-
Opinion | Features
Can sport save Ten?
First there was the Grand Prix. Next came the reported $500m bid for cricket rights, then Ten secured the 2014 winter Olympics. So, can sport save the ailing network? In a feature that first appeared in Encore, Nic Christensen investigates.The television sports rights bidding process is a bit like a game of poker.
Check, fold or bet. Those were the options for the Ten Network last week when it had to finalise its bid for the cricket rights.
Andy Lark: good for the marketing of marketing
I can still remember the first story I wrote about Andy Lark, when it emerged that he was to be the new chief marketing officer of CommBank.
It was immediately clear that Australia was about to meet an interesting marketer, one who blogged and tweeted and thanks to his time at Dell in the US was digitally savvy. Even two years ago, that was a big deal. The fact that he also had a stint in public relations gave him an absolutely intriguing background before he even arrived.
Storming the media barricades - advice for young journalists
This week Mumbrella’s Nic Christensen, who began his career four years ago, gave the keynote address to would-be journalists at the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance’s Student Day. This is an edited version of his speech.Good afternoon, I can remember distinctly the last time I was in this room.
It was 2009 and I was sitting where you are. I’d come to this event, a friend and myself — from memory we sat up the back — and I can remember at the time wondering if I’d ever get a job as a journalist.
It was only four years ago and then as now getting a job was ultra competitive but I’m not sure there was quite as much media ‘doom and gloom’ as there is now…
Paywalls will help fund campaigning journalism
In this guest post, News Limited’s group editorial director Campbell Reid responds to the views of ninemsn’s Hal Crawford that the company’s push into metered paywalls is about data rather than dollars.Hal Crawford is both right and wrong in his article which argued that our digital subscription plans are all about the data.
Fake it 'til you make it... as a features editor
Cosmo’s Kate Leaver tells us how to bluff it in her job in a feature that first appeared in Encore.What do you do, as a features editor?
Really, play with words and ideas all day. At any one time, we’re working across three issues of the mag – getting one on its way to the printers, pooling all the words together for another, and planning the issue after that. It’s busy but it’s a pretty magnificent process.
Savage counsel - JFDI
Hi Chris,I run a medium-sized agency that is doing pretty well. As the leader, I am finding my workload just seems to go up and up. I am struggling to stay motivated and particularly to tackle the bigger and tougher challenges I have to face every day. How do I keep up the energy when there just seems so much to do? How do you do it?
Productive, successful executives are those able to consistently tackle difficult and big challenges. It’s a constant struggle for me so I know how you feel. How do the successful leaders do it?
Q&A with Brett Clegg
Brett Clegg, group director – business media, Fairfax Media, in a Q&A that first appeared in Encore, on the journo who refuses to work with him – his wife.Who is the most powerful person in Australian media and why?
Hard to go past Rupert Murdoch. He controls the single largest and most diverse portfolio and is intent on leveraging its scale (and, of course, influence). He’s an innovator and his will to win is obvious to all.
The experiential experience
Anyone can throw up a tent in a high-traffic area and harass the general public, but what does it take to pull off an effective experiential event? In a piece that first appeared in Encore, Matt Smith investigates.A television commercial can easily be muted and ignored, but try ignoring a purring, squirming cat in your arms. That was the experience awaiting passers by in Sydney’s Martin Place in October last year when Mars Petcare built Whiskas Kitten Palace.
The News Limited paywall isn't about revenue. It's about data
In this guest post, ninemsn’s editor in chief Hal Crawford argues Fairfax Media and News Limited’s new paywalls won’t draw much revenue, but will generate data. And they’re late to the data party.When I first learned that ninemsn’s major digital competitors Fairfax and News Ltd were going to introduce paywalls across their mainstream properties, I was excited.
Every obstacle thrown in the way of their audiences is an opportunity. People hate friction and anything that makes life difficult on a rival site is a chance to get them on yours.
Is this the worst time to be a journalist?
With scores of redundancies in 2012 and a mass exodus of experienced journos, is this the worst time to be a journalist? In a feature that first appeared in Encore, Nic Christensen asks the question.In June last year a tsunami of redundancies began to sweep across Australia’s media landscape. They came in a series of waves and in the 12 months that followed, an estimated 1,200 journalists departed the mainstream media.
Are you a conscious leader?
As the advertising and marketing industry struggles to address the issue of rocketing rates of staff churn in their businesses, Slingshot CEO Simon Rutherford argues that today’s ‘conscious leaders’ should be more focussed on creating ‘staff wellness’ in order to deliver high performing teams and healthy profits.
A conscious leader believes the business has a greater responsibility towards the community it operates in. To ensure sustainable long-term profits, people must come first. Awareness, trust, authenticity, transparency, 100% responsibility, connection, compassion, and love: these are the tools of the conscious leader.
