AgencySpy is Wasting Our Time (And Yours)

Shut-up-bitch.jpg

Here's what we have to say about that. One of AgencySpy's beloved blind items goes all journalistic and decides to check sources on someone who's been fingered an asshole by co-workers. Gee, not everyone in the workplace is a Mr. Rogers who cares ever so deeply about people's fragile feelings? What a shocker.

Come on. This is blind item crap is pointless information if there isn't at least a hint of who it's about. If you have facts, AgencySpy, share them. If you have sources, use them. I completely understand that this trash gets readers. We've been known to do the same right here. But you've removed everything of value from this piece. It's like a fart without a smell. We've worked for/with plenty of people in this industry over the years whose name could very easily be slapped on this piece.

more »

by Steve Hall    Aug- 9-10    
Topic: Agencies, Opinion



Idiotic 'Rename Crowdsourcing' Project Down to 12 Finalists

crowdsourcing-cartoon1.jpeg

In the It's So Stupid It Could Only Happen in Advertising category, we have an update on GeniusRocket and 99 Designs' attempt to rename crowdsourcing. The effort to do so was launched back in May. It was stupid then and it's stupid now.

Whether a proponent crowdsourcing or not, the process already has a name and its a perfectly good one. This renaming project just reeks of late 90's high tech companies which, over and over, just made up new names for categories they wanted to own hoping they would stick. OK, so some terms did stick but renaming a category isn't something you take on lightly. And not for a stupid $1,000 prize.

more »

by Steve Hall    Jul-28-10    
Topic: Opinion, Worst



Why Media Agencies Can 'Do Social Media'

socialmedia_collage.jpg

A recent article by Advertising Age's Social Media and Event Content Manager David Teicher got us thinking. And writing. Here's what we had to say after reading his thoughts on why agencies don't need separate units for social media:

Back in the day when we ran a media department, the public relations department in the agency used to come to us for information about audience research and the media consumed by the audiences in which they were interested. Because, in a certain sense, the media department is the keymaster to the research vault and all the demographic and psychographic nirvana within. Even account planners would come to media looking for insight.

more »

by Steve Hall    Jul-21-10    
Topic: Opinion, Social



The Unbelievable Hotness of Justene Jaro Sells Nike Air Max 90's

justene_jaro_nike_air_max_90.jpg

OK. We are WIDE awake this morning thanks to Primitive Shoes and import car model Justene Jaro who, bless her soul (body?), has awoken us in ways that are, well, just not fit for publication...even on Adrants. Anyway, filth out of the way, curvaceous cutie Justene Jaro is featured in a two minute promotional video for the 20-year-old Nike Air Max 90.

As if we were watching a long form beer commercial of old or some cheesy auto parts ad in the back of Hot Rod magazine, Jaro's bulbous breasts burst forth, spilling from above and below the confines of her revealing top as it struggles to contain her pendulous pulchritude. Clad only in lingerie..and sometimes ripped Daisy Dukes...Jaro frolicks about on a bed, on a couch and on a set of stairs while wearing, playing with and, yes, seductively licking a pair of Nike Air Max 90s.

more »

by Steve Hall    Jul-19-10    
Topic: Brands, Commercials, Creative Commentary, Opinion, Racy, Video



Does 9/11 Make All Mulsims Terrorists? NBC, CBS Reject Ground Zero Mosque Ad

911_muslim_mosque.jpg

There are just way too many political and religious issues surrounding this ad from the National Republican Trust PAC which asks Americans to oppose the building of a Muslim mosque near the World Trade Center site for us to comment.

But, why not. So, here we go. Everyone has the right to practice their religion of choice. At least in this country. Just because a particular religion is associated with the bad behavior of a few who practice that religion does not make everyone who practices that religion evil. Television networks have the right to refuse any ad which falls outside their guidelines. People have the right to call foul on any network who makes such a decision.

more »

by Steve Hall    Jul-16-10    
Topic: Cause, Opinion, Policy, Political



'Upskirt' Ad Causes Controversy For Condo Complex

look_up_way_up_skirt.jpg

Up in Calgary there's a bit of a furor over a billboard campaign promoting a new condo complex. At issue is the image and copy which consists of an almost upskirt shot of a woman in a miniskirt along with the words, "Look up... Way up."

