Government Rolls Out $20m ‘Every Little Bit Helps’ Fuel-Saving Campaign
Australia's federal government has unveiled a $20 million AUD (≈$13 million USD) “Every little bit helps” fuel‑saving campaign, the second phase of its four‑stage National Fuel Security Plan. The multi‑channel effort, managed by UM, includes TV, radio, print, digital and outdoor ads encouraging drivers to adopt simple fuel‑efficient habits. Creative services are provided by TBWA under a $1.4 million AUD (≈$0.92 million USD) contract, with Think HQ handling PR for $1.1 million AUD (≈$0.73 million USD). The initiative aims to stretch the nation’s fuel supply for truck drivers, farmers and essential services.
AMI Interim CEO Says ‘High Tide Will Help All Ships’ as New Marketing Group Launches
The Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) named Kathryn Illy as interim CEO following Bronwyn Heys' departure. At the same time, marketer Michael Apte launched the Sydney Marketing Community (SMC), which has already attracted about 1,000 members. Both SMC and The Marketing...
Catalano’s Australian Community Media Posts $7.9m Loss
Australian Community Media (ACM) reported a 30 million‑AUD (≈20 million‑USD) revenue decline to 214 million AUD and a net after‑tax loss of 7.9 million AUD (≈5.2 million‑USD) for FY2025, up from a 2.5 million‑AUD loss the prior year. The drop was driven by a 13 million‑AUD (≈8.6 million‑USD) fall in...
Ritson Is Right About WPP — but He Is Using the Wrong Map
WPP announced a sweeping re‑branding that places its flagship agencies—Ogilvy, VML and AKQA—under the new WPP Creative umbrella, a move championed by CEO Cindy Rose. Mark Ritson praised the intent but warned the strategy relies on the three‑decade‑old Aaker brand‑architecture...
Quiet Achiever Acast Says ‘Authentic Integration Is on the Rise’
Acast, the Swedish‑founded podcast network, has secured the return of Abbie Chatfield’s “It’s A Lot” podcast and highlighted a surge in “authentic integration” where ads extend beyond audio to social and video platforms. The company leverages its global footprint in...
Tourism Fiji CMO Srishti Narayan Steps Down
Tourism Fiji’s chief marketing officer Srishti Narayan will depart next month after three years steering the nation’s post‑COVID tourism revival. During her tenure she oversaw record visitor numbers for three straight years, launched the “Happy Passports” and “Be Fiji” campaigns,...
Paramount Launches Book Division as President Steps Down
Paramount Global announced the creation of Paramount Global Publishing, a new division that will turn its extensive portfolio of franchises—such as Star Trek, Transformers, and SpongeBob—into print, digital, and audio books. The unit will sit within the products and experiences group,...
‘All We Feel Is Panic’: Time to Resurrect the Creative Project Team
The article argues that the traditional agency practice of running multiple creative teams on a single brief inflates costs and dilutes ownership, leaving freelancers panicked and clients overcharged. It contrasts this with the 1990s “project team” model—small, tightly knit groups...
The Free Ticket You Just Got Offered to Mumbrella360 Is Not Legitimate
Mumbrella has warned that a phishing email offering a free ticket to its Mumbrella360 conference is fake. The scam uses the sender name “The Mumbrella Team” and the address messaging-service@post.xero.com, with the subject line “Your Complimentary Mumbrella360 Ticket.” Recipients are...
Best Foot Forward: Mumbrella Travel Marketing Awards Opens with New Categories
The 2026 Mumbrella Travel Marketing Awards have opened, expanding the program to reflect the evolving travel‑marketing landscape. New categories recognize AI‑driven campaigns, content creators, and a split between print and digital publications. A multi‑tiered Brand of the Year award now...
Nine Lifts the Index as Vinyl Group Takes a Hit
Australian media stocks mostly slipped on Tuesday, but the Unmade Index closed in positive territory thanks to Nine's 2.6% rally, lifting its market capitalisation to just under $1.6 bn. Vinyl Group suffered the steepest drop, shedding 6.3% to a $104.2 m valuation,...
