How ads for Democrats are tapping authentic storytelling

How ads for Democrats are tapping authentic storytelling | Isobar, Buick customize at scale with Director Mix | Stella Artois reminds viewers there's more to life Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( ADVERTISEMENT October 1, 2018 CONNECT WITH 4A's  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [4A's SmartBrief]( [4A's SmartBrief]( News for the advertising, media, and marcom industries [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [FORWARD]( [] Top Story [] [How ads for Democrats are tapping authentic storytelling]( [How ads for Democrats are tapping authentic storytelling]( (Amy McGrath for Congress/YouTube) Democratic candidates are opting for cinematic-type ads ahead of the November midterm elections, such as Putnam Partners' viral "Told Me" spot that tells the story of former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath who's running for Congress in Kentucky. "Voters are fed up with the usual cliches they see in political advertising," said Mark Putnam, explaining that candidates are taking a digital-first approach with authentic, documentary-style spots that are designed to encourage debate, sharing and getting behind a cause. [Adweek (tiered subscription model)]( (9/30) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] Creative [] [Isobar, Buick customize at scale with Director Mix]( [Isobar, Buick customize at scale with Director Mix]( (Buick/YouTube) Buick's new national push from Isobar employs Google's Director Mix, a beta advertising tool that facilitates the creation of dynamic ads at scale, to tout its Regal vehicles with over 30 15-second pre-roll spots. "The opportunity to leverage a new technology to reach shoppers with targeted custom messaging that resonates and connects was not only exciting, but groundbreaking," said Isobar US' Claudio De Souza. [Campaign US (free registration)]( (9/28), [The Drum (Scotland)]( (9/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] [Stella Artois reminds viewers there's more to life]( [Stella Artois reminds viewers there's more to life]( (Stella Artois/YouTube) A digital push from Stella Artois features Oscar award-winning producer Cathy Shulman, chef Jonah Reider and other influencers who have "mastered the art of living." Short roll films with each influencer discussing their passions aim to remind viewers of the importance of appreciating the simple things in life. [The Drum (Scotland)]( (9/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] Agency Insider [] [A look at VML's journey]( Omar Oakes and Brittaney Kiefer explore the story of VML from its beginnings in 1992 as a nontraditional agency, its purchase by WPP and now its merger with 95-year-old Y&R. The pair showcase some of VML's most prominent work, including the agency turning Wendy's into an iconic social presence and the "#NotATarget" campaign for the UN. [Campaign US (free registration)]( (9/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( . Digital Marketing Insights Sponsored content from Pathmatics [Q2 Digital Advertising Insights Report]( the Top Digital Advertisers Report for Q2 2018 unveiling the brands ranking highest for ad spend and impressions across display, mobile, and video. See how brands are allocating budgets across their digital media mix, and the categories throwing down the most cash to benchmark your strategy. [Get the report >>](   [How to Monitor Your Competitor's Spend on Facebook Ads]( you're running digital campaigns, you need to know how much the competition is spending, who they're targeting, and what they're promoting. When you monitor your competitor's entire digital media strategy, you'll learn all three. This level of marketing intelligence provides added value to the services you can provide to your clients. [See how >>](   Click [here]( to learn more about Featured Content [] Agency News [] [Hershey drops CP+B, welcomes Droga5]( Hershey Co. has announced that it has parted ways with Crispin Porter + Bogusky and added Droga5 to its agency roster. The brand invested $451 million in US advertising last year, a 3.9% rise, per the Ad Age Datacenter. [Ad Age (tiered subscription model)]( (9/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] [WPP tackles gender inequality with UN Women]( WPP is partnering with UN Women on a pro bono campaign titled "Creativity for Equality" across the US, UK, Mexico, India, Thailand and Turkey. The push promotes gender equality and creative will focus on two key events -- November's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence and March's International Women's Day. [MediaPost Communications]( (9/28), [The Drum (Scotland)]( (9/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] Media & Technology Trends [] [Starz: Facebook Stories ads beat news feed]( Starz Chief Marketing Officer Alison Hoffman reports that the TV network is experiencing double the rate of video completions in Facebook Stories compared with those featured in news feed. Starz has been experimenting with Stories ads for shows such as "Outlander" and "Power," and Hoffman also says that the format delivers lower costs per subscriber that are "more significant than a dollar or two." [Digiday]( (9/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] Association News [] 4A's StratFest: The Next 50 Years of Planning 4A's StratFest: The Next 50 Years of Planning Explore the evolving connection between brands and consumers at 4A's StratFest Oct. 9-11 in NYC. Join us as industry leaders to honor the past, celebrate present and envision the future of marketing and the role of planners -- and the Jay Chiat Awards! [Learn more and register here.]( [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] 4A's Agency Communications Summit 2018 in NYC 4A's Agency Communications Summit 2018 in NYC (4A's) The role of journalism and the press has never been more debated, or more important to the agency business -- and that conversation now includes the influence of social media. 4A's Agency Communications Summit is the biennial conference for marketing and agency communications pros to explore the issues impacting how agencies tell their stories. [Learn more and register here.]( [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( Learn more about 4A's: [Homepage]( | [Training Programs]( | [All Upcoming Events]( [] Hot Topics [] - [72andSunny, 23andMe turn genes into quirky personalities]( Ad Age (tiered subscription model) [] - [NYT ad signed by 1,600 men in support of Blasey Ford]( Ad Age (tiered subscription model) [] - [The Martin Agency celebrates Land O'Lakes' legacy]( The Drum (Scotland) [] - [Hill Holliday, Party City unveil Halloween push]( MediaPost Communications [] - [Will agency networks replace holding companies?]( AdExchanger [] [] In time of crisis, we summon up our strength. Then, if we are lucky, we are able to call every resource, every forgotten image that can leap to our quickening, every memory that can make us know our power. 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