DR MUMBO: Rolex saves lives – fact; Martha Stewart is late for Christmas; someone’s told Martin Sorrell about digital; Americans can’t take Aussie ad Sheilas
Is there nothing that PR’s can’t claim? Apparently Rolex saved film star Owen Wilson’s life after his suicide attempt. According to a release from Melrose Jewellers in the US:
“Later, he was seen riding his mountain bike in Santa Monica with the Rolex Submariner on his wrist. Obviously, the quality of a Rolex watch helped Owen realize and appreciate the quality of his own life. Whatever the hawks of the media choose to write, it is clear that Rolex played a major role in Owen Wilson’s recovery. Wearing a Rolex Submariner helped Owen Wilson realize his life was valuable and worth living. Once again, the precision and quality of a Rolex proves to be a lifesaver in more ways than one.”
Good news! The Christmas edition of Marth Stewart magazine is in the shops now. Better get in early. Only eleven and a half months til it’s relevant.
More good news! Martin Sorrell has heard about digital and wants his WPP stormtroopers to learn all about Facebook. Media Bistro’s Agency Spy suggests he may be catching on a tad late:
“Fucking christ. You fucking joker. Embrace digital! You should be ashamed! Come on. For how long has there been internal pressure at WPP do just that? How many staffers have left to join digital shops or head into the tech sector because you guys have been asleep at the wheel? Buying up digital agencies isn’t going to save you.”
Australia’s most complained about ads of 2008 list has made it over the Pacific, and triggered a debate on the web site of Advertising Age. One Californian poster recounts the experience of working with an Aussie:
“We had an Aussie female executive at my company and she had to be coached tone down her language. It was seen as normal in Australia — but bordering on harrassing, crude and dangerous in the US.”
The problem with contextual ads is that they can be hugely inappropriate on news sites, as news.com discovered yesterday with the news of a real estate tycoon commiting suicide. Not exactly the sort of story you want advertising telling readers not to let shaky markets get to you (spotter: Bannerblog).
Blimey. You don’t get headlines like this in Australia…
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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Just a quick one Tim – ’twas Media Bistro not Digital Spy with the Sorrell take:
http://www.mediabistro.com/age.....105046.asp
Hi Andrew,
Ta for that… never post while insomniac. It’s now corrected.
Cheers,
Tim