Goverment Flags Change to Copyright Laws to Accomodate AI
Attorney General Michelle Rowland signaled that the Australian government is reviewing copyright law to better accommodate artificial intelligence, while affirming that existing protections for rights holders will remain intact. The move follows lobbying from AI firms such as Anthropic and...
Stax Burger Co’s ‘Customer From Hell’ Skits Deemed Too Sweary for Ad Standards
Australian fast‑food chain Stax Burger Co’s social media skits featuring a profanity‑laden “customer from hell” have been found in breach of the Advertising Standards Board’s anti‑profanity guidelines. Four Instagram and Facebook videos, starring the founder’s father, repeatedly used slurs such...
Albanese’s Address to Australia Was a TV Ratings Smash
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s four‑minute national address aired simultaneously on all five free‑to‑air networks at 7 p.m., drawing 3.722 million live viewers. Adding YouTube streams from broadcasters and the PM’s own channel pushed the total audience to at least 4.183 million. The viewership...
Newspaper Ad Spend Rebounds 17.4% After Year-Long Decline
Print newspaper advertising in Australia rebounded 17.4% year‑on‑year in February, marking the first growth period since February 2025. Media agency spend across print and digital titles rose 11.2% YoY, driven largely by regional publications and the South Australian election cycle....
Four-Day Week Puts Equality Media Top of AFR Workplace Rankings
Melbourne‑based Equality Media + Marketing has retained the top spot in the AFR BOSS Best Places to Work rankings for Media & Marketing, thanks in part to its four‑day work week introduced in 2022. The agency, now with 30 employees,...
BMW Marks 40 Years of the M3 with Nostalgic Campaign via Betty Wants In
BMW is commemorating the 40th anniversary of its iconic M3 with a new campaign produced by Betty Wants In. Directed by Max Greenstein, the film was shot on Australia’s Phillip Island circuit and uses visual effects to glide through six...
Got Milk? In Nova’s Case, No Thanks
Sydney’s Nova radio network marked its 25th anniversary, reflecting on a quirky branding backstory. Former programming boss Dean Buchanan revealed that ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi initially proposed the name “Milk,” complete with milk‑filled meeting rooms. The team rejected the...
TAC and Taboo Launch Road Safety Platform ‘Vanessa’s Place’
The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) partnered with creative agency Taboo to launch Vanessa’s Place, a transportable tiny‑home road‑safety platform aimed at young Victorians. Inside, more than 200 behavioural nudges are hidden in everyday objects to address drink‑driving, distraction, speeding and...
IAG Restructures Marketing Leadership, Putting Four Senior Roles Under Review
IAG has launched a review of its marketing leadership less than six months after naming Emily Roberts as chief customer and marketing officer. The company plans to merge four senior executive‑manager roles into three, requiring the incumbents to reapply for...
‘Another C*** Has Entered the Chat’
Australian morning‑show host Kylie Gillies inadvertently uttered the C‑word on The Morning Show, joining a notorious list of live‑TV slip‑ups. The profanity was broadcast without delay, prompting immediate social‑media chatter and brand‑safety alarms. Media commentator Dr Mumbo highlighted the incident, noting...
Voyages Tourism Unveils Mural Celebrating 10 Years of Field of Light via Spark Foundry Australia
Voyages Tourism Australia has launched a large‑scale mural in Melbourne to mark the 10th anniversary of Bruce Munro’s Field of Light installation at Uluru. The artwork, designed by First Nations creators Valerie Brumby and Alex Kerr, blends Anangu storytelling with...
OMG Group Names Today the Brave as Brand, Retail and Media Agency Partner
OMG Group has appointed Today the Brave as its full‑service agency partner to drive end‑to‑end brand growth. The agency will oversee brand strategy, social and paid media, as well as trade and retail activation for existing brands like Blue Dinosaur...
Droga5 ANZ Wins Qantas ‘Project Sunrise’ Pitch
Droga5 ANZ has been awarded the creative lead for Qantas’ “Project Sunrise” campaign, which will market the airline’s upcoming non‑stop flights from Australia’s east coast to New York and London. The win follows the final ground‑testing phase of the first...
