Fake Views? 444,938 Russian Emails Are Among Comments to FCC


Someone was trying to game the Federal Communications Commission’s electronic public comment system on net-neutrality rules.

But who? Was it supporters or foes of the open internet rulesor was it the Russians?

A study has found more than 7.75 million comments were submitted from email domains attributed to FakeMailGenerator.com, and they had nearly identical wording. The FCC says some of the nearly 23 million comments on Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal to gut Obama-era rules were filed under the same name more than 90 times each.

Continue reading at AdAge.com

BuzzFeed Lays Off 100 as It Shifts Business Strategy


BuzzFeed is laying off 100 employees, or 8 percent of its U.S. workforce, as it grapples with how to better generate ad revenue at a time when Google and Facebook dominate the digital market.

The layoffs will come from business operations and will not affect editorial, although some writers are expected to also lose their jobs in Britain. The news was first shared by BuzzFeed staff reporter Steven Perlberg, who tweeted an image of a company-issued memo on Twitter.

Greg Coleman, president at BuzzFeed and a media veteran with stints at Criteo the Huffington Post and AOL, will be leaving his post and become an advisor to the company, the company said.

Continue reading at AdAge.com

In Latest Media Purge, ESPN Lays Off 150 Staffers


ESPN on Wednesday began its latest round of layoffs, cutting ties with approximately 150 staffers in various production, technology and digital content positions. Today’s eliminations mark the cable sports giant’s third mass headcount reduction in two years.

In a brief memo sent to ESPN employees, president John Skipper said the company will look to alleviate the outgoing staffers’ pain by offering them a package that includes “severance, a 2017 bonus, the continuation of health benefits and outplacement services.”

The cuts “generally reflect decisions to do less in certain instances and re-direct resources,” Skipper wrote. The ESPN chief, who also serves as co-chair of Disney Media Networks, recently extended his contract through 2021.

Continue reading at AdAge.com

Snapchat redesigns to separate social and publisher content but ads are not affected

Snapchat has reorganised its app to put snaps and stories from friends to the left of its camera landing page and publishers, creators and communities to the right.

Tech We’re Using: Why Old-Fashioned Tools Remain Key for Reporting

Emily Steel, a media reporter for The Times, uses encrypted messaging apps and plenty of new tech. But she still harbors a love for the telephone.

S.I. Newhouse Jr., Remembered: ‘Eager, Never Jaded’

At a memorial for Condé Nast’s former chairman, tearful speakers and raucous anecdotes.

The ‘Today’ Show: A Morning Pioneer Long Before Matt Lauer

It was the first show of its type when it started in 1952, and has remained an important part of NBC News through the decades.

Garrison Keillor Says He Has Been Fired Over Allegations of Improper Conduct

The creator of “A Prairie Home Companion” told The Associated Press that he was fired from Minnesota Public Radio.

Wednesday Morning Stir

-Grey and Unicef give kids a voice for World Children’s Day with “The Global Kids Council” (video above).

-Like whiskey but wish you had a voice assistant to pour it for you? Jim Beam has you covered.

-M&C Saatchi hired Kate Bosomworth as its new CMO.

-Top ad agencies improved their profit margins in the U.K.

-Calvin Klein entered into a multi-year partnership with Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

-Hylink Digital, an independent digital agency based in China, expanded to the U.K. with a new London office.

-The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned a BBH London ad comparing Heinz Baked Beans to a protein shake.

72andSunny Celebrates Trans, Non-Binary Community in Latest ‘We’re Open’ Spot for Smirnoff

72andSunny launched the latest in its “We’re Open” campaign for Smirnoff, this time celebrating the trans and non binary community.

The spot stars DJ/producer Honey Dijon, French LGBTQ+ icon Kiddy Smile, British transgender model/dancer Lucy Fizz, performance artist Xnthony and pop artist/composer/performer Le Fil. It is also set to Dijon’s version of Sylvester‘s song “Stars.”

As the sun goes down, the fun begins as the ad’s start get ready to celebrate the nightlife. Along the way, a party seems to break out on a city bus.

When they finally hit the club, the bartender is mixing up Smirnoff cocktails to go along with the dance beats. The spot concludes with the tagline, “Labels are for bottles not people.”

“Nightlife is a place where everyone should feel welcomed for who they are – no matter what their gender identity is” Diageo European category director Anita Robinson said in a statement. “Smirnoff’s brand’s purpose is to move the world to be more inclusive. With this new film, we aim to support and give voice to the non-binary community, push the cultural conversation around gender equality and representation forward, and use our influence in nightlife culture to drive positive change in the communities it represents.”

