It’s Awards Season, And Sandy Hook Promise Is Collecting Some Hardware

BBDO New York’s “Back to School Essentials” Public Service Announcement for Sandy Hook Promise is the inaugural “Storytelling for Good” Award winner. The award is given by Clio, the premier international awards competition for the creative business, and Brand Storytelling, an industry-leading B2B media company focused on branded content. “Storytelling for Good” celebrates branded entertainment […]

During the 2020 Census, Being Counted Is Being Seen

When a client says that they’re targeting everyone, you know that can’t be true. In this case, it is true. The U.S. Census Bureau just introduced a $500 million public education and outreach campaign featuring more than 1,000 new ads designed to reach 99% of all U.S. households and communicate the importance of responding to […]

The Glorification of Personalization in Marcom Is Persistent But Misguided

Since 2014, the Association of National Advertisers has surveyed its mostly client-side members to identify the marketing word of the year. This year the winning nomenclature is “Personalization.” Other top choices in the ANA 2019 Marketing Word of the Year voting: “equality and inclusion,” “data,” and “in-house.” “Personalization is what customers expect,” one participant in […]

What’s All This Commotion in the Ocean?

To call attention to the suffering marine animals face due to overconsumption, Sea Shepherd and agency Braaxe decided to remake the classic game ‘Operation’. Introducing ‘Operation Ocean’, where players must save a dolphin threatened by ocean waste. According to the United Nations Environment Agency, 70% of the marine plastic waste is linked to fishing equipment […]

Women Often Feel Unsafe Because Way Too Many Men and Boys Are Sexual Predators

One in three women experiences physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Thus, women are continuously on guard. This is an emotional, physical and economical drain on half of the global population, and a wake-up call for the other half. In order to create a society that is intolerant of violence against women, men and […]

You’re Not “Woke” Until You Start To Pay Women Fairly

Can we, the people, shop our way to social change? Definitely not. Can we favor manufacturers and retailers that explicitly appeal to our values? Naturally. This December 4th, ChooseWOMEN, an international platform piloted by Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization, is asking for a focus on the female. “Choose Women Wednesday” invites everyone to shop at women-owned […]

There’s Value In Being Counted

Sadly, the question of who belongs in America hasn’t been settled yet. Presidents Tweet about it, talking heads flap their gums about it, and the Supreme Court rules on it. One thing that we do know for sure, Native peoples belong here. And the U.S. Census wants to make sure Native peoples are counted. According […]

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Nature Needs Heroes and Your City Needs You

Why do urban artists wear Timberland? Could it be that Timberland works harder than most to appeal to young urban customers? In this new campaign from Timberland and their agency, Pereira O’Dell, the brand’s “Nature Needs Heroes” platform and commitment to a greener world is front and center. In an interesting twist, the campaign presents […]

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Milwaukee’s “Library Loud Days” Brings Young Word Warriors to the Stacks

Libraries are sanctuaries of peace and quiet. “Library Loud Days” at the Milwaukee Public Library changes all that. The goal of Library Loud Days is to reinvigorate and welcome more members of the community to area branches through unique events that turn the typical “shhh” experience of the library on its head. With pro-bono help […]

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Dick’s Sporting Goods Destroyed Its Inventory of AR-15s

Assault weapons are for soldiers. This is not another decision being handed down by a hapless and corrupt government. And it’s not a debate. It’s action being taken by conscious CEOs like Ed Stack of Dick’s Sporting Goods. According to the local CBS station in Pittsburgh, it was just after the Sandy Hook attack that […]

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This Land Is for Johnnie Walker Drinkers

Where do brands fit into the larger cultural landscape today? It’s a question that some brand managers and ad agency partners would rather not answer. At the other end of the pole, there is Diageo’s Johnnie Walker, which has a definitive answer to the non-rhetorical question. Let’s watch and listen… The spot was created by […]

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Leo Burnett/London Helps To Elevate Role of Design in Society

Creative agency Leo Burnett London and the Design Museum, have launched the museum’s new purpose campaign, called ‘Design: Humanity’s Best Friend’, celebrating the impact of design in everyone’s lives. The campaign aims to show how design is integral to everyday life and highlights the museum as a must-see destination in London this year. Lord Mandelson, […]

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Boots on the Ground: Timberland To Help Plant 50 Million Trees

Brand purpose has plenty of detractors inside the ad industry. For example, Simon White, chief strategy officer at FCB West argues: “When brands advertise their favorite social cause, instead of meeting consumers’ goals, the advertising becomes irrelevant, ineffective and annoying.” White adds, “When it comes to advertising, don’t start with your why, start with theirs.” […]

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Would You Like To Shop, Dine, Or Stay Here? Leave Your Guns At Home

Guns. Americans are obsessed with guns, the power to kill, and the right to possess lethal firepower. In most American states you can carry a weapon openly wherever you go. According to Giffords Law Center:  Carrying openly visible guns in public can quickly turn arguments fatal, be used to intimidate and suppress the First Amendment […]

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Fear of Mass Shootings Is Bad for Business, Bad for Morale, and Bad for America

President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.” It’s a wonderful line, but it’s also from another time in American life. Today, We, the People, have plenty of reasons to be afraid. For one, domestic terrorism works. Not only do the shooters kill real people who are their imaginary enemies, […]

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Some Republicans Want To Clean Up the GOP’s Mess

We keep hearing how the United States is a nation of laws. And how we’re better than this. Those are talking points. Facts point in another direction. Facts say we are a lawless society where terror reigns. Facts say we are not better than this. Here is one fact: no other nation on Earth has […]

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Ads That Help Sell Assault Weapons Reveal All

I am an ad man, which means I have developed the ability to see any product or service the way the customer or potential buyer sees it. It’s my J-O-B to do so, no matter how unsavory the job can be at times. I will now apply this lens to the marketing of assault weapons. […]

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Might As Well Travel The Elegant Way (In An Airstream)

Airstream sends me their email newsletter once per week. It’s called “Rivet.” As a way to keep me interested in Airstream products and the RVing lifestyle, Rivet points me to a batch of recommended articles on the Airstream blog. The Airstream blog is a great way to showcase customer testimonials. One RV enthusiast featured on […]

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“I Am An Angler” Is A Powerful Call To Action

Fishing is one of my favorite recreational activities. Leaving the land and my screens behind to focus purely on the water and the fish in it is a physical and mental reprieve. For me and millions of people who love to fish, fishing is good medicine. Take Me Fishing TakeMeFishing.org, the website from Recreational Boating […]

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The Denari’s Life-Saving Story Could Be Anyone’s Story

When the agency truly cares about the client, it shows. Witness the latest pro-bono campaign from Indianapolis-based Young & Laramore, which encourages Indiana driver’s to register as organ donors. This isn’t just any assignment for the agency. It’s personal. Maggie Denari, wife of Y&L’s president Tom Denari is the recent recipient of a heart transplant, […]

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