Advertising & PR

Human after all: how old school journalism is fighting back against AI slop

Journalists are prioritising depth over velocity, and PRs must adapt by focusing on high-quality research, human connection, and bespoke pitches to stand out from AI-generated content and low-quality online copy.

Editor's noteThe PR industry's reliance on AI-generated pitches is a liability, not a solution. Watch whether the shift towards subscription models and creator-led platforms leads to a renewed focus on high-quality research and human connection, rather than relying on AI to churn out generic content.

How to turn AI productivity gains into marketing ROI

Marketing teams can work faster with AI, but productivity gains don't necessarily translate to better business results. Workflows often remain unchanged, with AI-generated content facing delays in the review and approval process.

Quietly feeling unimpactful: How to kill common AI darlings in your writing

Words like 'quiet' and 'quietly' are often used in AI-generated writing, but can be imprecise and subjective, leading to vague messaging. They can be hard to avoid, but cutting them can improve specificity and clarity in communication. This can be achieved by restructuring and asking more questions.

The Missing Half: Have We Already Lost the Plot on AI Measurement?

Researchers are examining the limitations of current methods for evaluating AI's performance, suggesting a potential gap in understanding the technology's capabilities and limitations may have already been overlooked or underestimated.

What to do before buying a martech platform with AI context

Martech vendors offer context to help AI agents understand marketing rules and customer information, but this context is often already owned by marketing teams. Before investing in an AI platform, it's essential to clarify guidelines and approval processes.

Editor's noteBuying an AI martech platform is a bet on data quality, not a fix for poor processes. The real problem is that teams are still assigning tasks without clear guidelines, not that the AI doesn't know the rules. Watch whether the platform's implementation includes training on process documentation as well as data integration.

Balancing the right to life with free speech

A court has refused an injunction to stop media outlets publishing allegations against an individual, citing freedom of expression over the risk of suicide. The claimant's anonymity was maintained in the judgment. The court's decision was based on established legal principles and Convention rights.

Salesforce buying AI customer support company Cresta

Salesforce has agreed to acquire Cresta, a company that provides AI-powered customer support. The acquisition will integrate Cresta's technology with Salesforce's existing customer history and systems, enhancing customer interactions and support.

AI traffic drives 83% more traffic per visit

Adobe research shows AI-aided traffic generates significantly higher revenue and conversion rates for retailers, with a notable improvement in performance over the past year, particularly in terms of conversion rates.

Editor's noteAI traffic being 83% more valuable per visit is a symptom of a bigger problem: retailers' content is still not AI-readable. Watch the changes in Citation Readability Score as retailers adjust their content to match the AI-driven traffic, and whether that leads to sustained revenue growth.

If you don’t define your weakness, AI will

B2B companies are advised to clearly define their product's limitations to avoid AI-generated marketing that may misrepresent their offerings, as buyers increasingly use AI to find vendors and test their weaknesses.

AI can find patterns, but marketers must figure out what they mean

Marketers can now use AI to uncover hidden patterns in customer data, but turning these discoveries into effective marketing decisions requires human judgment, understanding, and testing to evaluate their relevance and impact.

Google search loses its free pass with buyers

Google search is no longer considered a low-risk advertising option, due to changes in its results page and automated buying tools affecting ad click-through rates and costs. Media buyers are scrutinizing Google's performance, questioning the value of increased ad spend. Advertisers are seeking answers to their concerns.

Editor's noteGoogle's free pass as a low-risk ad option is over. The culprit is AI-driven answers on the results page, which are cannibalizing ad click-through rates and making automated buying tools overpay for remaining slots. Watch the Q4 ad spend numbers to see if advertisers can justify the cost.

Media Buying Briefing: Overheard at Media Buying Summit: How AI is helping and hurting client relations and office work

Attendees at the Media Buying Summit discussed AI's effects on client relationships and office work, with agencies facing challenges in keeping up with the rapid adoption of AI tools and technology.

