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Opinion | Features
Q&A with Adshel's Rob Atkinson
Online trading is the next big thing says Rob Atkinson in a piece that first appeared in Encore. Who is the most powerful person in Australian media and why?
Harold Mitchell because of his influence and the footprint he has left. He’s built a huge brand in Mitchells, offloaded it into Aegis, Aegis has obviously done extremely well to be then sold on to Dentsu. So if you think about it, he is very much a father figure of the industry.
Making it overseas
Is the best way of being successful in Australia not be here at all? In a feature that first appeared in Encore, Lee Zachariah speaks to Aussies making it big abroad.I always wanted to work in New York,” says Julian Cole. “I thought it was the number one place to work in advertising; a lot of the best campaigns were coming out of there. So I moved over and was lucky enough to have a couple of interviews in the first couple of weeks.”
Cole’s story is indicative of the somewhat contentious idea that the best way to be successful in Australia is to not be in Australia any more.
Got a book in you?
From journos to ad execs and PRs, these days everyone seems to have a book in them. But what does it take to get published and will you actually make any money? In a feature that first appeared in Encore, Brooke Hemphill finds out.Attention wannabe authors. Forget big fat advance cheques and living off royalties. The reality of having a book published today is another story altogether. There are only two reasons you should even consider sitting down at your computer to bash out a manuscript – passion or profile.
Savage counsel
In an article that first appeared in Encore, Chris Savage tackles your career and agency dilemmas in his weekly advice column.Hi Chris,
My clients seem to be demanding more and more from us. At the same time, it seems many of the younger people in our industry simply don’t have the client servicing skills my generation grew up with. How do we instill in our executives some of the good old-fashioned behaviours that would keep a client happy and loyal?
Fake it til' you make it... as an ad agency receptionist
From dressing the part to playing the gatekeeper, Leo Burnett Sydney’s Susie Henry tells us how to make it as the face of adland in a piece that first appeared in Encore.What does a receptionist in an ad agency actually do?
Well, there’s the frantic every-day, all-day stuff of deliveries, courier bookings, doing expenses for directors – always challenging – plus arranging all the travel. But one of my main jobs is counselling the account service people. I also keep up with all sports information to discuss with our sports-loving clients – because who wants to be bored while they’re waiting? And I know how they like their coffee. You need to know everyone – from accounting to HR. I’m also the go-to for all catering and sending flowers.
Whose views skew the news? Media chiefs ready to vote out Labor, while reporters lean left
Most journalists lean left-of-centre, says Folker Hanusch of the University of the Sunshine Coast, in a post first published on The Conversation.Most Australian journalists describe themselves as left-wing, yet amongst those who wield the real power in the country’s newsrooms, the Coalition holds a winning lead.
But while the media’s political leanings will no doubt be debated in the lead-up to September’s federal election, our study has also found other largely unscrutinised biases remain – particularly whose views disproportionately shape the news.
It's time for a new New Wave in the film world
Government funding bodies are lazy and decadent, says industry veteran Michael Thornhill but in a piece that first appeared in Encore, Ed Gibbs begs to differ.I vividly remember the time I first saw Animal Kingdom, David Michod’s breathtaking labour-of-love feature debut. The press screening was half empty, despite the film winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance just months earlier, in 2010. Yet its superb performances, stylistic flourishes and overall polish left me speechless. Could this really be a feature debut, an Australian one at that, I wondered, almost out loud? It seemed too good to be true.
Going cold turkey on an agency addiction
Life is sweet for freelance writer Max Kitchen, but in a feature that first appeared in Encore, he admits his struggle against returning to the agency fold.I’ve never taken heroin. But I suspect if I had, the temptation to try it again would not be too dissimilar to the lure of returning to agency life.
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.
Sportsbet challenges CommBank to cancan dance-off to settle copyright dispute
Sportsbet does the cancan
Sportsbet has returned fire in its copyright battle with Commonwealth Bank over the use of imagery and language in the bank’s ‘Can’ ad campaign, with a new offensive that challenges CommBank to a dance-off to settle the dispute.
A few weeks ago, Sportsbet launched an ambush ad that parodied CommBank’s Can campaign. CommBank responded by leaning on YouTube and Facebook to take down the ad on copyright grounds.
