. All that counts now, is generating likes and comments at all costs.
Blog this!
Paid content, sponsored posts and brand ambassadorships – in theory, today’s blogger can be just as valuable to brands as mainstream media. But does blogger outreach actually work? In an article that first appeared in Encore, Nic Christensen investigates.“I get approaches from PR companies constantly,” says blogger and author Kerri Sackville, with more than a hint of exasperation. “I have never done a sponsored blog, on my own site, but that doesn’t stop them from asking.”
McLennan right man for job
It’s all change at troubled broadcaster Channel Ten with new directions, new executives and a brand new CEO. Managing director of Adstream Peter Miller says Hamish McLennan is the right man for the job, in an article that first appeared in Encore.I am a bit of a schmuck when it comes to movies. I love romantic comedies. My favourite is One Fine Day with Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney.
Q&A with Richard Herring
In a piece that first appeared in Encore, CEO of APN Outdoor Richard Herring talks media.Who is the most powerful person in Australian media and why?
I don’t know if there is one person in particular. The fragmentation of traditional media and new entrants has made it a more level playing field with regards to major influencers. As was demonstrated with the recent media reform recommendations, together, the broader media community still has a very influential and powerful voice.
What one medium could you not live without?
Outdoor – clean, entertaining, evocative and informative.
Q&A with screenwriter Craig Pearce
Craig Pearce, screenwriter for The Great Gatsby, spoke to Encore about working with Baz and writing for 3D.
How did you get into script writing?
I always loved stories and acting and dressing up and being anything but myself and I never realised that was not something other people did. After leaving high school, I did a three year acting course at NIDA but always thought I would one day write. Baz was a good friend and he had a theatre company. He wanted to extend a 20 minute version of Strictly Ballroom. We got it to 45 minutes then he was approached by producers to turn it into a feature film. I started helping him out on the film while they were looking for a real writer but eventually Baz had to go to the producers and say, “There’s this guy who’s my best friend and he is a really good writer”. To the producers’ credit, they believed in Baz so we had two weeks to re-write it.
Anne Parsons to quit Mediacom
Mediacom chairman Anne Parsons is leaving, sources within Group M have confirmed.
Mediacom team: Parsons, Jenner and Pejic
Her decision to leave follows a restructure of the media agency’s Australian operation which saw her in a far less hands-on role within the WPP agency.
Sydney based Toby Jenner (centre) and Melbourne-based Mark Pejic (right) now run the operation.
It is understood that she is taking time off and moving to one of her residences in Europe.
Parsons could not be reached for further comment.
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Comments
11 Dec 09
2:21 pm
Go Annie…..you’re looking forward to watching the fun from afar I’m sure
11 Dec 09
2:22 pm
Good luck Annie, always enjoyed working with you
11 Dec 09
2:25 pm
Better out than in….Good Luck AP
11 Dec 09
2:40 pm
@ Anon – agreed!
11 Dec 09
2:46 pm
All the best Annie. Enjoy it!
11 Dec 09
3:30 pm
“one of her residences in Europe”…i thought margins had been hammered?
11 Dec 09
4:06 pm
Damn Sven, you beat me to it!
11 Dec 09
4:36 pm
Best wishes, Annie, you deserve every success… and now a decent break! Thanks for everything you’ve contributed to the industry, and to your very grateful clients.
11 Dec 09
5:06 pm
Every wish Annie; you were always a “leader” in everything that you did; even way back in the “learning” George Patts days. You have deserved every accolade and compliment bestowed to you.
But UR still a bit young ‘to smell the roses. One would think that you don’t want to just sit round and vegetate; your attributes and integrity are too good to be lost to this industry for long. So warmest wishes for your future., I will just sit around and see what transpires. But good to know, you have what you always have had; and that is, it is still “your choice”.
In the meantime; “just have a ball”.
11 Dec 09
5:15 pm
Punted…… but the spin is nice….
11 Dec 09
5:31 pm
Jealous of Belinda?
11 Dec 09
5:50 pm
good on her
11 Dec 09
9:10 pm
Sometimes the yearnings for the safety in the comedy of Charlie Chaplin has to move on. Toby Jenner represents the future of the agency, Annie just clung on to the past. Everyone’s comments above I’m sure are well meant but the numbers speak for themselves, the world has moved on and Toby is the future not someone that thinks the web is a ‘fad’
11 Dec 09
9:25 pm
Jeez; it doesn’t take long for the sharks with their cohorts and lapdogs to show themselves publicly; does it. Good on you “SABBATH”. Whose pocket are you pissing in or will you still continue to hide under a pseudonym, like all gutless wonders do.
Anyone that knows the lady well knows that SHRE IS NOT LOCKED IN A TIME-WARP. Quite the contrary actually. Let’s see hoe long it takes for leaks and/or insubordination to occur under this genius. And key client reaction too, let alone industry colleagues. I amongst a host of others will be watching this “genius” keenly.
Graeme
11 Dec 09
9:28 pm
PS: And why I am at it; come on and “out” yourself. Put your name and “any reputation” you clon behind your utterances, or do we all just have to continue guessing.
11 Dec 09
9:29 pm
PPS” Apologies; “clon” should have read “claim”.
11 Dec 09
9:55 pm
Nothing to do with ‘gutless wonders’ Graeme, I do know the lady well and clearly so do her ex-employers which is why changes have occurred. In a previous column it was discussed by Tim the difference between GroupM agencies in Australia vs. the UK and the time it takes for a re-wire. No-one asked why it needed a re-wire, the answer is simple, ‘new world vs. old world’. The reason why Mitchells and OMD are successful is because they are not lazy in success, they evolve with the times, Annie still thinks Betamax will win in the end!