Woolworths' Christmas Campaign Celebrates "Most Tastiest Time of the Year"

Woolworths' Christmas campaign, created by Droga5 ANZ, features a unique Christmas carol inspired by customer suggestions. The campaign celebrates the festive season with a one-of-a-kind song. It is the agency's first work for the business.

Most marketers say AI works. Few can prove it.

A study by Metric Sherpa found that 92% of organisations with customer-facing AI report it meets expectations, but only 27% can prove this due to inadequate baseline metrics and tracking. Most teams lack clear success metrics and baseline data.

Amid growing tension over workplace AI, agencies have a window to reimagine staffing

Marketing agencies have largely failed to adapt team structures and job descriptions to the changing role of AI in media buying and marketing, with fluency in AI tools now a required skill.

Editor's noteAgencies' failure to adapt team structures to AI is a symptom of a deeper issue: the mismatch between job descriptions and the changing nature of work. Watch the career paths of staff who are fluent in AI tools, not just their job titles, to see if agencies are truly reimagining staffing.

The risks of optimizing SEO for AI over users

Marketers are optimising for AI search systems rather than users, repeating a historical SEO mistake. Research shows human-authored content outperforms AI-generated content in search rankings, highlighting the importance of human expertise in SEO.

Editor's noteMarketers' obsession with AI search visibility is a repeat of SEO's past mistakes. The real value lies in serving users, not just search systems. Watch whether Google's emphasis on user-centric content leads to a shift away from AI-optimization hacks and towards human-first SEO strategies.

6 mistakes to avoid with AI-powered performance marketing

Marketers must set clear business objectives for AI-powered performance marketing campaigns to avoid optimising for the wrong metrics and undermining growth. AI can efficiently optimise towards specific inputs, but the metric's value to the business must be considered. This distinction is crucial for achieving profitable, incremental growth.

Retailers are still figuring out how to tie AI goals to executive compensation

Ralph Lauren has introduced AI metrics as a factor in adjusting executive payouts, a move reflecting changing industry priorities. Retailers are still grappling with how to link AI goals to executive compensation. The shift highlights the ongoing challenge for retailers.

The Scoop: Marissa Mayer wanted to tout her new AI product. She painted a picture many found dystopian.

Marissa Mayer's new AI product, Dazzle, is a personal assistant that analyses a user's camera roll to provide insights. However, Mayer's use of Dazzle to describe her daughter and choose a party theme has been met with criticism and concern about the role of AI in parenting.

Editor's noteMarissa Mayer's AI product is a showcase for the tech industry's problem with paternalism, not innovation. The real issue is not Dazzle's features, but Mayer's willingness to outsource parenting to a machine. Watch whether the tech industry's response to criticism is to tweak the product or question the values it reflects.

What data and AI hide about your customers

Malinda Sandman, Typeform's global VP of Marketing, discusses the impact of AI on marketing, including the shift to a 'clickless' environment and the 'garbage in, garbage out' trap of AI tools.

Apple’s Safari crackdown pushes ad tech toward server-side solutions, but doubts remain

Apple's Safari restrictions have prompted publishers to shift advertising infrastructure to server-side solutions, with some adopting ID5's integrations and others supporting IAB Tech Lab's Trusted Server Framework, amid ongoing industry debate.

Braze gives Salesforce more speed — and more overlap

Salesforce's acquisition of Braze adds real-time execution capabilities, shifting focus from data possession to timely customer response. The deal marks a shift towards integrated, embedded Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) in the martech industry.

Editor's noteSalesforce's acquisition of Braze is a bet on real-time execution, not data possession. The deal's value lies in responding to customer intent in the moment, not in mastering customer data. Watch the adoption of embedded CDPs across the martech industry, as the shift away from composable CDPs becomes clear.

In Graphic Detail: What Apple’s identity block means for the ad money

Apple has blocked network access to companies that stitch together data to identify individuals across devices and sites, affecting ad tech companies including The Trade Desk and LiveRamp, and causing significant financial losses.

