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Dr mumbo
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Leo's great expectations (of unpaid interns)
Dr Mumbo knows that in 2014 internships are a crucial and important pathway into the advertising industry. But he couldn't help but notice that Leo Burnett is setting some pretty high standards for its unpaid interns. An ad placed on The Loop is offering internships for two to three days a week with the prerequisite that the unpaid intern "must" "have big creative ideas that could play out on social media" and also "think strategically about how to better social ideas" (sic). -
Of actresses and axings
It's not been a great morning for the good chaps of Dr Mumbo's favourite media outlet The Australian. First Darren Davidson proudly tweeted the "exclusive" news that Ten's chief programming officer Beverley McGarvey was being replaced. Only to clarify 20 minutes later that it wasn't quite the case... Meanwhile, Davidson's colleague Michael Bodey was getting confused about The Guardian's new Australian editor. -
The travails of Gerry Fortuna: An underdog's story
It's fair to say this will be the most bizarre day in the life of the marvellously named Gerry Fortuna, who awoke this morning to find his face, and farewell email, plastered all over Sydney's Daily Telegraph. His story is as old as time: boy starts job with Nine; boy meets girl; boy forms crush on girl; boy gets new job; boy sends leaving email to 1,400 colleagues talking about his crush on said co-worker; email gets printed in major newspaper. Gerry's tweet trail this morning tells the tale of how he is handling the new found fame: Then an appearance on Fox FM's Fifi and Dave show: -
Nine alarms Studio 10's executive producer
Dr Mumbo was a huge fan of the Studio 10 mugs promoted as a last-minute stop gap when the real product promotion fell through last year- but upset he wasn't sent one himself. The good folk over at Channel Nine's Today show however were treated to their own personalised mugs this week. And to show their appreciation, Today EP Mark Calvert returned the gesture by sending a branded gift of his own. Studio 10 EP Rob McKnight was certainly chuffed... -
The art of (spontaneous) promotion
Those chaps at Lachlan Murdoch's Nova sure were prescient about the first episode of Puberty Blues on Lachlan Murdoch's Ten. The radio station's Facebook feed burst into life five minutes after the TV show was due to start: "Who's watching Puberty Blues right now? How good is it!" Sadly, the show wasn't running to advertised start time of 8.30pm, and didn't go to air until four minutes after the Nova post enthusing about how great it was. -
Enero's mystery million
Curious goings on at what was once Australia's most colourful marketing holding group.
Enero has handed over a million bucks to somebody, but won't say who, or indeed exactly why.
The company - known in unhappier days as Photon Group - flogged off a number of businesses in recent years in its struggle to survive the aftermath of previous chairman Tim Hughes' top-of-the-market, pre-GFC spending spree.
It look like somebody who picked up one of those assets didn't like what they saw once they got their head under the bonnet.
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Katy Perry, weathergirl
Pop sensation Katy Perry probably just brightened up a very slow news day for the Hobart Mercury this morning when she dubbed the town Hogwarts presenting the weather on Seven's Sunrise this morning. Among the highlights of her somewhat chaotic Sunrise appearance were a struggle through the weather, with some of the trickier place names in Australia proving a stretch too far for her, including Canberra as "Coonaberra" and declaring it will be "20 degrees in Hogwarts" (or Hobart, as the locals call it). Katy Perry does the weather: She didn't seem to appreciate being presented with her own Madame Tussauds waxwork: "Her boobs are much bigger. We're not the same looking. She's very strange." -
The Oz apologises to itself, on behalf of the ABC
What is it they say? If at first you can't get an apology from someone... just go and write your own? Dr Mumbo was pleased to see The Australian launch a new weekly column in its media section in which it publishes faux apologies containing what the national broadsheet feels the ABC should have said. As the newspaper explains: "The ABC has refused to publish corrections for its errors, so, from this week, we will begin a column where we publish clarifications on behalf of the ABC." -
Turnbull's improv performance
Communications minister Malcolm Turnbull was in fine form on Friday night while launching The Saturday Paper, especially when he veered from the carefully-hewn prose he had been provided with by his office and let rip with his very own improvisation comedy routine. While he started off slowly, by the end of the speech he had the crowd laughing about 'demented plutocrats' with loss making newspapers and political agendas (whoever could he mean?) and teasing the The Oz over its most recent editorials denouncing the AFR's editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury aka. Stutch. But one of the best lines of the night was actually when he roasted himself for launching the newspaper... "There is actually nothing more reckless than being a politician launching a newspaper that you have not seen," he said. -
The art of editing...