The ad is still viewable on Sportsbet’s homepage.
Now the online bookmaker has challenged CommBank to a cancan dance off. If CommBank were to win, Sportsbet says it will agree to delete the parody ad, post the original ‘Ode to Can’ ad on its homepage for 24 hours and donate $50,000 to a charity of the Commonwealth Bank’s choice.
Sportsbet has set up an email address, yeswecan@sportsbet.com.au, in readiness of CommBank’s response to the challenge.
The bookmaker has also placed full-page ads in several daily newspapers, and has organised for the Sportsbet cancan dancers to perform in front of CommBank at 385 Bourke St in Melbourne, at 10am Wednesday 12 September.
Sportsbet spokesman Shaun Anderson said: “We had a great response to our spoof ad and we think people should be able to see it online and have a laugh. A cancan dance off is a pretty fun way to settle our disagreement, but whether the Commonwealth Bank CAN step up to the challenge remains to be seen.”
However, CommBank has declined the invitation.
The bank offered the following response, focusing on its charity work and the importance of intellectual property:
When it comes to giving to our communities, we don’t gamble.
Like all major brands in Australia, we take any infringement or attempt to de-value our intellectual property rights seriously and will act to protect these as appropriate. As such, we advised the Advertising Standards Bureau of certain breaches of the AANA code of ethics regarding the recent Sportsbet ad and related activity on Facebook and YouTube. As a result of the complaints received the offending material was removed, and Sportsbet undertook not to broadcast the ad again.
Given our discussions with the Advertising Standards Bureau on this matter, it would be inappropriate for us to respond to Sportsbet’s advertisement today.
Commonwealth Bank is committed to make a positive difference around Australia in the communities in which we operate by investing in local initiatives and provides substantial support to many organisations. During our recent Centenary Celebrations, the Group committed an extra $100 million to community initiatives over the next 10 years. A recent example of our support was the announcement of the recipients of our 2012 Community Grants program. 244 grants have been awarded to organisations across the country that support the health and wellbeing of children, with an overall total of $2 million awarded by the Group.
Should Sportsbet wish to match our substantial contributions to Australian communities we would encourage them to do so while respecting the intellectual property of others.
In response to CommBank’s statement, Sportsbet marketing director Barni Evans told Mumbrella: “That seems different to the image of themselves they portray in their advertising.”
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Comments
12 Sep 12
12:32 pm
ah man that is awesome. I take my hat of to Sportsbet.
12 Sep 12
12:45 pm
CBA – Stop being so bloody boring and say something interesting for once
12 Sep 12
12:45 pm
well played Sportsbet, well played indeed.
12 Sep 12
12:51 pm
Who do people hate more than banks? That’s right, online gaming companies. Absolute bottom feeders.
12 Sep 12
1:11 pm
Today I will be opening a Sportsbet account and moving my money out of Comm bank. Advertising helps me decide.
12 Sep 12
1:24 pm
I agree Raj. Also when did ‘gambling’ become ‘gaming’ – nifty little wordplay to make it more acceptable.
12 Sep 12
1:25 pm
You can’t do that Sportsbet!
12 Sep 12
1:33 pm
Well played, CommBank. Ball over the fence with a perfectly straight bat.
12 Sep 12
1:37 pm
I just don’t get this.why are they challenging a bank?
If they were taking on the tab or Tom waterhouse I would understand.full pages in the dailies cost a lot.
What’s the expected roi?truly weird.
12 Sep 12
1:38 pm
Haha I love you SportsBet, and that’s coming from a CommBank customer who DOESN’T gamble. Clappity clap.
12 Sep 12
1:41 pm
Love the parody ad immensely but I think the CBA is a pretty soft target with the dance off idea. An Australian bank will never engage with a gambling company on something like this. Great way to generate some more PR by making the bank look, well look like a bank.
12 Sep 12
1:45 pm
I like how CBA doesn’t pass up the chance to brag about their donations. It’s like meeting someone at a party who kept loudly proclaiming “I gave $10 to World Vision, I am a wonderful person!” over and over. And then asked if you could help spread the news.
12 Sep 12
1:48 pm
Awesome.