Suits: less popular than pest controllers
Advertising suits have a thankless job that is currently being eroded by the changing industry says Naren Sanghrajka in a piece that first appeared in Encore.Not in my wildest, craziest nightmares would I ever have thought I’d say this. But I’m going to. Being a bean counter is far more appealing than starting as a suit in advertising. There it is. I said it. I actually said those words.
Yes, it’s incredibly depressing. But it’s true.
An answer for Adam: What's the future for creatives?
Each fortnight, Adam Ferrier poses a question to the industry. This week, he asks about the future of the creative.
Who or what is a creative? It’s an old thought, but as I continue on my merry journey in advertising I wonder if there is a role for a ‘creative’ and if there is, what that role is?
In the world of film and TV there is not a ‘creative’. There is a director, a writer, a producer, a DOP and so on. From this mix the creativity happens. But no-one is charged with being ‘the creative’.
Australian films stand on their own merit
The argument that Australian audiences only embrace local films once they’ve picked up a gong at an international festival is inherently flawed says Lee Zachariah in a piece that first appeared in Encore.As much as we like to pretend that we collectively fulfil the world’s need for a country comprised entirely of laid-back, mellow beach dwellers, we do seem to get disproportionately excited when someone else mentions us. Our cool exterior drops away as our local news bulletins breathlessly report that CNN or the BBC or really anyone in one of the ‘real countries’ acknowledged our existence.
We feel detached from the world, and therefore crave its validation.
The vindication of Paul Fishlock
Wow.You may have noticed that not much went up on Mumbrella over the last couple of hours.
That’s because I’ve been reading the judge’s findings in Paul Fishlock’s case against The Campaign Palace.
I’d always known that agencyland can be a brutal place. But the picture of the cynical, ego-driven, unsentimental world that comes through in the findings of Justice John Sacker is something else. I recommend you take the time to read it yourself.
The reputation of Young & Rubicam’s global creative director Tony Granger certainly takes a battering in my view. The word “bully” is a hard one to come back from.
And former Campaign Palace CEO Mark Mackay comes across as someone you might think twice about either hiring or working for, based on the evidence presented. The judge calls him contemptuous of both Granger and Fishlock.
Lingerie Football League promotion cleared by ad watchdog
A concerted campaign by Collective Shout has failed to persuade the Advertising Standards Board to ban promotions for the Lingerie Football league.
The US-created “sport” attempted to extend its franchise to Australia in June.
A complaint about the Brisbane event said: “The women were shown wearing lingerie. It was Prime time TV. I was concerned about the pornographic material being shown. It is objectifying and degrading women.”
But LFL argued: “The vision shown is athletes wearing 2 piece sportswear including boy cut briefs (similar to those worn by Beach Volleyball players or track and field athletes).”
The ASB ruled: “The Board noted that the women appearing in advertisement all appear confident and considered that most members of the community would consider the portrayal of women in this manner to not be disrespectful. The Board considered that whilst sexual appeal is used in the advertisement it is used in a manner which would not be considered exploitative and degrading by most members of the community.”
-
-
Email Newsletter
Latest Jobs- Senior Account Director | BTL, Shopper, Trade | $130k inc
- Business Director: To $140k package
- Freelance Account Managers / Senior Account Managers – iknowho
- Business Director: To $140k package
- Agency Business Director: To $140k package
- Senior Account Director | BTL, Shopper, Trade | $130k inc
- Offline Account Manager: Leading media agency : Great salary
- Account Manager – Design and Branding agency
- Offline Planner/Buyer: Fantastic and highly desirable client
- Sale Manager – Outdoor – Fitness Product
-
RSS
Comments
25 Jul 12
1:19 pm
2 piece “sportswear”? Fairly sure beach volleyballers and track & field athletes don’t have suspender straps on their kit… I’m not against the league I just love how they justified it all…. They’ve argued it’s “sportswear” and not as accused “lingerie” but it’s called the “LINGERIE league”…. Genius! O.J’s team must have been on that case…
25 Jul 12
1:37 pm
The girls who actually play this sport are all very confident and are generally pretty damn tough!
25 Jul 12
2:21 pm
I wonder if any of the male members of the ASB would want their daughters playing LFL as a career.
25 Jul 12
3:27 pm
People that hate on the LFL are f**** lunatics. These girls are human beings capable of making their own decisions about their own lives. Stop trying to act as if your values and opinions should precede those of other members of society.
The cardinal rule of TV applies: if you don’t like it, don’t watch.
25 Jul 12
5:12 pm
Oh Please…How does it go? Oh….Pleeeeease !
I don’t think many people would find athletic bodies in sporting attire purely practical, and certainly not dull. There is a very strong sensual component in all sports activity in my opinion and as I understand it.
Nobody in this ad, or in performance on the field, could compare with the best of the thighs and knickers at the tennis or the costumed bodies of swimmers, track and field competitors, gymnasts, cyclists, net ball players, or my personal favourite, Those brilliant specimens of bold, beautiful, young Australian womanhood….The Magnificent Hockeyroos.