Yesterday we couldn't help but wonder where the Sydney Daily Telegraph would put its story on James Ashby after yesterday's Press Council ruling. Anyway for those wondering the Telegraph's editor Paul "Boris" Whittaker chose: Page 17. The same page as the one he was chastised for... -
Kyle: Don't be a dickhead
Regular readers might be forgiven for thinking Dr Mumbo takes a cynical stance when it comes to Kyle Sandilands. However, today he takes his hat off to the KiisFM shock jock as he supports an anti-violence campaign led by nightclub owner John Ibrahim: Don't be a dickhead. Kyle can be seen here stepping in to break up a fight on the street. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSvu3GOjgTY -
Good Times with Leo Sayer and a geriatric flashmob
Regular readers will probably be aware of Dr Mumbo's feelings about flashmobs, especially those done badly. In all honesty, he thought they had died out. So, you can imagine his surprise when he received this promotional video for APIA's Good Times tour, featuring Leo Sayer and a flashmob which might have set a world record for the highest average age, and least co-ordinated dancing. http://vimeo.com/87635124 -
Whose exclusive is it anyway...
It seems a few of News Corp's journos are taking the company mantra to heart and "revelling in the competition" of the Mail Online, so much so they are starting a very public shouting match with them. Readers of The Daily Telegraph's print edition could be forgiven thinking the paper was the first to break the news former Olympic swimmer Grant Hackett was flying to the US for rehab. Dr Mumbo wonders if perhaps the cause of the confusion could be the word "EXCLUSIVE" plastered all over the Tele's newspaper and online copy? However, keen online readers will note that the "EXCLUSIVE" was broken by new rival the Mail Online last night, which appears to have perturbed some at the Tele... particularly gossip columnist Annette Sharp. -
OMD's Rappers and Renegades
[caption id="attachment_209103" align="alignright" width="234"] Horginem?[/caption] There's a bit of tension between creative and media agencies at the moment around content creation, and who can do it best. It seems OMD has staked its claim in the content space on its YouTube channel, and its breakout star is CEO Peter Horgan. The boss of $1.2bn-billing media agency has starred in this YouTube video introducing what Dr Mumbo presumes is a new award, humbly named after himself, "The Horgies". Dr Mumbo reckons with rap lyrics like: "This album is dedicated to all the Mad Men who told me I'd never amount to nothin'. "It was really all a dream. I used to read AdNews magazine." (We presume you couldn't find anything to rhyme with Mumbrella, Horgs...). -
That sinking feeling
Do you ever get that sinking feeling? It looks like this BBC newscaster can certainly empathise. http://youtu.be/7vfSPerv4Bw HT: Reddit
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Banning booze ads will just make marketers more creative
As the calls for stricter regulation of alcohol advertising to protect children heat up Mike O’Rourke argues changes to advertising will do nothing without changing behaviour at home.
Hi, my name is Mike O’Rourke and I ask my kids to pass me beers. I drink alcoholic beverages at home, and yes, I have also been guilty of asking my kids to go to the fridge for me. And when we have guests I angst about what wine we’ll serve as much what food we’ll eat. And the rhetorical discussions with my son over whether I should get 2 bags of ice or just the one (the answer’s always two).
Like most Australian families, alcohol plays a large part in my home life. Read more »
Why stupid is normal – when smart people make dumb choices
Ashton Bishop and Gary Wilkinson argue how the actions of former BP chief Tony Hayward during the Gulf of Mexico oil crisis should be a wake up call to stressed marketers and those that work with them.
