There are many reasons I enjoy working here at the AA, but a bit of a hidden gem is our involvement in The Debating Group (which we founded back in 1975). It runs 5-6 debates a year in one of the historic committee rooms in the Palace of Westminster and features four industry figures or parliamentarians engaged in the cut and thrust of a debate over the issues of the day. I wrote about the group and the art of debating back in 2019 here. It’s brilliant (and free) to attend, you get the opportunity to make a statement from the floor and cast your vote (plus there’s networking in a Westminster pub after).
I’ve written speeches for others, and attended many, but this week, thanks to Newsworks, I had the opportunity to deliver a debate speech from the platform as an opposer to the motion ‘Advertising is breaking the news’. My co-speaker was the brilliant Channel 4 Chief Audience and Marketing Officer, Katie Jackson. With Lord (Guy) Black chairing, we were up against formidable opponents in Bountiful Cow’s CEO, Adam Foley, and the Client Strategy Director at Reach, Monica Majumdar. Honestly, to speak was a career ‘moment’ and I would urge anyone interested in media, advertising and politics to get involved with this group.
This might sound a bit grand but, when trust is challenged in many of the things we are used to depending on, I believe the ability to speak, to listen, to discuss and to find consensus is a vital life skill at the heart of every properly functioning society. To find out more about this debate, head to the Newsworks site and there’s more info here about future debates.
Our pick of the ads:
- Our Ad in the A is the ‘World Menu Heist’ by Leo UK which has launched a second menu featuring four new international favourite dishes.
- VCCP’s thirtytwo has highlighted the breadth of British Gas’s home repair services as winter begins in ‘Sounds like a job for British Gas’.
- Stories of cat rejection have circulated on social as part of AMV BBDO’s ‘Does my cat love me?’ relationship-building initiative for Sheba.
- CLIF, the energy bar brand, is joining the run culture hype in their campaign at the BMW Berlin-Marathon.
Our must-reads:
- Is the ad industry waiting for permission to act on climate change? Seb Munden, Global Chair of Ad Net Zero, describes the industry’s unique superpower. (Campaign)
- WPP Media’s VP of commercial paid social shares why creators are effective when treated as a serious media channel. (Media Leader)
- Channel 4 has announced their new ad product, Instant Re4ch, where advertisers can launch their campaign across the entire channel’s ecosystem. (Campaign)
- In a letter ahead of the budget, 26 leading companies have warned Andy Burnham not to go ahead with further less healthy food advertising restrictions. (The Grocer)
Dates for your diary:
- Our president Andria Vidler is chairing the key notes panel at The Future of Media London at Kings Place on 3-4 November. Under this year’s theme, ‘Media Means Business’, attendees will explore AI, media effectiveness, growth and investment. AA members can use code AA_FOML2620 for 20% off.
- The Marketing Society is hosting The Global Changemakers Conference on 11 November at the QEII Conference Centre in London, bringing together 500+ senior marketers to discuss this year’s theme: Ambition. Find out more here.
- Our flagship summit, LEAD, will return to the QEII Centre in Westminster on the morning of 28 January 2027. Buy tickets here.
And finally…our new interactive forum “Future Leaders” will take place at the QE II centre straight after LEAD on 28 January. Aimed at professionals with four+ years’ experience, the event will look at the issues that matter now and what they mean for the next generation of industry leaders. To see the first wave of confirmed speakers, or to buy tickets, click here.
