Growth isn’t a media problem. It’s a decision-making problem.
Because (whisper it), most growth doesn't come from marketing alone. Paul Sinkinson, MD, Analytic Partners For years, marketers have been told that growth lives or dies in the media plan. Pick the right channels, optimise the mix, and squeeze harder on performance....
Inside the jury room: Cannes Download speakers announced
Brent Smart, Rose Herceg, Clare Pickens, Micah Walker and Sam Stuchbury are among the Cannes Lions jurors and creative leaders who will take audiences inside this year's Festival of Creativity when Cannes Download returns from August. Touring Sydney, Melbourne,...
Clemenger and Special lead Effie finalist tally
Advertising Council Australia has announced a record 148 finalists for the 2026 Australian Effie Awards, the largest finalist field in the program's history. Clemenger BBDO leads the field with 15 nominations, followed by Special Australia (12) and BMF and Saatchi...
Permission to fail: How AWARD’s GenAI Sprint gave creativity room to play
By Hilary Badger, Executive Creative Director, Leo Australia Creativity is mostly failure. That’s uncomfortable to say, yet every creative knows it’s true. Developing and crafting ideas is a process of endless experiments, dead ends, and outright failures. And...
New TGA guidance: Advertising boundaries for prescription medicines & health services
By Amanda Fuller, Managing Partner, Omnicom Health & ACA representative on TGA's Consultative Group for Consumer Guidance The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has released new guidance on complying with the restrictions on advertising prescription medicines...
Cannes Download national roadshow returns: Aug 12-Sept 1
Following a sold-out 2025 season, the highly anticipated Cannes Download roadshow is returning to big screens across Australia from mid-August. The world’s most prestigious, debated and disruptive creative work comes direct from Cannes to Australian cinemas, offering...
Samira Ansari, David Droga headline AWARD industry lunch
AWARD will bring together Australia’s creative community for an exclusive Sydney event on August 12 featuring two of the most influential figures in global advertising — 47th AWARD Awards Jury President Samira Ansari and Lion of St Mark recipient, AWARD Hall of Famer...
80% of your ads aren’t attributable. So, when did you last put a jingle in your brief?
Radio is the most trusted media channel*, and the jingle is a tool that makes your entire marketing mix work harder. So why are marketers leaving money on the table? As marketers, we all love a jingle. That unique earworm that just embeds itself in the mind of...
To be or to B2B? In today’s creative landscape, that is the question.
Move over Titanium, the wild creativity of B2B is here, says Cocogun’s Creative Partner, Ant Melder. An iconic Belgian beefcake stares serenely down the barrel of the camera as his ankles, strapped to the wing mirrors of two reversing trucks, move eye-wateringly...
Photoplay hosts top creatives at AWARD Awards judges’ drinks
Some of Australia’s most respected creative leaders gathered in Sydney on Wednesday evening as judging entered its final stages for the 47th AWARD Awards, with industry production company Photoplay hosting AWARD’s annual judges’ drinks at The Waratah. The event...
Synthetic personas are trending. Here’s why real consumers still win
By Lucy Travaglia, Head of Research at Ideally The research industry is having its AI moment. Synthetic personas, AI-generated respondents, digital twins of your target consumer. The pitch is compelling: instant data, zero recruitment, infinite scale. No wonder 69% of...
The 18-Week Amnesia Effect: Why your most defensible budget cut is often your most expensive
By Paul Sinkinson, Managing Director Australia and Asia, Analytic Partners Every marketer knows the feeling. The forecast wobbles, finance wants options by Friday, and the fastest way to look disciplined is to go dark for a quarter and wait it out. It feels...
Australia’s Young Lions take on the world stage at Cannes
Australia’s 2026 Young Lions teams took on the global stage at Cannes last week, competing against young professionals from 69 countries in one of the industry’s most intense creative competitions. More than 400 competitors took part in this year’s global Young Lions...
Australia wraps Cannes Lions 2026 with 11 Lions overall
Australia has wrapped up the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity with 11 Lions, including two Grand Prix, two Gold, six Silver and one Bronze. One of the biggest highlights came from Leo Australia, whose Haven campaign for Suncorp Insurance secured...
Australia claims second Grand Prix as Leo wins Titanium at Cannes
Australia has closed out the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity with one of its biggest wins of the week, securing another Grand Prix alongside an additional Bronze Lion on the Festival’s final day. Leo Australia secured the prestigious Dan Wieden...
Special, Leo secure three more Silver Lions at Cannes
Australia has picked up three more Silver Lions on the penultimate day of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, with wins overnight across Brand Experience & Activation and Creative Effectiveness. Leo Australia secured Silver in Brand Experience...
Australia claims first Grand Prix at Cannes with Special’s Uber Eats win
Australia has secured its first Grand Prix at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, alongside Gold, Silver and Bronze Lions, led by Special Australia and Special US winning the Media Grand Prix for Uber Eats’ Build Your Own Super Bowl Commercial....
Australia adds to Cannes Lions tally as TBWA wins second Lion
TBWA/Australia has claimed its second Lion at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, winning Silver for Sunburnt Car for mycar Tyre & Auto. The campaign, created in collaboration with ELEVEN and BOLT Sydney/ODD STUDIOS, was recognised in the...
Leo, VML, Special and TBWA pick up more shortlists at Cannes Lions
Australia has picked up 13 more shortlist nominations overnight for Cannes Lions 2026. Leo Australia picked up six additional shortlists for Suncorp Insurance’s “Haven” across both Brand Experience & Activation and Creative Data, while VML Sydney picked up four...
Australia claims Gold and Silver on opening day of Cannes Lions 2026
Australia has secured its first Gold and Silver Lions at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, with TBWA/Sydney and mycar Tyre & Auto winning Gold for Sunburnt Car, and VML Sydney and 1001 Optometry winning Silver for Magnif-Eye. Sunburnt Car...
Australia lands first Cannes Lions shortlists
Cannes Lions has released the first round of shortlists for this year’s awards, with Australia shortlisted 41 times so far. Categories that have been announced include Audio & Radio, Creative B2B, Creative Brand, Health & Wellness, Outdoor, Pharma, Print &...
AWARD reveals winning work for AWARD Lab GenAI Sprint
The Australasian Writers and Art Directors (AWARD) has revealed the AWARD Lab GenAI Sprint’s winning creative campaign, which will launch across Digital Out-of-Home screens from today. Developed by Rhys Callanan and Liam Ratliff for +ONE SERVE for AUSVEG, the campaign...
Finalists announced for 47th AWARD Awards
Finalists for the 47th AWARD Awards have been announced. Bear Meets Eagle on Fire leads the pack with 37 finalist entries, followed by McCann NZ with 36, Howatson+Company with 26, and VML with 24. A full list of finalists can be accessed here. By category, entrants...
If AI models converge by design, how do we make space for oddity?
By Hannah Sturrock, National Head of Engagement, Advertising Council Australia There's a conversation happening right now about AI use that I think needs more exploration. What does it actually mean to use AI creatively, rather than just efficiently? AI, by its...