Ad Matters 04.10.2024

The APA show is always a wonderful evening. If you love advertising, you really should buy a ticket and go along. Last night’s event at the BFI, hosted by Steve Davies, the APA’s CEO, was brilliant. The format is simple. Hundreds of advertising professionals gather to watch an hour-long film of the best produced ads of the year. If your ad appears – you’ve won! It’s a fantastic format for an awards show. And an emotional rollercoaster ride. Because what you watch unfold on the big screen are a series of expertly crafted, creatively excellent short stories that will make you laugh, make you cry and help you see the world differently. You can watch the APA reel back on their site and, if you love advertising, you won’t regret it, I promise.

In other news, my colleague Elle Chartres picked up a well-deserved Women in Green Business award for her work on Ad Net Zero. And our AA board member, Kathryn Jacob, has just published her new book with Sue Unerman, A Year of Creativity, which is full of inspirational tips.

It’s all happening. And that’s why this industry is such an exciting one to be a part of.

Our must-reads:

• Our write-up of the Front Foot x Leith ‘Humour in Advertising’ event shows why funny ads are serious business. (AA)
• This article builds on our Value of Trust and Social Contribution Report to look at why Gen Z have higher trust in advertising and how brands can best respond to this. (Creative Salon)
• Pearl & Dean have worked with MG OMD and Dive on their new social responsibility initiative to raise money for National Parks UK, with Giffgaff as the first brand featured (The Media Leader)
• The industry has done much work to tackle the climate challenge, but there is more to do, writes the new co-chairs of ISBA’s sustainability forum. (Marketing Week)
• One on the rise of the AI influencer and the challenges and opportunities that it brings. (The Media Leader)

Our pick of ads:

• BBC Creative has launched ‘Trust is earned’ as part of a broader campaign highlighting the BBC’s fight against disinformation.
• Waitrose has launched a ‘No.1 comes first’ to promote its premium No.1 range, created with Saatchi & Saatchi.
• Nationwide brings back Dominic West in ‘Mist me’ by New Commercial Arts.
• Virgin Atlantic has launched ‘International week of deaf people’, created with 4Creative and Lucky Generals, to address the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing customers.

Dates for your diary:

• Our CEO Stephen Woodford will be speaking at the Future of Media London on 9 October. Last tickets available here and don’t forget to nab 50% off with the code PARTNER_AA50.
• We’re heading to Glasgow on 10 October for LEAD Scotland! Grab your tickets here.
• Save the date for LEAD 2025! We’ll be returning to the QEII centre on 6 February for a half-day summit focused on growth and value. Tickets out now!

And finally, if your company is an All In Champion and has made substantial efforts to improve inclusion in your workplace, then MEFA Diversity & Inclusion Awards should be calling your name. Our commercial director Sharon will be judging – so do send in your entries before 13 October.