Anthropic’s ad bill is soaring, according to IPO filing

Anthropic's ad spend rose from $33m in 2024 to $147m in 2025, with a further $273m increase in the first six months of 2026, making up a small portion of its overall costs.

CMO AI Transformation Summit Digital Resource Package

Bluefish AI's Agentic Marketing Platform and Scrunch's Agent Experience Platform are presented as solutions for marketing leaders to navigate the AI-driven internet, including ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, to improve brand performance.

AI and the Changing Consumer Journey

Research by MMA and Knotch shows customers are increasingly using AI to research and decide on purchases before reaching a brand's website, with most of this activity going unrecorded in analytics and website data.

Why winning AI search isn’t enough to win B2B buyers

Winning AI search visibility does not guarantee B2B sales success. B2B buyers form opinions before sales contact, with 70% of the buying process completed independently, and websites must facilitate understanding, trust, and action within 78 seconds.

Editor's noteWinning AI search isn't a silver bullet for B2B sales. What matters is how easily buyers can navigate and trust your website, not just how visible it is in search results. Watch the average session duration, because if it stays at 78 seconds, it's a sign that your website is still a barrier to conversion.

Nick Angus: When it Comes to VFX, Time Decides When You're Finished

Nick Angus, a 3D supervisor, discusses the fundamentals of visual effects and his creative process in a series on LBB's The VFX Factor. He shares insights into crafting well-made visual effects. His work is featured in the series.

The Scoop: Etsy bans some types of AI content, says it’s become ‘top-three barrier’ to customers

Etsy has introduced new rules to prevent AI-generated content, requiring sellers to show human involvement in listings and prohibiting AI-made patterns and recipes to maintain trust and authenticity on the platform.

Editor's noteEtsy's AI ban is a hedge against commodification, not a genuine concern about authenticity. The real barrier to customers is the flood of identical, AI-made items that erode the value of human craftsmanship. Watch whether the platform's trust in human sellers translates to a reduction in AI-generated listings.

AI boosts discovery but reviews still seal the deal, new research shows

A survey by Feedvisor found that 16% of shoppers begin their product search on ChatGPT, but only 9% complete a purchase there. AI recommendations influence 5% of purchases, with most shoppers verifying prices on other platforms.

ChatGPT sends less than 1% of Google’s traffic

ChatGPT accounted for 0.62% of Google's organic search traffic, with referrals from other LLMs increasing this to 0.73%. Google still drives significantly more traffic, but ChatGPT visitors have a higher conversion rate than Google organic visitors.

Creator content shapes AI product recommendations

AI product recommendations are informed by creator content, including product reviews and firsthand experiences, which provide timely and relevant information to consumers. This content helps shape what products are recommended, influencing consumer confidence and purchase decisions. Marketers value trusted creator content for its importance in product discovery.

Target’s holiday push stresses affordability, exclusives and an AI assistant

Target is launching a holiday season campaign with over 8,000 new gifts, including many under $5, and a digital tool to help shoppers find affordable items and build wishlists. The retailer is also introducing an AI-powered assistant to aid in gift-finding. The campaign focuses on affordability and exclusives.

Editor's noteTarget's holiday push is a hedge against price sensitivity, not a bet on exclusives. The focus on under-$5 items and an AI assistant suggests the retailer is prioritizing affordability over unique offerings. Watch whether the AI's recommendations skew towards cheaper options, as that would confirm Target's strategy is driven by price, not prestige.

Curiosity in Action: My Time at Hoffman

A recent intern at Hoffman reflects on their experience, highlighting the value of curiosity and learning in PR, and the supportive environment at the agency, where they gained new skills and confidence.

Editor's noteCuriosity in Action: My Time at Hoffman is a recruitment brochure, not a genuine reflection on agency life. Watch whether the agency's training programs are accredited and whether the interns are paid a living wage, because that would settle whether the 'learning' is genuine or just a perk for cheap labor.