“Growing up, music was always my escape. The dancefloor was the place people of all ages, colours, genders and sexual orientations came together to celebrate and it was there that I first found acceptance,” added Dijon. “Those experiences shaped the person I am today. As a trans artist of colour I’m glad to be partnering with Smirnoff who recognize the important role that nightlife culture plays in providing a space for everybody to be their true selves.”

In addition to being the latest in the ongoing “We’re Open” campaign, which includes last year’s effort featuring deaf dance teacher Chris Fonseca, the ad also kicks off a partnership between Smirnoff and LGBT Foundation, which will develop guidance for the brand’s bartender training program, “raise awareness of non-binary issues and build skills, knowledge and confidence to ensure that staff on the ground are leading the way in ensuring that nightlife remains a place for inclusive good times.”

Smirnoff, meanwhile, will help LGBT Foundation with its Village Angels” initiative in partnership with nightlife organizations, emergency services and local authorities around the U.K.

“We’re very proud to be collaborating with Smirnoff to make nightlife a safer, inclusive and more understanding space. From providing insight and training to help the industry understand non-binary communities, to investing in grassroots initiatives that promote safety and inclusion in UK nightlife, this is a longstanding commitment to drive positive change,” Paul Martin OBE, CEO of LGBT Foundation said in a statement.

“Our Village Angels have helped nearly 100,000 people since they were created in 2011. Thanks to Smirnoff, we now have a very real opportunity to grow this success outside of Manchester,” he added.

Credits:
Advertising agency
72andSunny New York

Client
SVP, Smirnoff Global & U.S. Vince Hudson
European Category Director Anita Robinson
Head of Smirnoff Europe Sam Salameh
Senior Brand Manager Smirnoff Europe Hannah Curtis
Senior Consumer Planning Manager Jez Parkes
VP, Smirnoff Global Content & Communication Luke Atkinson
Global Senior Brand Manager Neil Shah

72andSunny
Executive Creative Director Bryan Rowles
Creative Director Adolfo Alcala
Creative Director Brandon Pierce
Sr. Writer Peter Hughes
Sr. Writer Lee Boulton
Sr. Designer Geno Burmester
Brand Director Andy Silva
Brand Manager Sarah Consagra
Brand Coordinator Jake Thelen
Head of Production Lora Schulson
Sr. Content Producer Zamile Vilakazi
Jr. Film Producer Jonathan Weiss
Sr. Art Producer Diana Pam
Strategy Director Tom Callard
Sr. Strategist Sidney Henne
Sr. Partnerships & Legal Manager Quentin Perry
Partnerships & Legal Manager Grant Thompson

Production Company: Somesuch
EP Nicky Barnes
Director Max Weiland
DP Zach Spiger

Editorial: Exile
EP Sasha Hirschfeld
Producer Vietan Nguyen
Producer Becca Riehl
Editor Max Koepke

Color
Company 3
Sofie Borup Colorist

Photography
Photographer Tom Van Schelven
Photographer’s Agent Giant Artists
Retouching Agencies Epilogue, Inc. & Retouched Studios

Road Safety Authority: Hangover

Campaign targeting drivers still drunk the morning after a night out.

Glenfiddich: The Diver

Glenfiddich: The Diver

Video of Glenfiddich: The Diver

Surfrider Foundation: Crab

Surfrider Foundation: Octopus

Motorola: Up-upgrade

Motorola – Up-upgrade

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The Endy Awards: Don D’Organes

Don D’Organes. English Version.

Video of Don D’Organes. English Version.

Bonami: The Cat

When your cat decides it’s time for a new lamp, there’s no reason to disagree. It’s just another reason to make yourself happy. With Bonami.

The cat

Video of The cat

Bonami: The Dog

Is your dog too playful with your old furniture? There’s no reason for panic. It’s just another reason to make yourself happy. With Bonami.

The dog

Video of The dog

ABSA: Mzansi, are you still paying with cash?

Mzansi, are you still paying with cash?

Video of Mzansi, are you still paying with cash?

25 Baby Boomer Gifts – From Luxe Record Players to Mess-Free Root Touch-Ups (TOPLIST)

(TrendHunter.com) Baby Boomers are entering their golden years, but these Baby Boomer gifts show that the generation isn’t content to simply sit back and watch the world go by. That massive subset of people…