The condo complex is being developed by ProCura which just finished restoring a sufragette home currently being used as a sales office for the new condo complex. Upon completion of the condo complex, ProCura has promised to turn the home into a community center for women's groups and a museum for the Famous 5, a group of Alberta women who fought for women's rights.

So...the complaint centers upon the disconnect between the work ProCura will do for women's groups and the campaign which some have labeled offensive.

28-year-old web designer Travis Gertz doesn't like the campaign. "My wife Rachel and I just got back from eight months travelling through the United States," he says. "The first thing I see when I get home is this offensive ad; it makes you embarrassed to be a Calgarian."

Thoughts?

by Steve Hall    Jul- 8-10    
Topic: Cause, Opinion, Poster, Racy



Dove Seeks 'Flawless Skin' For Real Women Print Campaign

dove_real_women_craigslist_flawless_skin.jpg

In what could be interpreted as a not too insignificant oxymoron, Dove, in a Craigslist ad, is seeking women with "flawless skin, no tattoos or scars" for an upcoming photoshoot July 18 in New York. According to the ad, the shoot is for a print campaign which will break in 2011.

The ad was placed by Dove Urban Casting, an entity that appears to be a division of Telecino, a Spanish media company

The ad also appears on CastingCall Search.

Dove Brand Police won't be happy with this but any ad that's written almost entirely in CAPS with every sentence ending with an exclamation point can't be taken too seriously anyway.

Click more to read the full ad.

more »

by Steve Hall    Jun-28-10    
Topic: Brands, Online, Opinion



Nokia Outted As Purveyor of Plagiarism in Cannes Video Contest Scandal

firrest_chump.jpg

Here is a personal statement sent to us from Jemma Lyon, the woman who was accused of plagiarism for submitting what appeared to be a direct copy of a previous video created by Will Tribble. We covered the story originally here. As it turns out, Nokia is said to have sent a rep to help Jemma Lyons shoot her video submission for the contest. According to Lyons, the rep used Tribble's video as a template and told the actors to simply do what they saw the actors do in Tribble's video.

If anyone's to be accused of plagiarism here, it is Nokia. If Lyons claim is true, there is simply nothing Nokia can say to explain this away. Nothing at all. There's been some very bad social media moves over the past few years but this one, by far, will go down as one of the most egregious.

more »

by Steve Hall    Jun-26-10    
Topic: Brands, Opinion, Promotions, Video, Worst



Why Consumer Transparency Falls Flat

social-block.png

The social graph. Data portability. Privacy. Data control. Peerset CTO and Co-founder Amit Kanigsberg has a few things to share on these topics in this second post in a series on the use of personal data.

Pursuing Transparency is no Private Matter

What does transparency mean to you? In the online advertising industry it conjures one of two things: 1) For the advertiser, full insight into the ad serving stack (from agency to publisher) or 2) For the consumer, full insight into the targeting data ad networks and data providers collect (e.g., Google, Bluekai).

If your first thought was #1, you are forgiven. It is after all natural to follow the money. And there is plenty of it being strewn across that field. But I'll argue that you should be thinking about the consumer a bit more, the sleeping giant as it were. And if you jumped straight to #2, then I'd bet you felt that current efforts and lackluster hype around transparency seems a bit, well, lacking, slight, effervescent, wispy, ethereal - more translucent really.

more »

by Steve Hall    Jun-23-10    
Topic: Opinion, Research, Social, Tools, Trends and Culture



Cannes Lions: Common on Getting 'Authentic' Artists to Collab with Sponsors

common-cannes-lions.jpg

Yesterday, in a Digitas-run session called "Cage Fighting Comes to Cannes," Common explained what his brand is and how he gauges the value of sponsorship opps.

How do you get a respected artist to plug your product? The secret is profound and earth shattering.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Jun-23-10    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Industry Events, Opinion, Sponsorship