Chick-fil-A draws an AI line in the sand. Have you drawn yours?

Chick-fil-A's CEO Andrew Cathy stated the company will not use AI for voice ordering in drive-thru lanes, prioritising human interaction. This decision highlights the importance of defining where AI and human interaction will be used in organisations.

Indie agencies want The Trade Desk and Amazon DSP to acknowledge their buying power with negotiating leverage

Indie agencies are seeking negotiating power with The Trade Desk and Amazon DSP, citing high fees and limited flexibility to switch to direct deals, despite reaching spend thresholds and clearing monthly spend bars.

AI search is turning prompts into customer research

Users can now ask complex, specific questions to search engines, allowing brands to gain a deeper understanding of customers' needs and provide more tailored responses to individual circumstances, rather than generic answers.

Inside the post-Google playbook: Subscriptions, AI and team reorgs

Publishers are adapting their business models in response to Google's changing role, with some adopting subscription-based services and AI-driven content, and restructuring their teams to focus on direct engagement with audiences.

Editor's notePublishers' frantic rebranding as subscription services and AI-driven content is a hedge against Google's diminishing traffic, not a pivot to a new era of media. Watch the revenue growth of these new initiatives, not their press releases, because that's where the real test of their viability lies.

Forbes looks to Google AI pilot for insights as publishers seek value beyond the click

Forbes has joined Google's paid News AI pilot to test new content features and gain data on its content's performance across Google's platform. The partnership involves Google using 'enhanced' content to develop AI features, such as article overviews and audio briefings. Publishers receive citation data and insights.

Catch message drift before AI changes your meaning

A communications team's workshop revealed four key questions to consider when deciding whether to use AI: can it be fixed, whose voice is it, is it original, and does it build a skill.

AI and automation are driving 2027 comms budgets

Communications budgets are expected to remain flat in 2027, but investment in AI and automation is driving growth in some areas, with leaders seeking proof of return on investment and business outcomes.

AI and automation are driving 2027 comms budgets

Communications budgets are expected to remain flat in 2027, but companies are investing in AI and automation, with a third of leaders anticipating a modest budget increase, driven by these technologies.

Editor's noteFlat budgets belie a growth in targeted bets on AI and automation, but communicators are struggling to prove ROI. Watch whether the 22% who can demonstrate a documented improvement scale up their success, and whether the rest follow suit or get left behind.

The Scoop: Tons of AI-generated deepfakes are flooding social media. No one really seems to care.

Instagram is struggling to handle AI-generated deepfakes, with some accounts receiving thousands of likes despite being flagged as fake. Brands are choosing not to respond to minor incidents, prioritizing long-term reputation over short-term damage.

Adding AI or headcount won’t fix a marketing skills gap

A marketing skills gap can't be fixed by simply adding people or AI, as it's a problem of either a lack of skills, a lack of people, or both, requiring different solutions.

Editor's noteA marketing skills gap is a symptom of a deeper issue: a mismatch between the work's complexity and the team's training. Watch whether the organisation invests in retraining existing staff or hiring new talent with the right expertise, because that decision will reveal whether it's prioritising efficiency or effectiveness.

Reach CEO touts Google AI deal as a template, steps up pressure on OpenAI over scraping

Reach's CEO Piers North has signed a two-year deal with Google, allowing paid access to news content for AI features. He has also sent a cease-and-desist letter to OpenAI over content scraping, citing the Google deal as a template for future partnerships.

‘Don’t outsource your judgment’: Comms leaders on staying sharp in the AI era

Comms leaders stress the importance of human judgment in AI era, urging professionals to use tools but not outsource their unique perspective, and to push for strategic partnerships with business leaders.

Editor's noteComms leaders' warnings about AI outsourcing their judgment boil down to a simple trade-off: speed vs. nuance. Watch whether business leaders start to value the strategic input and critical thinking that communicators bring, rather than just treating them as order-takers.

