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Opinion
The keyboard warrior of Twitter
In this guest post, NBN staffer Scott Rhodie writes an unofficial, personal view on his experience with a hostile Twitter critic.Last night I had a strange incident. While on Twitter I noticed someone saying that Australia’s NBN is already outdated. I wrote a small note back explaining they were incorrect.
And their response? The lovely gentleman (whose Twitter profile says: ‘Father of 5 kids, Loving Grandfather of 10 Grandchildren,and 2 Great Granddaughters. love to give heaps to Pollies and Poofters’) said to me: “Go and lick Gillards C*** out U commie Prick”
What's in a name?
In this guest post, Moensie Rossier wonders about the power of names for brands and marketers.
Brands have been having a bit of fun with names lately, not to mention a fair bit of success. Interbrand just named a headhunting firm Cloak & Dagger. And ‘Share a Coke’ showed how much power there is in a name.
The Coke campaign effectively short-circuited the usual mechanics of communication. It undoubtedly stroked people’s egos. But, I believe, its success stems from the fact that it directly and automatically affected people’s behaviour, rather than doing so indirectly by shaping attitudes.
Best ads from Super Bowl 2012
The Super Bowl is all done and a team from North America won. But as well as some sort of sporting event, it’s the world’s biggest advertising showcase. See the best of them right here… and please tell us what you think.
How to debunk media myths
In this post, UWS’s Ullrich Ecker, John Cook and Stephen Lewandowsky argue that cognitive science can help PRs form strategies in managing media misreporting.
A growing cohort of commentators has bemoaned the descent of contemporary political “debate” into a largely fact-free zone.
How about simply focusing on what consumers want?
In this guest post, Peter Mountford argues that brands should think more about what is really going on for consumers
Who here is hoping their favourite brand of toilet paper is going to be organizing a flash mob on their way home from work today?
What the Optus web copyright victory means
In this analysis first published on The Conversation, RMIT’s Marita Shelly examines the implications of Telstra’s defeat over the online rights to the AFL broadcast deal
This week’s Federal Court ruling that Optus customers are able to view sporting matches minutes after they are streamed live without breaching copyright is a landmark decision that alters our understanding of copyright law, and has significant implications for the AFL’s broadcasting rights deal.
Does Gina Rinehart’s bite of a chunk of Fairfax make her an oligarch?
In an article that first appeared in The Conversation, Mark Rolfe wonders whether the mining magnate’s move could turn Fairfax into something resembling America’s Fox network.
Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart has moved to increase her stake in Fairfax Media, owner of The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and a number of radio stations. Rinehart has already shown her desire to play a role in public life, campaigning against former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s aborted mining tax. She has also demonstrated a willingness to make media investments to ensure her pro-business worldview is promulgated.
What does this latest move by Rinehart mean?
Gillard's Australia Day crisis
PM Julia Gillard’s media adviser Tony Hodges has been forced to resign over the Australia Day tent embassy debacle.
It came after it emerged he had revealed opposition leader Tony Abbott’s whereabouts, leading to both politicians being rescued by police in ugly scenes.
Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes and advertising practitioner Jane Caro debate the topic on Weekend Sunrise’s masters of Spin segment:
The biggest cock-up I made in business
In this guest post, Chris Savage urges agency staff to live the brand.I still shudder when I think about how incredibly stupid I was when I made the biggest stuff up of my career. And then, 18 years later, I did it again. Do not make this mistake with your clients. Ever.
Hey Groupon. Thanks for fucking up email
In this guest post, Daniel Monheit warns that group deal overload is devaluing email marketingEmail marketing used to be fabulous. Back in the heady days of 2010, brands would work hard to build up well qualified databases, upon which they’d bestow carefully crafted correspondence filled with information, offers and incentives. The recipients, of course would be delighted: “Oh look! An email! From one of my favourite brands! And it’s 40 cents off at Woolies this week!”.
The staggering sway of Harold Mitchell
The Power Index today names Aegis Media chairman Harold Mitchell as the most powerful person in Melbourne. Andrew Crook profiles him.
Harold Mitchell takes pride in dispensing with the niceties. When The Power Index visited his South Melbourne private office before Christmas, fresh remains were scattered all over the boardroom table.