12 Sep 12
1:49 pm
uummm gambling with money… isnt that what the banks do, but on an international scale?
12 Sep 12
1:51 pm
Who made the Commonwealth Bank god? Good on you Sportsbet for being another one to take on these, thieving, lying, unscrupulous bankers!
http://saveoursando.com/
12 Sep 12
2:25 pm
gaming brands and banks, both rotten
12 Sep 12
2:27 pm
w00t go sportsbet!
commbank CAN STFU. Sick of seeing their ‘can’ ads all over the internet. I swear I see the same boring ad at least 20 times a day. Heard of frequency capping?!?!?! The more I see your pre-rolls and display ads the more I hate your bank and your marketing team. Do they not realise how many people they’re pissing off by playing the same bloody ad over and over again?!
12 Sep 12
2:34 pm
Yeah. “Sorry love I didn’t gamble away this week’s housekeeping money I ‘gamed’ it away.” That’ll make a lot of wives and hungry kids feel a whole lot better.
12 Sep 12
2:34 pm
I actually think Sportsbet’s spoof ads were better than the original Toni Collette CBA ads. I am sad that CBA decided against the CANCAN – especially when they are trying to be the leaders in innovative ways to reach the youth market. Today, they lost that appeal by being a plain old boring conservative bank, yet again…
12 Sep 12
2:41 pm
CBA should reply with a parody ad displaying how deceitful and moneyhungry Sportsbet is. At least CBA directors dont go to sleep with the communities blood on their hands.
12 Sep 12
2:49 pm
when did gambling suddenly become ‘gaming’?
whatever you call it the impact on those who can least afford it is tragic.
12 Sep 12
2:50 pm
@Doug – precisely.
I’m also unclear on what aspect of copyright law they are relying on. The word “can’t” can’t be copyrighted, the typeface is mundane and they aren’t passing themself off as a bank.
I’m similarly baffled about what the ASB are supposed to do.
CBA – get better spin-doctors.
12 Sep 12
3:02 pm
The Sportsbet ad finishes with a seemingly polite “See you next Tuesday?”. It’s worth looking up the hidden meaning
12 Sep 12
5:38 pm
Hats off to Sportsbet for taking it up to the big guys and being true to brand with a fair go wager! CBA response predictable and boring.
12 Sep 12
7:25 pm
Whilst we are debating this humorous stoush how about some real truths about Sportsbet and what you CAN and what you CAN’T?
You CAN bet with them so long as you lose.
You CAN’T bet more than peanuts if they think you CAN beat them.
You CAN’T make them abide by the standard requirement to accept a bet on a horse to win at least $1,000.
Hundreds of punters all around Australia CAN’T see any humour Sportsbet’s behaviour.
13 Sep 12
12:58 am
CBA taking the high ground on a gaming company – makes you laugh.
CBA 100% owns Commsec the market leader in online trading which they earned over 350m in revenue last year from customers gambling on share prices.
13 Sep 12
10:35 am
There’s a significant difference between gaming and gambling. Gambling is based on chance, gaming is based on skill (and I’m not talking in a ‘video game’ sense). For Sportsbet to establish themselves as people who see gambling as gaming is somewhat false.
It’s basic marketing – gaming = fun, skill-based, individual has control. Gambling = Based on chance, no control for the individual.
CBA should shoot back with an ad with a guy telling his wife he’s invested their life-savings into Sportsbet.
Tag line – “Just because you Can, doesn’t mean you should.”
13 Sep 12
5:17 pm
This is how you respond:
http://technoblegy.blogspot.co.....-duel.html
And people might even like you for it. Even if you’re a bank.
14 Sep 12
12:44 pm
On their ‘copyright infringement’ issue, I think an important point needs to be made.
British Telecom, back in about 99, did the exact same campaign via M&C Saatchi London. Read all about it here:
http://sullieseverything.wordp.....-campaign/
Now if the Commonwealth Bank has any degree of integrity, it should pull it’s whole can/can’t positioning immediately. Otherwise, they’re guilty on the one hand of stating how important intellectual property is, while on the other hand, being the guilty party by stealing their entire campaign from another company. And not a small company at that.
Rest in pieces CBA.