In B2B, influencer marketing takes on a different look

B2B influencer marketing differs from B2C due to longer sales cycles and niche audiences, with B2B firms often struggling to get started, and requiring a more long-term partnership approach rather than direct-response plays.

Stories of ‘badass do-gooders’ are the secret weapon of UNICEF USA CMO and Top Women in Marketing Hall of Famer

UNICEF USA's CMO Shelley Diamond focuses on 'badass do-gooders' who deliver aid to children, aiming to update the iconic brand's image and bridge the gap between recognition and actual work.

Trust in ‘my employer’ is falling, according to Edelman report

Global trust in employers has fallen to 74%, down from 79% in August 2024, according to the Edelman Trust at Work report. This decline highlights the importance of people-centred change and internal communication in building trust during organisational transformation.

Publishers and buyers are rethinking how to create connections that drive performance in the AI era

Publishers and buyers are rethinking how to create effective connections in the AI era, seeking stronger ties to drive performance and maximize revenue, with a focus on transparency and direct supply paths.

Editor's noteDirect supply paths are a hedge, not a guarantee. The industry's shift towards transparency and collaboration is driven by AI's ability to optimize, not by a desire for stronger connections. Watch whether the increased focus on performance metrics leads to a trade-off in creative freedom.

Your AI visibility score may be hiding a problem

A single AI visibility score can hide two different problems: a brand's mention in search results and its citation as a source, with some brands appearing in one but not the other, according to a report by Semrush.

Google changed its content guidance. Don’t expect a reset.

Google has revised its content guidelines, placing greater emphasis on manual fact-checking and review of AI-generated content, and reiterating its stance against mass-produced, low-value content. This is not a new message, but rather a continuation of long-standing rules. Marketers are still waiting for a clear answer on how to regain lost organic traffic.

Publicis is selling directly to AI-anxious CEOs as it steps away from traditional pitches

Publicis Groupe is now pitching directly to CEOs, who are increasingly involved in the agency's work, due to their concerns about staying ahead of technological advancements and changing consumer behaviour.

Editor's notePublicis's direct pitches to CEOs are a symptom of the agency's reliance on client anxiety about AI, rather than a genuine solution to their needs. Watch the quality of work delivered, not the number of high-profile wins, because that's where the real value of these pitches will be revealed.

Media buys and mega partnerships: How the creator economy is splitting in two

The creator economy is splitting into two distinct groups, with large creators taking on agency roles and smaller creators being treated as media buys by brands, a trend driven by traditional marketing strategies.

New York Times, Observer, Economist, ITV News among 40 new members to join SPUR Coalition

The SPUR Coalition has expanded to over 40 new members, including major news outlets, to set rules for AI companies using publisher IP without permission and develop paid licensing agreements.

How MOps teams are restructuring for autonomous AI agents

Marketing organisations are reorganising their operations teams to work with AI agents, creating new roles such as system orchestrators and AI governance managers to oversee autonomous workflows and prevent errors.

Ad industry tallies early losses from Apple’s Safari tracking block

Apple's latest software update has blocked some major companies from tracking users for targeted ads, echoing previous disruptions in 2017 and 2021, which cost the industry billions. The move has left ad executives on edge, anticipating significant losses. The exact cost is yet to be tallied.

‘An important capability for us’: PepsiCo CEO on Publicis switch

PepsiCo's CEO Ramon Laguarta described the company's partnership with Publicis Groupe as 'an important capability' allowing for more data-driven investment, following the switch from Omnicom after three decades. The move is estimated to involve $1.9 billion in annual media spending. Publicis won the account without a formal review.

Editor's notePepsiCo's partnership with Publicis is a strategic bet on data-driven marketing. The move's value lies in its potential to unlock granular insights, not just a new agency. Watch whether Publicis can deliver on Laguarta's promise of more precise investment, and whether the partnership's benefits outweigh the $1.9 billion annual media spend.