Assumptions kill creativity
In this guest post, Gual Barwell disagrees that the sales success of the Old Spice social media campaign was overstated.Yesterday’s post from Cathie McGinn suggested the Old Spice campaign failed to connect with consumers. Based on the facts and figures, I disagree.
What Old Spice and Wieden + Kennedy has done and done phenomenally well is to create a franchise.
The SMH's readers (are wrong) editor
We are now about five months into the reign of Australia’s first readers’ editor. And I don’t think it is working.
It struck me at the time of Judy Prisk’s appointment to the Sydney Morning Herald that the fact that her boss was editor-in-chief Peter Fray was not going to be ideal if she was going to be the independent voice of the reader.
The emperor's new fragrance: Old Spice’s campaign failure
In this guest post, Cathie McGinn slays a sacred cow of 21st century marketing – the highly awarded Old Spice campaign.One of the biggest myths of recent times (by which I mean a story of great heroism and triumph we’d all like to believe but deep down know to be untrue) is the Old Spice social media campaign. It’s been much lauded and awarded as an example of outstanding content, a creative and collaborative way of connecting with consumers and driving a record increase in sales.
How reliable are radio ratings?
In this guest posting, Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis wonders how accurate radio ratings can be, since the data is collated from handwritten diaries.
So, the radio ratings season gets underway tomorrow. After a well-earned break, Australia’s commercial radio stations will renew their obsession with figures to see how many of us are listening. Are they winning or losing the ratings war?
The much feared radio survey is the only way to measure the success or failure of a station’s playlist, talent, promotions or even good old Black Thunder crosses. With six-figure salaries riding on the make-or-break nature of ratings, just how accurate are Australia’s radio survey results?
Y&R global boss David Sable: Australia still matters to us, and things will improve for Campaign Palace
Young & Rubican’s new global CEO David Sable has told Mumbrella that although he’s an American replacing an Aussie, the company’s Australian operation will remain a key part of his focus.
It was announced in February that Hamish McLennan would be relinquishing the global role to return to Australia. Read more »
Social media: ‘Oversold, misused and in decline’
Social media has been oversold, misused by marketers and could now be beginning to decline, according to marketing commentator David Chalke, who spoke at an event organised by media agency PHD last night.
Chalke, a strategy planner and consultant on the Australia Scan project at Quantum Market Research, told Mumbrella that disillusionment was settling in to the market because social media had been “massively oversold”.
Cannes wrapup: Late Lions success for Australia | No Aussie effectiveness prizes
In Mumbrella’s final video from the Cannes Lions festival, featuring editor Tim Burrowes:
- Success for Australia in the Film Lions
- TAC’s powerful road safety campaign wins an Integrated Lion
- Is the 30 second spot dead? The jury presidents disagree
- Why did Australia do so badly in Creative Effectiveness? Read more »
Cannes Day five: Happy 100th, David Ogilvy; The Surface 2; Lions respond to judging critics
In Mumbrella’s coverage of the fifth day of the Cannes Lions festival featuring editor Tim Burrowes:
- Ogilvy & Mather’s Asia Pacific CEO Paul Heath reflects on the legacy of David Ogilvy, 100 years after his birth;
- The new technology that will soon be in Harvey Norman;
- Terry Savage responds to claims by Aussie media agency bosses that the judging system is flawed Read more »
Cannes Lions day three: Australia’s weak outdoor creative; Underperforming media; Change gets scary
In Mumbrella’s video coverage of the third day of the Cannes Lions festival:
- Publicis Mojo Sydney ECD Micah Walker on Australia’s weak outdoor creative and why entry videos are going too far
- Mindshare CEO James Greet on how Australia has underperformed in the Media Lions
- PHD CEO Barry O’Brien on the scary pace of change
Cannes day two: Australia’s Young Lions beat the world (and NAB’s the best PR campaign too)
In Mumbrella’s video coverage of the second day of the Cannes Lions festival:
- Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes chats to Australia’s victorious Young Lions Matt Swinburne and Mike Felix;
- Juror Kat Thomas, from Sydney’s One Green Bean, on how NAB’s breakup project was named the world’s best PR campaign of the year – and why there was no showing from Australia’s PR agencies;
- BMF ECD Warren Brown and DDB ECD Dylan Harrison, president and juror on the Promo Lions jury on why Tontine was a winner, how it nearly got a gold and how technology is making some agencies lazy Read more »
Mumbo Report: Text penguins, comedy straight men and evil grannies
In this episode of The Mumbo Report we count down the week’s most played ads:
- Honda’s magical seats; text messages are the giant penguin in the room for Optus; Forty Winks’ comedy straight men, Hyundai, and Margaret Fulton auditions for a role in Animal Kingdom.
