Unilever's digital ad threat 'overdue' | Why we won't run your press release | Mike Tyson ad ok, rules watchdog | Dentsu financial results | Betoota launches podcast | McCann GM exits | The social media doghouse | 94 new jobs

[View Newsletter Online]( [Mumbrella Newsletter]( Treat your team for Valentines Day. Spread the love further with earlybird ticket rates Mumbrella’s Travel Marketing Summit]( will bring together the leading marketing minds from the global travel and tourism industry. The speaker line-up will provide insights and first hand case studies on how to propel your brand forward, whether it be leveraging a new emerging technology, driving people to regional destinations, finding new markets and more. Hear from Tourism Australia, Expedia, Travelport, Melbourne Airport, Air New Zealand and more. Earlybird tickets are on sale now, saving you $150. [Book your team in and save even more.]( Opinion [When buzzwords attack, AKA we're not going to publish your press release]( Does your agency have a “penchant for disrupting, injecting emotion and turning communication into conversation”? Mumbrella’s opinion and features editor Josie Tutty reveals adland’s most sinful buzzwords, and offers a sincere apology to all the press releases she has let evaporate into the depths of her Gmail inbox. [READ MORE »]( Opinion [Unilever's digital ad ban threat is long overdue]( As Unilever threatens to pull its entire ad spend for Google and Facebook, Dan Machen argues it’s high time we all take collective responsibility for the brand safety minefield that is the internet. Imagine you’re an executive at Google, or Facebook. What keeps you awake at night? Political meddling? Extreme content? Messenger aimed at children – or a $12Bn global advertiser putting you on notice? The answer should be all of the above. Sadly, with a focus on shareholder value vs. platform values, it’s probably the latter. [READ MORE »]( Opinion [Why social media is in the doghouse for both the pollies and the public]( In this crossposting from The Conversation, The University of Melbourne’s Denis Muller discusses why getting social right is more vital for pollies than ever before, including an investigation into Bob Hawke’s ability to scull a beer. The Labor Party’s recent decision to ban its candidates from using their own social media accounts as publicity platforms at the next federal election may be a sign that society’s infatuation with social media as a source of news and information is cooling. [READ MORE »]( News [Dentsu reports strong global revenue growth with Australia seeing last quarter recovery]( Japanese ad giant, Dentsu Group, has reported 5.4% growth in global revenues with the Australian arm showing a strong recovery after a weak start to the year in the company’s 2017 consolidated results. In a global market described as ‘difficult’ by rival Publicis in its annual report last week, Dentsu reported a 10.8% increase in total group revenues with international operations – the Dentsu Aegis Network – reporting operating profit growth of 3.1% for the year. [READ MORE »]( News [Ad watchdog dismisses numerous complaints against Mike Tyson Ultra Tune ad]( Numerous complaints to the ad watchdog about sexism, sexualisation and the promotion of convicted rapist Mike Tyson in Ultra Tune’s latest ad have been dismissed. In a detailed response to the complaints, the brand said: “The advertisements do not promote nor endorse any sexual harassment, or assault. He [Tyson] has been punished for his crime committed over 25 years ago in accordance with the law.” [READ MORE »]( News [The Betoota Advocate to launch podcast with Acast Australia]( Satirical news website The Betoota Advocate will launch its first podcast in the coming months, through the Acast Australia platform. The specific details of the podcast are yet to be confirmed, but the Akubra-wearing editors ‘Errol Parker’ and ‘Clancy Overell’ (otherwise known as Charles Single and Archer Hamilton), have hinted they will expand their sport and crime categories. [READ MORE »]( Sponsored Post Agency required to help promote quality solar products in Papua New Guinea Today, 1.2bn people worldwide live without access to affordable, reliable and safe forms of modern energy. The International Finance Corporation, a part of the World Bank Group, is searching for a creative agency to help promote quality off-grid solar products in Papua New Guinea. The successful applicant(s) will be required to conceptualise and execute a consumer awareness campaign through both above and below-the-line activities. The work will be conducted on behalf of Lighting Papua New Guinea, a part of the World Bank Group’s [Lighting Global]( Platform. Please write to Rajeev Palakshappa, rpalakshappa@ifc.org for the EOI. News [Commissioning Love Island for 9Now and 9Go a 'massive risk' says Nine's Adrian Swift]( The decision to commission a multi-million dollar program for a multi channel and digital platform is a “massive risk”, according to Nine’s head of content production and development, Adrian Swift. Despite the risk, Swift – the man behind the commissioning of Nine’s highly successful show Ninja Warrior last year – is hopeful the show will bring young Australians back to television. [READ MORE »]( News [McCann's GM Nicole Gardner exits for role at Quantcast]( The general manager at McCann Sydney, Nicole Gardner, has departed the agency for the head of account management role at AI technology company Quantcast. Gardner’s departure comes just weeks after the CEO of McCann, Ben Lilley, resigned to relocate to France with his family. [READ MORE »]( Opinion [Bots are getting stuff done, but think before you jump on the bandwagon]( From Facebook’s suicide prevention bots to always-ready human-like chatterboxes, Microsoft Australia’s Adam Goodman takes a look at where the weird world of bots is headed. Bots have come a long