Uber CMO on Aus Grand Effie Win: “Irrational, Fame-Driving” Creativity Pays Off

Uber's CMO Lucinda Barlow credits their Grand Effie win to 'irrational, fame-driving' creativity, a strategy Special CSO Celia Garforth describes as a 'rare act of strategic bravery' in the tech industry.

Why HIPAA compliance in martech goes beyond BAAs

HIPAA compliance in martech involves more than just business associate agreements, as it depends on the type of entity and the handling of protected health information, with other regulations also applying.

Editor's noteHIPAA compliance in martech is a nuanced issue, not just a contract to sign. The real risk lies in the handling of identifiable health data, not just who signs the BAA. Watch whether vendors can explain how they'll handle IP addresses and hashed emails, as that's where the compliance risk truly lies.

ITV’s generative AI ads feature attracts 16 new-to-TV advertisers in debut year

ITV's GenAI Ads Manager has attracted 16 new-to-TV SMEs in its first year, using AI-generated imagery for TV ad campaigns on ITVX, a platform with granular audience targeting options. The tool uses AI to reduce production costs and time. SMEs can upload brand assets to create ad spots within seconds.

Apple’s Safari ad tech blocklist sends publishers back to IAB Tech Lab’s Trusted Server

Apple's Safari update blocks ad tech companies, forcing publishers to consider IAB Tech Lab's Trusted Server to avoid revenue losses and maintain ad targeting capabilities. This move affects major players and has broader implications for the ad tech industry. Publishers are re-evaluating their ad infrastructure as a result.

OpenAI would like to remind marketers that its ads are for the good of humanity

OpenAI's VP Samantha Jacobson explained that ads on ChatGPT are necessary to make the technology accessible to everyone, with revenue generated from ads covering the costs for those who cannot pay.

Editor's noteOpenAI's ad-funded model is a classic trade-off between accessibility and personal data. Watch whether the company's claims of prioritizing consumer trust hold up as it scales its advertising business, particularly in the face of growing scrutiny over data collection and usage.

‘There’s nothing wrong with being a heritage brand’: How Revlon is updating its image by looking to the past

Revlon, an 87-year-old beauty brand, aimed to reconnect with both new and existing customers by revisiting its heritage and updating its image to appeal to a modern audience, according to its president of North America, Dana Medema.

Upfronts 2026: Amazon, Disney, Mail Metro Media, Netflix kick off season of pomp and circumstance

Major media firms, including Amazon, Disney, Netflix and Mail Metro Media, held events to present plans to advertisers. These presentations showcased upcoming content and new advertising technologies. The events focused on securing long-term commercial investment for the coming year.

The Scoop: An OpenAI spokesperson’s attempt to control the interview became the story

During an interview with Sam Altman, an OpenAI publicist intervened to shorten the discussion, specifically attempting to halt questions regarding AI’s impact on suicide. The intervention generated concern about avoiding a sensitive topic and ultimately became a focal point of the narrative.

Editor's noteA publicist's attempt to steer an interview away from AI's impact on suicide is the real story here. The intervention reveals a concern about discussing sensitive topics, and the consequences of prioritizing PR over substance. Watch whether OpenAI's handling of this issue affects its reputation in the long term.

Moloco Becomes First Ad Tech Company to Achieve IAB Europe Retail Media Certification, Marking Major Expansion of the Programme

Moloco attained IAB Europe’s Retail Media Certification, the initial Ad Tech firm to do so. The certification, announced at the Retail Media Impact Summit, validates Moloco’s measurement standards. This expansion increases consistency across the retail media supply chain.

Is TikTok the new Google?

Individuals are increasingly using TikTok for discovery, mirroring traditional search engine behaviour. Users seek video content and community feedback regarding products and experiences, rather than relying solely on written search results. This shift favours visual and interactive information access.