In 2010 after over 455 million litres of oil had already poured into the Gulf off the Louisiana coast and millions of litres more continued to escape every day, Tony Hayward, the CEO of oil giant BP, and the public face of the environmental disaster, decided to take part in an exclusive yacht race off the Isle of Wight. There was outrage. Social media, already heavily critical of BP’s poor response to the catastrophe, got worse. Read more »
What is the most effective method for charity fundraising?
Recent pieces on Mumbrella around charity street fundraisers have stirred debate about the pros and cons of the practice. Here Angela Brooks looks at what the statistics show is the best way of fundraising.
Following Mumbrella’s recent stories on the pro’s and con’s of ‘chuggers’, I thought it may be of value to reveal what the statistics show is the best fundraising strategy for charities and how to secure more out of the Australian hip pocket. The results will surprise many. Read more »
Answering Adam: Why advertising spin does harm consumers
In response to Adam Ferrier’s article on whether advertising spin is actually OK, TV luminary Nick Murray argues it is not.
As Adam Ferrier correctly points out in his wonderfully provocative article the ABC’s consumer affairs show The Checkout takes aim at brands which charge more for products marketed by preying on desires and fears in nearly every episode. I make TV shows including The Checkout, so I thought I’d give a non marketer’s perspective.
Analysis: Where has it gone wrong for Ten?
After starting the year with improved ratings and an air of optimism audience shares have declined severely for Network Ten. Megan Reynolds spoke to industry insiders to find out where it went wrong.
Secrets and Lies was one of the most anticipated dramas of the year, which has already been picked up by production companies in the US and UK, launched to 403,000 metro viewers on Channel Ten last night. While those numbers may be disappointing for executives in the Pyrmont offices, they are higher than it has been getting for established reality show The Biggest Loser and the revived So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD).
In the week after the Winter Olympics Ten’s total network audience share dropped from 18.8 per cent, to 14.4 per cent. This included the main channel’s worst-ever rating night, where it took just 6.4 per cent of the audience.
Answers for Adam: Is advertising spin actually good?
In his regular column Adam Ferrier poses a question to the industry. Today he asks is advertising spin as bad as it is made out to be?
Advertising is bad right? We coerce people into buying stuff they don’t need. Further, as TV show The Checkout points out (most weeks) we sometimes just put a descriptive word like ‘Baby’, or ‘Premium’ on a certain product, and then charge more for exactly the same thing. For example, all shampoos are basically made of the same stuff – so why are some priced at $3.00 a bottle whilst ‘Premium Salon Quality’ alternatives (at product parity) cost $30 (or more)? Read more »
Mumbrella360 – how you can be involved
The industry is once again being asked to get involved in this year’s Mumbrella360. Mumbrella’s Tim Burrowes explains how
This is the fourth time we’ve done this. It’s the moment to fire the starting pistol on Mumbrella360.
In the next few days we’ll be announcing at least one big new thing for Mumbrella360. But the most important thing remains the same – once again we’re inviting the industry to join us in curating the conference. You’re reading that invitation right now. Read more »
Why the new DrinkWise campaign is a fail
A new campaign by DrinkWise aimed at encouraging people to drink responsibly actually does the opposite, argues Joel Egan.
Clemenger BBDO Melbourne’s new campaign, ‘Drinking – do it properly’, is stylish, cool and well executed which ticks all the boxes for them. But I can’t help thinking that DrinkWise could be left picking up the pieces. Read more »
Reinventing the news model in the digital era
On Friday night Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull launched Morry Schwartz’s The Saturday Paper at a function in Sydney. This is an abridged version of his speech.
Just a few years ago in 2008 the president of France Nicholas Sarkosy said: “democracy can not function with a press permanently on the edge of an economic precipice.” Read more »
Can Big Data predict the Best Picture Oscar winner?
