Campaign podcast

"Language is everything" in advertising, particularly for the Paralympics.Channel 4's "Considering what?" campaign frames Paralympians as world-class athletes rather than competitors "overcoming" their disabilities. The International Paralympic Committee's “They’re not playing games” left messages on social media from the Paris Paralympic 2024 athletes saying “I won’t be participating at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games” to then reveal that they will be "competing".This year's advertising sees a movement to correctly represent the athletic and sporting champions in the Paralympics games, kicking the "well-meant bullshit" out of its vocabulary.Going behind the scenes of these campaigns and discussing what has changed in the media for the Paris 2024 Paralympics, we speak to:Lynsey Atkin, outgoing executive creative director of Channel 4’s in-house agency 4Creative;Tom Ghiden, managing director of Joan London;Craig Spence, chief brand and communications officer at the IPCThis episode was hosted by Campaign's tech editor Lucy Shelley.Further reading:Why brands need to stop talking about ‘overcoming’ disabilitiesParalympians challenge perceptions in campaign ahead of Paris GamesChannel 4 cuts the ‘well-meant bullshit’ in 2024 Paralympic campaignPick of the Week: Channel 4 takes home gold in 2024 Paralympic campaignOrange “When you love sport, you love sport” by Publicis ConseilParalympics 2024 round-up: watch the adsChannel 4 in Paralympic ads deal with TikTok

Campaign teamed up with Activision Blizzard Media to explore the world of gaming ads and how brands and agencies can make the most of it.Gaming is big business - worth almost $250bn last year. Tuned-in brands are diversifying their channel mix and turning to gaming to capitalise on fandom's fierce nature and the growing attention the channel now commands. Yet, despite being one of the world’s most popular entertainment channels, it's still one of the least understood by advertisers.In this special podcast, Campaign’s tech editor Lucy Shelley talks with Claire Nance, head of global gaming business success strategy for Activision Blizzard Media, the media arm of gaming giant Activision Blizzard which owns Candy Crush Saga, Call of Duty and World of Warcraft.Their wide-ranging conversation includes: debunking popular gaming myths, best practices for effectively reaching players, and the in-game measurements you should be paying attention to.If you want to up your ad game - listen in.This podcast episode is sponsored by Activision Blizzard Media

Pay, people and pitching. Not just fantastic alliteration but also the basis for a number of features that have run over the summer using data from this year’s School Reports.Hosted by media editor Beau Jackson, who was joined by deputy editor Gemma Charles and premium content editor Nicola Merrifield, this episode digs deeper into the issues raised in the following articles:Is adland 'manipulating culture', or striking the right balance with hybrid-working rules?‘Winners and losers’: how agency bonuses dried up in 2023Agency pay revealed: junior wage rises slow as ‘balancing profitability gets harder’The waiting game: agency staff churn dips as restructuring hitsWhy the pitch positive pledge remains a diamond in the rough

It's the school holidays. So in a more relaxed episode, the Campaign editorial team debates this summer's top cultural moments.Hosted by features editor Matt Barker, the team discusses what's been inspiring and entertaining them away from the advertising industry. TV shows, books, music, anything really!Senior creativity reporter Charlotte Rawlings educates us on Taylor Swift, tech editor Lucy Shelley talks through her theatre highlights and Barker imparts Wembley wisdom, exhibition recommendations and tales of giggling through Kafka.

After WPP's Q2 results, the Campaign team analyses why the agency group downgraded its annual forecast and saw revenues drop in China.Gideon Spanier, Campaign UK's editor-in-chief, discusses his recent interview with Mark Read, the chief executive of WPP, and the context behind his questioning which included the FGS sale and what's going on with Group M.Gideon Spanier, Campaign UK's editor-in-chief, sat down with WPP chief executive Mark Read to discuss the holdco's Q2 results.He is joined in the studio by Charlotte Rawlings, senior creativity reporter, who reminisces her school days with M&S and Mother's back-to-school campaign. Plus she takes us through the N Brown creative review which owns JD Williams, Simply Be and Jacamo.Hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley, the trio discuss the latest feature from creativity and culture editor Alessandra Scotto di Santolo which digs into adland's hybrid working structure using data from Campaign's 2024 School Reports and how the industry might be "manipulating culture".Further reading:Group M appoints Zenith's Jon Stevens as chief growth officerDentsu results: EMEA bounces back strongly as group returns to modest growthDentsu whistleblower reports more than double amid major reformsVolvo launches review of global £353m media accountGrace Francis, Jamie Mancini, Katy Collins launch Wonderful Things

Andy Jex, chief creative officer at TBWA\London, and Carren O'Keefe, chief creative officer at Digitas UK, join Campaign's senior creativity reporter, Charlotte Rawlings, to review some of the latest ads.Jex and O’Keefe explore the prevalent use of oil paintings and classical music in recent work. The pair discuss Bodyform “Never just a period” by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, Heineken “Forgotten beers” by LePub, TNT Sports “Only sport can do this” by Brothers & Sisters, Babybel “Let the goodness begin” by BETC, British Airways “A British original period drama" by Uncommon Creative Studio, and Thomas Cook and Marine Conservation Society “Deflatables” by McCann Birmingham.Further reading:Bodyform exposes menstrual health gaps in latest campaign by AMV BBDOHeineken urges socialising over sipping for International Beer DayTNT Sports launches first campaign by Brothers & SistersBabybel celebrates summer of sport with peeling billboardBritish Airways launches period-drama-style safety videoThomas Cook and ocean charity spotlight inflatables' environmental impact

Campaign features editor Matt Barker is joined in the studio by senior media reporter Shauna Lewis and senior creativity reporter Charlotte Rawlings.The trio discuss Elon Musk's announcement that he will be suing the Global Alliance for Responsible Media in the US over an alleged "illegal boycott" of advertising on his X platform.Chat then turns to the potential problems faced by brands on social media to a backdrop of rioting and protests, before unpicking the latest from WPP after it reported a drop in like-for-like revenue (less pass-through costs) in Q2.Further reading'Now it is war': Elon Musk’s X sues advertisers over alleged ‘illegal boycott’Adland urged to step up over social media's role in UK riotsWPP now expects revenues to decline in 2024 after cutting forecast and 3,000 roles

Campaign features editor Matt Barker is joined by media editor Beau Jackson in the studio to chew over some recent news stories.The pair first chat about TV coverage of the Paris Olympics, before discussing the future of Ascential, set to be acquired by publisher and events group Informa for £1.2bn.Talk then turns to the controversy over The Guardian's placement of a watch advert (with the tagline "Watch porn") next to a feature about men watching videos of child abuse. They then recall some of the year's other big mishaps, including Apple, Calvin Klein and WH Smiths.Further reading:Cannes Lions and Warc owner Ascential to be acquired for £1.2bnThe Guardian apologises over ‘watch porn’ ad placed next to child abuse article