Editor's noteTikTok's rise as a discovery platform is a symptom of search fatigue, not a revolution in search. The convenience of video recommendations and community feedback is a trade-off for the precision of traditional search engines like Google. Watch whether TikTok's algorithm can balance relevance with the noise of user-generated content.

Treasure AI takes on two martech headaches at once

Treasure AI launched Personalization Studio, a tool for real-time website personalization, utilising unified customer data. The platform integrates with the Agentic Experience Platform and addresses the complexity of standalone personalization tools. The company also unveiled a new pricing model linked to performance metrics.

OpenAI ads visuals to ChatGPT ad

OpenAI is introducing visual advertisements within ChatGPT, testing this format initially in the U.S. TrafficGuard’s research revealed a significant proportion of ChatGPT ad clicks originate from bots, with rates up to 34%.

Irish Presidency Breakfast on Protecting Children Online hosted by MEP Nina Carberry

European Parliament hosts an event with EACA, CAN, and 5Rights Foundation to discuss safeguarding children online, emphasizing Ireland's role during its EU Council Presidency, and exploring industry's part in creating a secure digital space for youth.

TikTok’s ad network bet: More reach, more budget

TikTok has introduced its global ad network, allowing advertisers to extend campaigns beyond its platform to a vast array of premium apps, aiming to capture a larger portion of advertising budgets by leveraging its audience data for broader reach.

Editor's noteTikTok's ad network is a bid to corner more ad budgets, but it's a trade-off: advertisers get broader reach, but at the cost of transparency on which apps their ads appear on. Watch whether the ad network's performance metrics are made public, as that would be a key indicator of whether the extra reach is worth the loss of control.

OpenAI moves to make ChatGPT ads more measurable — and more visual

OpenAI is addressing advertiser feedback by introducing image ads for ChatGPT in the U.S., aiming to improve ad measurement and offer more diverse formats since the initial ad launches in February.

Gen Z wants ChatGPT: The fight comms has to referee

Younger employees favor ChatGPT over company-approved AI tool, with a significant portion of Generation Z opting for the former. Surveys indicate a preference for ChatGPT among Gen Z, challenging organizations to justify their chosen AI platforms. Strategies to encourage adoption include personalized communication, demonstrating benefits specific to job functions, and providing clear guidels for transitioning between tools.

From Swedish Retailer to National Powerhouse: IKEA’s 50 Years in Canada

At IKEA's milestone celebration in Toronto, Jordan Won Neufeldt converses with top executives about prioritizing customer needs and the heightened significance of cost-effectiveness, drawing on insights from the company's leader and marketing chief.

IPHA Shows How Irish Innovation Shapes Europe’s Health Future

During Ireland's EU Council Presidency, IPHA demonstrated the significant impact of Irish innovation on Europe's health sector, emphasizing the importance of cross-border scientific progress in shaping the continent's health future.

Editor's noteIreland's EU Council Presidency is a showcase for Irish innovation, not a launchpad for European health policy. The real story is in the cross-border collaborations that underpin the campaign's success, not the Presidency itself. Watch the EU's Horizon Europe funding allocations to see if Ireland's life sciences sector gets a disproportionate share.

Ogilvy Australia Wins St John, Depicts Lottery Winner Enjoying Dream Home in 'Good Good' Campaign

Ogilvy Australia has won the St John account, launching a 'Good Good' campaign that depicts a lottery winner enjoying his dream home.

Editor's noteThe win adds a high-profile charity account to Ogilvy Australia's roster and tests whether aspirational, feel-good creative can shift St John's public image beyond emergency-service branding. Marketers should watch whether the lottery framing draws scrutiny given the charity's status, and whether ticket-sale or donation metrics follow the campaign's launch.

Rory McKechnie Joins TBWA\NZ as ECD

Rory McKechnie has joined TBWA\New Zealand as executive creative director, the agency announced.