There must be people out there who would have swimmers back in neck to knees, or at equestrian events, ladies riding mares only , and side saddle at that, but I hope I never meet them.
25 Jul 12
10:08 pm
“The women were shown wearing lingerie. It was Prime time TV. I was concerned about the pornographic material being shown. It is objectifying and degrading women.”
Collective Shout degrade women with a frightening regularity. They just haven’t quite noticed. Which is amusing.
26 Jul 12
1:06 am
I have said for about 3 years now that Australia should start a league. At the end of the day it’s gong to make money and create jobs so stop bitchen and start enjoying the revenue it will produce. Ausy rules players use to wear shorts briefer than these girls wear and I didn’t hear the girls complaining then. You can see more flesh walking along the beach at midday so stop the moaning and look at the positives. It’s encouraging women in sport, it’s promoting a healthier body, and its making money and providing entertainment. I would bet that all those complaining are (comment edited by Mumbrella on the grounds of both sexism and predictability).
26 Jul 12
8:45 am
“Fairly sure beach volleyballers and track & field athletes don’t have suspender straps on their kit.”
So you’re saying the entire difference between a beach volleyball uniform and a LFL uniform is a small, 3 inch, piece of elastic with a clipper on the end? Well THAT seems reason enough to ban it.
This isn’t a sport. It was never intended to be a sport. It simply does a great job of accessing the same market that Vince and the WWE have accessed for decades: ‘sports entertainment’. And incidentally, the girls where a lot less in WWE and Collective Shout hadn’t said a word about that.
26 Jul 12
9:05 am
You go, Collective Shout. What were they trying to achieve, remove TV advertising now for an event which took place in early June?
26 Jul 12
9:44 am
Yes, I am saying that suspender straps make it Lingerie, they are generally intended to connect stockings, as part of a Lingerie ensemble, I think most would agree. It’s also very hard to ignore the fact it’s called the LINGERIE league Simon. And no, if you read my post you’ll find I wasn’t suggesting they ban it…
I think you right to a point on it being Sports Entertainment but I also think it has merit as a true sport, the results are not contrived and the impact is not “dramality” so although it walks a fine line it is far above WWE in its “reality”. I disagree that it is accessing the WWE market, I think it is far broader (excuse the pun) than that (not sure if bigger though). A lot of sport fans scoff at WWE but would watch Lingerie League, albeit the perve factor is usually the keynote address and the sport a support act…
26 Jul 12
10:01 am
Collective Shout’s apparent ethos:
“If mummy (or daddy) thinks something is, or is related to something that might make daddy feel “funny” it should be banned.”
26 Jul 12
10:47 am
AdGrunt – I agree with you totally re Collective Shout . They send a clear message to
the women of Australia that they are apparently being exploited and degraded but they don’t know. How insulting is that? And that a handful of women who choose to participate in this LFL are damaging the rest of us. Collective Shout would have us all covered up and overweight if they had it their way and want us to not trust men as they are all disrespectful and have sexual thoughts. How dare they- what a crime. They need to get over themselves and make sure their own backyards are tidy and stay out of others. They don’t educate anyone by shaming men or advertisers and really send an anti male anti sex message to their target market . Just saying. We the majority can see right through them.
26 Jul 12
10:49 am
* how dare they have sexual thoughts
26 Jul 12
11:03 am
Also how will they ever ban sexual thoughts between men and women and just because you only look at a woman or man because of their body etc , does it alwayshave to be made out to be so degrading and harmful. Most people are discreet when they are enjoying a view. When you consent to running out on a field in skimpy outfits and are aware that you will definitely be ogled by the opposite sex it is no- ones business. ( unless you get physically abused etc) as that is never acceptable. Just because some LFL players have been treated unfairly – big deal !! Every industry has ex employees like that.
26 Jul 12
11:14 am
I’m on a roll today … And the good ol comeback from the wowsers of ” how would you like it if your daughter/sisters were the ones playing in LFL? Hello , these players are someone’s daughters and sisters and friends and they consent to this. It’s not up to the BACWA to decide what people choose to do.
26 Jul 12
11:35 am
Just saw the ad and didn’t seen any lingerie? What a let down?
27 Jul 12
7:52 am
Lazy mans’s viewing. Don’t waste time watching sport then porn. Watch sport and porn combined. Much more efficient use of time.
The proof of whether this league works will be in 20 years time. We’ll see if these women are revered, like old male footy players, as heros who can go onto coach or develop careers. Or whether they get treated with the same respect as ex strippers and pole dancers. I know what my money’s on.
27 Jul 12
11:01 am
This LFL is not recognized as sport it is entertainment so therefore no I doubt these
players will become coaches etc.. Point is that they are willing participants and possibly advancing their modeling/dancing careers they also have going. The way people carry on you’d think they had 11 year old girls running around in lingerie. Call it what you want it should die it’s own death from lack of interest rather than a small group of people wanting it banned altogether because of their own religious or feminist theories. Are we in Australia?