way since being introduced as an efficient way to index websites. [READ MORE »]( News [Nine's latest dating show Date Night premieres with 529,000 metro viewers]( Nine’s newest dating reality show, Date Night, premiered after Married At First Sight with 529,000 viewers across Australia’s five metro markets. The show, which ran at 9pm, sees single Australians turn to online dating with friends and families who offer their opinions. [READ MORE »]( News [Palmer's appoints Tug to handle media account]( Skincare brand Palmer’s has moved its media account from Wavemaker to Tug. Tug will now handle all of Palmer’s media planning and buying. [READ MORE »]( News [Destination NSW seeks general manager of marketing, following Anthony Laver's departure]( Destination NSW is on the hunt for a new general manager of marketing, following the departure of Anthony Laver late last year. Advertising on LinkedIn, the government-led agency said the successful applicant will have a “passion for advancing tourism in NSW, major sports and cultural events”. [READ MORE »]( News [CHE Proximity promotes Ant White to chief creative officer]( CHE Proximity has promoted its executive creative director Ant White to the role of chief creative officer. White joined CHE Proximity in 2016 from his previous role as content lead for co:collective. [READ MORE »]( News [Wavemaker's national director of technology and data Alexander Concannon departs]( Wavemaker’s national director of technology, effectiveness and data, Alexander Concannon, has departed the media agency to start his own business. Announcing his departure, Concannon said: “After two amazing years at Maxus/Wavemaker I’ve left media to start my own thing”. [READ MORE »]( News [Bumble launches 'Doggy Dates' Valentine's Day campaign]( Dating app Bumble has partnered with the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home to launch its Valentine’s Day campaign ‘Doggy Dates’. Based on the insight that 46% of women are more likely to ‘swipe right’ if a profile picture includes a dog, Bumble is offering Australians the chance to get their photo taken with a dog for $10. [READ MORE »]( News [Allison Lee exits Destination NSW as director of media and public relations]( The director of media and public relations at Destination NSW, Allison Lee, has departed after three years in the role. In a LinkedIn post, Lee said: “After three wonderful years at Destination NSW including three Vivid Sydney festivals, I’ve made the decision to open the door to new professionals challenges. Looking forward to finding my next role.” [READ MORE »]( News [Michael Johnstone joins Medical Media as commercial director]( Medical Media has appointed the former CEO of CafeScreen and vice president of MTV Network Australia and New Zealand, Michael Johnstone, as its commercial director and head of revenue. In 2011, Johnstone became the CEO of digital out-of-home company CafeScreen. He was at the helm when Ooh Media took a majority stake in the company in 2012, before fully acquiring it in 2015. [READ MORE »]( News [Primo campaign pitches bacon as transformative hangover cure]( Primo Smallgoods is targeting revellers recovering from the “inglorious fog of last night” in a campaign for its bacon range. The ad shows a worse-for-wear man indelicately preparing bacon and egg sandwiches, before viewers see their full effect. [READ MORE »]( News [The Royals launch Facebook Messenger research chatbot, Polly]( The Royals, in partnership with brand agency BrandHook, has launched a research chatbot named Polly which brands can customise to suit individual projects and needs. Polly uses a chatbot interface in Facebook Messenger to recruit people to respond to research questions directly on their phone. [READ MORE »]( News [Aldi issues 'epic reminder' for its special buys]( Discount supermarket Aldi has released a new spot to promote its special buys deals this month – promoting the extreme things consumers can do to ensure they remember the sale. Created by BMF, the 30-second advertisement shows two elderly men walking into a door frame which has been lowered to act as a head-bumping reminder. [READ MORE »]( News [Maxibon parodies police raids in 18th birthday campaign]( Peters’ ice-cream brand Maxibon has launched a campaign introducing the ‘Bonforce’, a squad dedicated to enforcing ‘Maxi’ bonding. Created by digital communications agency Deepend, the campaign launches today with a 20-second social video which shows the Bonforce reprimanding a boy who is not eating Maxibons with his friends on his birthday. [READ MORE »]( Sponsored Post Join marketers from Australia’s leading retail brands on February 28 On February 28, leading marketers will come together for [Mumbrella’s Retail Marketing Summit.]( Join brands like Subway, NAB, Estee Lauder, Lendlease, Nissan, Coca Cola, Lindt, Suncorp and more who have already booked their tickets. You’ll get a packed day of insights – from New York’s leading authority on global retail and shopping trends, Jon Bird; to the CMO of Aussie fashion giant, THE ICONIC – it’s one day for marketers you won’t want to miss. [Book now.]( F.Y.I. • [Independent video platform JW Player partners with SpotX]( • [Marcel’s associate CD Gavin Chimes joins Clemenger as senior copywriter]( • [Virginia Scully promoted to people and development director at Hatched Media]( Jobs [70 New Jobs]( MOST DISCUSSED [Former Domain boss Antony Catalano accused of misconduct by Fairfax press]( [Foxtel shuts FX channel, moves key content to Showcase]( [As big as television in the 1950s – the ABC lays out plans for the next 20 years]( [PwC CMO Advisory appoints Sunita Gloster as director]( mumbrella.com.au Sent By Focal Attractions Pty Ltd 46-48 Balfour Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008, Australia If you would rather not receive this newsletter, you can [unsubscribe]( or [manage subscriptions here.](