Princess Tells Poolside Story, Narrated By Deborah Mailman, to Show Off ABC iview

Agency Princess launched a multichannel campaign for ABC iview, narrated by actor Deborah Mailman, filmed at a public pool to position the streamer as a hub for Australian stories.

Uber CEO cites need for ‘simpler’ company in layoff memo; Tim Cook says goodbye to Apple employees

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced a workforce reduction despite strong results, Apple's Tim Cook wrote a farewell memo ahead of John Ternus's succession, and Meta dropped AI-usage metrics from engineer performance reviews.

Be prepared for unexpected reactions when sending change messages

Brooke Wilson of CVS Health told Ragan's Employee Experience Conference that internal teams must anticipate employee anxiety and personalize messaging when announcing organizational changes, rather than treating updates as routine.

Marketers say usage rights are driving up the price to work with creators

Marketers and creator-marketing agencies say undefined usage-rights terms and inconsistent pricing structures are inflating costs of creator partnerships, prompting calls for standardized contracts and clearer scope definitions before deals close.

Editor's notePrice disputes usually trail a market that has scaled past its contracts. Creator deals reaching that point says less about any one negotiation than about how fast informal arrangements became load-bearing infrastructure for brand budgets. Whoever drafts the next agreement is now writing rules a market has already outgrown.

Rapid AI changes mean GEO is a weekly job now

MarTech reported AI search summaries cut click-through to results to 8% from 15%, prompting SEO, PR and content teams to treat generative engine optimization as continuous weekly monitoring.

PR's earned media moment: Why AI is fuelling optimism, not fear

UK PR leaders report growing demand for earned media as AI-generated content proliferates, arguing agility, authenticity, and human storytelling now differentiate brands more than social metrics.

Editor's noteOptimism in a trade survey is usually noise. This one has a mechanism behind it: if generated content is abundant, the scarce thing becomes third-party credibility, and earned media is the only channel that supplies it. Whether agencies can price that is the open question.

How to find the weak point stalling AI adoption

Ragan's 2026 survey found 98% of communications teams use AI, yet fewer than 20% have integrated it strategically; an advisor outlines methods to diagnose the specific readiness gap stalling adoption.

Why your thought leadership keeps failing

PR Daily's Allison Carter argued genuine thought leadership requires executives to risk being wrong, citing Mark Zuckerberg's AI-optimism op-ed and Jamie Dimon's shareholder letters as debatable positions.

The clock is ticking on major green claims reform

The EU's Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition directive takes effect September 27, banning unsubstantiated eco-friendly and offset-based carbon-neutral claims, with fines up to 4% of turnover.

Editor's noteA deadline with a penalty attached outranks everything else in the section. From the twenty-seventh, unsubstantiated green wording and offset-based carbon-neutral claims stop being a reputational risk and start being a four-percent-of-turnover one, which moves the review out of marketing and into legal.

PR Stunt Watch: Low-flying planes, flirting billboards and a very expensive bar of soap

PRmoment's stunt roundup covered a million-dollar Dr Squatch scavenger hunt with streamer IShowSpeed, Airlink's disputed rugby-match flypast in Cape Town, and billboard sparring between two drinks brands.

Media Briefing: What to expect at the Digiday Publishing Summit, September 2026 edition

Digiday's September Publishing Summit in Key Biscayne convenes executives from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters and Axios on AI licensing revenue and search referral declines.

System1 & Advertising Association’s August Ads of the Month

System1 and the UK Advertising Association highlighted Dolmio, Kopparberg, and Dairylea as August’s most effective ads, citing humor, distinctive brand assets, and emotional engagement as key drivers of long-term advertising effectiveness.

Performance Agency Chief Media Acquires 2 Firms to Beef up Amazon and TikTok Expertise

Chief Media, an independent performance agency, purchased Amazon consultancy AMZ Advisers and social specialist Reach Social, expanding e-commerce and TikTok capabilities for cross-selling to existing agency clients.