11 Dec 09
11:29 pm
Ahh; got an answer if not a name out of you. Oh well; we’ll just leave that for the time being. That will undoubtedly come out with the effluction of time. But to your core argument.
Yes, I did read Tim’s posting with not only considerable interest but agreement – he is indeed a prescient and knowledgable figure, and eminemtly-qualified to make comment. But I do think that you miscast Anne; the lady I did know well was one of the foremost innovators of her generation, with the industry as a whole in furious agreement about that. No question about it. I would be very surprised to hear that she has changed the habits of a lifetime in just 3-5 years tops. So, from personal knowledge, I can’t answer in honesty for that period; but it would floor me if that is the case. It seems like I should make a few phone calls to old friends over the weekend or so. I shall do that willingly, and with due honesty.
Re. the otherv point; you don’t have to “out” yourself; that will come out one way or another when the time is appropriate.
And with regard to Mitchells and OMD; your comments about them are not only ‘spot on”, but self-evident. So we agree there too, because their results are in for all to see.
12 Dec 09
8:54 am
@ Sabbath…..wonder where your pay check comes from???
Graeme, agree with all of your comments about Annie. Don’t be confused. This move has knowing to do with her leadership skills and everything to do with the ‘boys club” that now completely control Group M. Jenner is just a “member” of this group and has played local and international politics well. Talent and results not evident in any way. Now they haven’t had a good year. But what they don’t seem to grasp is that by taking Annie out they have guaranteed that next year will be no better!
Live by sword, die by the sword…. Boys….
12 Dec 09
9:18 am
PS….please read “nothing” not “knowing”. But a certain irony in the mistake.
12 Dec 09
4:08 pm
The downsizing at mediacom this year seems to suggest they think the future is boutique agencies. Unless clients left them cos tey didn’t think they were that good.
13 Dec 09
2:05 pm
So Sabbath thinks Annie belongs in the past. Well DJ’s, the most successful department store in Australia bar none obviously don’t think so. They dumped Mediacom the moment Annie’s move was made public. If she was still there so would the business. As for Mitchells; a very powerful brand indeed. But never underestimate how much of its power is still directly linked to Harold’s network and influence. Lets be frank, not many people are sitting around waiting to hear what Stuart thinks. So show a bit of class Sabbath and give credit where its due. Annie Parsons’ career is one very very few in the industry will ever equal. And if she did get ‘punted’ then I would’ve hated to have been the one to write the cheque. Go Annie xxxx
13 Dec 09
4:19 pm
All I can say is Good Luck Mediacom ……..particularly when Annie returns to the Industry as I think you will need it!!
13 Dec 09
8:58 pm
ANNIEWATCH clearly hasn’t been following Mediacom’s development in the past few years otherwise they would have spotted that David Jones isn’t the first Client to leave. When you consider the total ‘departures’ that started before Toby’s arrival, either those Clients are all too stupid to recognize Annie’s visionary ability, didn’t want it or perhaps it was lacking. As the damn broke prior to her leaving, doesn’t it suggest that either something was wrong, or indeed if Graeme is right, her ‘influence’ was negligible thereby suggesting she wasn’t fulfilling her role. Harry M’s comments on Mitchells show how out of touch he is, Mitchell’s is a constantly evolving ‘trust’ brand, if it was my dollar, they would be one of the first few I would talk to.
13 Dec 09
9:00 pm
…………oh and ‘ANONYMOUS’ I think you’ll find that every agency will welcome Annie’s return to the industry so long as it’s not theirs!
14 Dec 09
8:59 am
As an ex-WPP employee, I can only imagine Annie will be relieved to be able to actively disassociate from the boys club that is rife across the group – misogyny is alive and well.
14 Dec 09
11:39 am
Thank you TALL. We said the other day “truth will out”; and it has. I should have picked it up earlier – it is only that, in this day and age, one thought that misogyny was well and truly dead. BUT JEALOUSY ISN’T. So. for those in the know; it should be relatively easy to pick out just who this great “Defender of Jenner’s Faith” (or ‘suck-up kid extraordinaire’ is. And, for the record, I hope that it does become public, as he obviously doesn;t gibve a &#$^ about whether his comments are truthful ot not. I.e.; just another “middle-rank loser”.
14 Dec 09
1:13 pm
@sabbath
1. Big assumption that I am male and shows your misogynistic frame of reference
2. I never mentioned Mitchell’s
Out of touch……the old “one pointing at me three pointing back at you” springs to mind. As for Annie’s culpability for the current state of the business. I have it on very good authority that Annie was told to keep out of the Sydney business and let Jenner “have his head”. In fact, she wasn’t even part of the Westpac pitch. This instruction came from “on high”. For the last year Mediacom Sydney has been the “Jenner” show.
Now lets look at what hasn’t been achieved in this time…here are the pitches not won….
- Vodafone
- Stuart Alexander
- Fed Government
- Westpac
- Yum
- Myer
These are just the ones that are common knowledge. I’m sure there are others (anyone care to add to the list??). And of course, lets not forget the loss of DJ, Westpac and some good people along the way while taken morale to an all time low.
I can’t wait for this genius to be spread nationally.
14 Dec 09
1:28 pm
@ Graeme – Mate, trust me this Sabbath guy isn’t worth getting all tense over. “suck-up kid” is a fairly accurate description. He does make a pretty good point about DJ’s not being Mediacom’s first client to leave…there have been quite a few in the last year……not to mention the staff that seem to have lost faith and found their way to the door. The departure of Annie marks a sad and shameful time for Groupm/Mediacom.
@ Sabbath – be careful – I wouldn’t be too quick to tell Harry M that he’s out of touch…the day may come when your knocking on his door looking for a job! You can’t fake it forever………
14 Dec 09
1:39 pm
@ Harry M – totally agreed!