Virgin Australia Moves to Build Retail Media Network
Virgin Australia has appointed former McKinsey and VML executive Scott Moore as head of a new Travel Media Network, signaling the airline’s move into retail media. The initiative will leverage Virgin’s digital properties and Velocity’s 80 commercial partners and 300...
Brian Florido Joins Linkby as Chris Wirasinha Gets Band Back Together
Brian Florido, former managing director of Val Morgan Digital, has been appointed commercial product director at Linkby. He will lead the Pubfeed platform, which distributes editorial content to publishers and charges brands on a cost‑per‑click or cost‑per‑impression basis. Florido’s hire...
‘Inaccurate’: ACMA Raps Four Corners over Cotton Fire Coverage
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) ruled that the ABC’s Four Corners episode “Water Grab” breached the broadcaster’s code of practice on accuracy and impartiality. The program alleged that Claravale pastoral station illegally used fire to clear land for...
Aldi Australia Embraces Zen of Low Prices in New BMF Campaign
Australian discount grocer Aldi has launched the “Aldi Prices” campaign, created by BMF, featuring a guru‑like figure reassuring shoppers that prices are already low. The ad rolls out across TV, digital, radio and social, positioning low price as the brand’s...
Australia’s Creative and Media Sectors Unite at Parliament House to Make the Case for Licensing in the Age of AI
Australia’s creative and media industries convened at Parliament House to press for a licensing‑based approach to AI training data, reaffirming the government’s decision to reject a broad Text and Data Mining (TDM) exception. Speakers from Universal Music Group, The Guardian,...
Private Media Appoints Isentia Exec Russ Horell as CEO
Private Media, the publisher behind Crikey and SmartCompany, has appointed Russ Horell as its new chief executive, succeeding Will Hayward. Horell arrives from Isentia, where he spent over 20 years and most recently served as chief revenue officer. The leadership change follows...
ChatGPT Advertising Launches in Australia
OpenAI will introduce advertising within ChatGPT for Australian users in the coming weeks, following positive early signals from its U.S. pilot. Ads will appear only for logged‑in adult users on the free and go tiers, while Plus, Pro, Business and...
ABC Workers Strike, Kyle Strikes with a Lawsuit, and AI-Generated PR Strikes the Wrong Chord
ABC employees ended a historic 24‑hour strike – the broadcaster’s first in 20 years – but negotiations remain unresolved, leaving the threat of further action alive. Meanwhile, radio personality Kyle Sandilands filed a Federal Court suit against ARN, publicly revealing...
Supply Shock Coming, Consumer Confidence Rock Bottom: Warnings From the CommsCon Stage
The Business Council of Australia warned that a looming supply shock and accelerating inflation will put corporate trust to the test, as consumer confidence falls to its lowest level since the index began in 1973. ANZ’s head of strategic communications...
The New Broadcast Is a Great Ad
The article argues that linear TV advertising is losing relevance with Gen Z, who now consume content primarily on creator‑driven platforms like YouTube. Jordan Schwarzenberger’s Sidemen collective reaches roughly 70% of UK Gen Z, dwarfing traditional TV audiences. Creators are...
Meta ANZ Sales Chief Naomi Shepherd to Depart After 14 Years
Meta’s Australia‑New Zealand advertising head Naomi Shepherd announced her departure after a 14‑year stint at the company. She rose from an IC5 client partner in 2012 to group industry director in 2017, overseeing Meta’s ANZ ad sales and marketing. While Meta...
Maxibon ‘Goes Full Cookie’ for Choc Chip Cookie Launch Campaign via Sickdogwolfman
Maxibon has introduced the Choc Chip Cookie Bon in Australia through an integrated campaign created by SICKDOGWOLFMAN. The hero film features a person transformed into a fully prosthetic cookie suit that even performs a TikTok dance. Social‑first content on TikTok...
Vodafone Australia Launches ‘Comeback’ Campaign with Howatson and Ali Wong
Vodafone Australia has launched a high‑profile "comeback" campaign fronted by US comedian Ali Wong, marking the first major brand work since the TPG merger and a reshuffle of its marketing leadership. The multi‑channel effort spotlights Vodafone’s expanded network, now covering...