Australia’s Young Lions prepare for Cannes
Mumbrella deputy editor Robin Hicks speaks to Cannes Young Lions entrants Lachlan Williams from Razor Media, Jessica Woodford from 303 Group Perth, plus Matt Swinburne and Mike Felix from Leo Burnett Sydney about:
- The entry process for the Young Lions;
- Getting in to the industry;
- What they are hoping to learn from being in Cannes;
- Their chances of winning. Read more »
Mumbo Report: Marie Claire’s Jackie Frank
In this episode of The Mumbo Report, Marie Claire publisher and editor Jackie Frank talks about:
- Are magazines facing a decline?
- Her famous treadmill meetings;
- How she feels seeing herself in Under the Cover, Seven’s fly on the wall reality series launching on Sunday.
Mumbrella360: Question Time and Battle of the Media final
Mumbrella360 was held at Sydney’s Hilton Hotel on June 7 and 8. This video showcases the final two sessions from the event. Read more »
Mumbo Report: KFC has you hearing voices, Woolies wine discount, Target spends big, Honda’s still got seats
In this episode of The Mumbo Report, we count down the week’s most played ads:
- KFC will have you hearing voices; Woolworths offer wine discounts; it’s merchandise and sales at Target while Honda’s still banging on about their seats.
Andrew Denton on the Kit Denton Disfellowship
Andrew Denton, in conjunction with the Australian Writers Guild, has launched the Kit Denton Disfellowship, a $30,000 grant for a challenging idea written for screen production.
Previously known as the Kit Denton Fellowship, the competition is being relaunched as a Disfellowship, because winning it may mean that “your nan disowns you, your neighbours shun you and the shock jocks call for you to be locked up”.
The Mumbrella360 Manifesto – setting the agenda
Hungry Beast: Should the ABC commission a fourth series?
As the end of season three approaches, series producer Andy Nehl and reporter Dan Ilic discuss Hungry Beast.
- The original vision for the show;
- How to create viral content;
- Their message to the ABC on why the show should be recommissioned.
Dan Ilic will be appearing at Mumbrella360 next week.
Honda, headaches, Hans Hulsbosch, Curtis Stone and Cars at Target
In this episode of The Mumbo Report:
- Honda plug those seating options; Virgin Australia pushes the rebrand; Panadol cures your headache; Curtis can’t stop with the rigatoni and Target’s back. Read more »
Mumbo Report: TEDx Sydney executive producer Janne Ryan
In this episode of The Mumbo Report, on the eve of TEDx Sydney, executive producer Janne Ryan, reflects on:
- Highlights from TEDx Sydney’s 2010 event and the presentations to look out for this time;
- Is it okay for TEDx to be elitist?;
- Why Nigel Marsh is “a rockstar in the TED sense”. Read more »
Mumbo Report: Honda’s excited about seating options; Virgin strides purposefully; and Target’s kids clothes
In this episode of The Mumbo Report:
- Honda plugs their seating options; Virgin Australia continue their rebranding push; Vodaphone flogs an iPhone look alike; Curtis is still cooking that rigatoni; surprisingly, Target has a sale. Read more »
Anthony Bourdain: A large proportion of food critics are bent
Chef-turned-writer Anthony Bourdain – currently in Australia for the Sydney Writers Festival – discusses with Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes:
- Corrupt restaurant critics: “I don’t have a lot of tolerance for people who have other agendas, who are settling personal scores, who are taking backhanders, who are in any way bent, which is to say a very large proportion of the food writing, or food criticism community.”
- Masterchef: “I’m for competitive reality shows. Anything that increases interest in cooks and chefs and foods and restaurants is good for society, even at its sillliest.”
- Writing for David Simon’s HBO drama Treme, which is about to go out in Australia on Showtime.
- Social media – Hijacking his own 1m+ Facebook page and how he talks to his 400,000 Twitter followers.
- Matt Moran’s experience at US food venue Beard House: “I can’t imagine he wasn’t disappointed with who showed up, which was no-one of importance, which was business as usual there.”
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