Morning Update: Cannabis in a bottle, the TVC; things PRs hate about journos; BBC war plans left wives in the cold
https://youtu.be/8KxMkOn2kqI
Creativity Online: This Ridiculously Funny Music Video Is a Commercial for a Cannabis Tonic
Washington-based Mirth Provisions has debuted what it’s billing to be the first-ever commercial for a marijuana edible, a hilarious music video showing partiers under the influence of the various varieties of the company’s “Legal” brand tonics.
The four tonics — Lemon Ginger (Indica), Pomegranate (Sativa), Rainier Cherry (Hybrid) and Cranberry (CBD), are strain-specific, with formulations that pair the marijuanas’ particular cannabinoids with fruit terpenes to enhance effect of the cannabis in each variety of the drink.
Last week we asked journalists to share their biggest pet peeves about PR pros. Thanks to the ease of modern communication, reporters feel besieged by pitches, many of them ill-researched. But what if — just consider — reporters can be just as bad? To find out, in the spirit of equal time and Fridays in July, we asked PR pros what most drives them nuts about working with reporters. Here’s what they had to say…
Telegraph: BBC staff offered chance to survive nuclear holocaust – but wives left at home
BC employees were offered the chance to survive a nuclear holocaust by broadcasting from an underground bunker, but they could not tell their wives, newly released files reveal.
The broadcaster secretly drew up plans during the Cold War for how it would run a Wartime Broadcasting System in the event of a major disaster.
Ad Age: Maurice Levy’s Successor to be Named by February 2017
Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Maurice Lévy confirmed that his successor will be announced some time between December 2016 and February 2017, ahead of the French communications group’s annual general meeting, which will take place in Paris in May.
Speaking to analysts at Publicis Groupe’s 2016 first half results presentation, Mr. Lévy added, “for the time being we are working only on internal candidates.”
Ad Age: What the Hell Is a Chief Product Officer Anyway?
“Advertising is a product, not a service.” The first time I saw that line, it stopped me in my tracks. It was the opposite of much of what I’d been told, but it conveyed a pride and focus I admired.
It points you in the direction of building something really useful rather than simply trying to keep people happy. And now, it feels right for an increasingly accountable environment where clients need what they buy from agencies to work well, work quickly, and provide great value for money. Even if it was written quite some time ago, it’s a modern mantra.
Vulture: When Did the Media Turn Against Taylor Swift?
Remember when Taylor Swift wasn’t a villain?
It’s hard to imagine now, after a week that saw her go up against Kimye and seemingly confirm every bad feeling you may have had about her, but as recently as two years ago, a lot of smart, progressive people were on her side. You can still find hints of this vanished era if you stumble through old blog posts — we once lived in a world where it was generally accepted that Swift was a kind, genuine person.
Business Insider: Unilever’s CEO on why he bought Dollar Shave Club for a reported $1 billion
Unilever announced it is acquiring Dollar Shave Club for a reported $1 billion, around five times the subscription razor delivery service’s expected sales for 2016.
Speaking on his company’s second quarter earnings call on Thursday, Unilever CEO Paul Polman explained why he is so excited about the deal. In short, Unilever is buying into a lot more than just razors.
NEW YORK ― Politico acknowledged Sunday that it was a “mistake” for one of its top reporters to send the Democratic National Committee an advance copy of an article while emphasizing there were no substantive changes made to the piece prior to publication.
A May 2 article by Politico’s Ken Vogel and Isaac Arnsdorf ― “Clinton fundraising leaves little for state parties” ― has come under scrutiny since WikiLeaks published over 19,000 internal DNC emails on Friday.
Mumbrella Asia: Ed Cheong named ECD of Iris Singapore as agency aims to stretch creative ambitions
The promotion of Cheong, who joined the agency two years ago from DDB, comes on the back of well-recognised work for the likes of Lego, which won well at the Mumbrella Asia Awards, Samsung and Philips.
Adam Yeo and Sylvester Poh have also been elevated to creative group heads, and Pearlyn Ong to senior creative, reporting to regional creative head Grant Hunter.