Nine Radio Rebrands as Tapt Media
Nine Radio will rebrand as Tapt Media once its $56 million sale to the Laundy Family Office closes at the end of April. The corporate name change leaves the flagship talkback stations—2GB, 3AW, 4BC and 6PR—intact. CEO Tom Malone says "Tapt"...
Davidson: It’s Time for Naked 2.0
AI and automation are driving down the cost of media execution, exposing a mismatch in traditional agency billing that bundles strategic thinking with operational work. The article argues for separating these functions: pricing execution on measurable outputs while charging a...
Cindy Rose to Net A$26.5m Payday for Successful WPP Turnaround
Cindy Rose, WPP's chief executive, could earn up to A$26.5 million by 2030 if the ad‑tech group meets its financial targets and its share price climbs 50%. The remuneration package dwarfs her predecessor's, with a base of £2.13 million already paid for...
NT Tourism Hunting for Sweeping Brand Refresh
The Northern Territory’s tourism agency, now rebranded as Tourism and Events Northern Territory (TENT), has launched a tender for a sweeping brand refresh to be delivered by February 2027. The initiative replaces the seven‑year‑old "Different in every sense" platform and...
New Platform Launches to Help Independent Podcasters Reach Their Potential
Podtential, founded by veteran radio executive Wade Kingsley, has launched a growth platform for independent podcasters. The service centers on a proprietary diagnostic tool called PRO that evaluates 100 data points across ambition, concept, audience, content, marketing and commercial strategy....
ADMA Launches New Podcast Unpacking How Marketers Can Harness AI to Lead the Next Era of Marketing
ADMA has released a new podcast episode that explores how marketers can ethically harness artificial intelligence to drive the next era of marketing. The discussion draws on findings from ADMA’s State of AI in Marketing Survey 2025, which shows 75%...
Make It Stop: Unmade Index Loses for 8th Session in Row
The Unmade Index posted its eighth consecutive loss, slipping 0.12% after an after‑hours correction and settling at a new low of 350.4, down 0.79%. Leading decliners were ARN (-2.94%) and Vinyl (-6.25%), with Vinyl’s market capitalisation hovering just above $100 million....
CEO Will Hayward Leaving Private Media
Private Media announced that CEO Will Hayward will depart within weeks to launch a new media venture that does not compete with the publisher. Hayward, who has led Private Media’s portfolio—including Crikey, The Mandarin and Smart Company—for five years, will...
‘Many Media Agencies Operate Similarly’: Spark Foundry CEO Moves Past ‘the Ehrenberg-Bass Approach’
Spark Foundry has introduced a new positioning called “intelligent disobedience,” urging clients to embrace responsible provocation rather than rely solely on data‑driven, Ehrenberg‑Bass style media planning. CEO Matt Turl argues that many agencies follow similar, predictable patterns that limit true...
President Donald Trump Is Being Regularly Cold-Called by Journalists
The Atlantic reports that President Donald Trump has taken more than three dozen cold calls from journalists since the recent U.S. strikes on Iran. At least a dozen major news outlets, including CNN, The New York Times and Fox News,...
Ticker and Leadstory: The Startups Taking Different Paths to Video News
Australian video‑news startups Ticker and Leadstory are charting distinct paths away from legacy media. Ticker, founded by former Sky News reporter Ahron Young, abandoned ad‑supported TV in favor of commercial interview clips, leveraging AI to produce and distribute short‑form video...
Mumbrellacast: Media Apocalypse Right Now
Tim Burrowes’ Unmade Index, which monitors 14 Australian listed media firms, has recorded a more than 60% drop in total market value since its launch in early 2022, underscoring a deepening media apocalypse. The latest Mumbrellacast episode also dissects the...
VFL Inks Broadcast Deals with Foxtel, Seven, ABC, and SEN
The Victorian Football League has secured broadcast agreements with Foxtel, ABC, Seven and SEN, promising the competition’s biggest audiences in decades. Foxtel will stream 16 matches on Kayo Sports across the first 13 rounds, while ABC returns to VFL TV...