With many struggling to provide insights from Big Data Bryan Melmed puts his money where his mouth is by using it to predict the winner of the Best Picture Oscar.
Can big data insights predict the winner of Best Picture at Sunday’s Oscars? We think it can and we are betting the farm on 12 Years a Slave. And this is how we figured it out. Read more »
Building Chinese relations with kids TV
A new co-produced children’s TV show between the ABC and Chinese state TV may show where the future of co-production lies.
Filmed over six months across freezing winter and the heat of summer on a set the size of a football field, located outside the city of Zhou Zhou two hours south of Beijing Hoopla Doopla posed a number of challenges for the Australian and Chinese production teams working on it, not least the language barrier.
Personality differences: Trolls and cyberstalkers aren’t the same
In this cross posting from The Conversation Troy McEwan looks at what motivates bad online behaviour, and the best ways to handle it.
The recent death of television personality Charlotte Dawson and the possible role that online abuse played in her struggles with depression shows how damaging this behaviour can be. Read more »
The challenges of reporting on Myanmar
In this interview with Mumbrella Asia editor Robin Hicks, Melbourne-born journalist Jessica Mudditt talks about the challenges of reporting on a country that is – in fits and starts – loosening its grip on press freedom after decades of oppression.
What’s the hardest thing about reporting on Myanmar?
For me, it’s the lack of data available. Previous military regimes appear to have had zero interest in obtaining information about the people of Myanmar (other than for intelligence purposes!). A census hasn’t been conducted in more than 30 years, so even something as straightforward as the total population of Myanmar is merely an estimate, and the estimates vary quite a lot from organisation to organisation. And because Myanmar was a closed country for so long, the research that would normally have been amassed by civil society groups such as INGOs simply didn’t exist until recently. Read more »
Charlotte Dawson: A media death but a normal illness
The death of Charlotte Dawson says a bit about the media spotlight but more about the realities of mental illness, argues Mumbrella’s Tim Burrowes.
It was a strange, sickening feeling this afternoon watching Charlotte Dawson on video. I hadn’t seen it since we published the interview just over a year ago.
Howcroft: Beautiful athletes and lack of brand hoardings makes Olympics spectacular
Great casting and a lack of intrusive branding at the sports venues makes the Olympics more of a visual feast than other sports, argues Russel Howcroft.
Casting….it’s pretty important in the television game, which is why it was interesting to read a tweet by Virginia Trioli regarding how good looking Winter Olympians are. They do make for some very attractive television. Read more »
A sceptic’s week with Google Glass
With some tipping Google Glass to further evolve change our day-to-day experiences, creative technologist and Glass sceptic Tim Devine found some surprising results after a week with the device.
In a kind of tribute to Steve Mann, the father of wearable computing, and so that I might have at least something of an informed opinion on the subject, I wore Google Glass for a week — everywhere, all the time. For thirty years Mann has worn far less sophisticated versions, so I figured it couldn’t be that onerous, and if I was to give Mann and Glass proper shrift nothing less than full immersion would do. Read more »
The data is finally in. Newspapers aren’t going to get enough digital subscribers
Friday’s audit numbers are the strongest signal yet that paywalls will not make up for lost print revenues, argues Mumbrella’s Tim Burrowes.
We’ve been talking about it for five years, but there is now finally enough data on paywalls to call it. Digital subscriptions will not save the newspaper business model.
While this has been the view of the pessimists for some time, it feels that only now is enough evidence dribbling out to reveal what those inside the publishers must have been seeing for the last few months. Most likely, they are never going to get there; at best it’s going to be a long, hard road. Read more »
The rise of cringe marketing
Ads many perceive as cringeworthy may well be a very effective strategy to turn around a troubled brand says Scott Heron.
JC Penney is a large retailer that is up against the wall. Publishing weekly store closures and poor sales numbers, they typically are associated with news that makes you cringe. They need to shake things up, so now it seems their marketing strategy is designed to make you cringe too. Read more »
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