3 Dec , 2009

Anna Barnwell from BMF Takes Out APG Idol Award

Eleven finalists vied for the title of APG Planning Idol with final presentations made yesterday to a panel of judges including Captain Paul Moulds of Oasis. The judges were unanimous in nominating Anna Barnwell [pictured left] for the top honour.

A Highly Commended award was presented to Meredith Simpson [pictured right] of The Brand Agency. Meredith and fellow Idol finalist Chris Baker from 303, represented a growing contingent of Perth members working in planning.


25 Nov, 2009

AFA Launches Digital Legal Guide for Agencies

In response to increasing complexities in the area of digital legal compliance, the AFA will launch a legal guide for agencies working within digital media.

Prepared by industry legal practitioner, Stephen von Muenster, Principal of VON MUENSTER Solicitors & Attorneys, the guide aims to raise awareness of potential hazards and assist agencies by providing appropriate advice on legal compliance.


18 Nov, 2009

The Communications Council Holds Inaugural Meeting

The three founder members of The Communications Council convened the first meeting of the new industry body this morning (18 November 2009), following the previous day’s landmark Extraordinary General Meetings which unanimously decided in favour of the Council’s creation.

Representatives of the Advertising Federation of Australia, the Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association and the Account Planning Group – The Communications Council’s three founding member organisations – met in Sydney to discuss key issues in the lead-up to the formal creation of the Council.


17 Nov, 2009

Advertising Federation of Australia Members Vote For Creation of New Industry Body

-The Communications Council gets the go-ahead-

Members of the Advertising Federation of Australia (AFA) have voted in favour of the creation of a new industry body, to be called The Communications Council.

At an Extraordinary General Meeting in Sydney, held 17 November 2009, the AFA membership unanimously endorsed the formation of The Communications Council, whose founder members will be the AFA, the Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association (AWARD) and the Account Planning Group (APG).


19 Oct, 2009

Industry Bodies Convene Extraordinary General Meetings – members to vote on formation

The Boards of Directors of the Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association (AWARD), the Advertising Federation of Australia (AFA) and the Account Planning Group (APG) have announced the next step towards the formation of a new organisation to bring together their respective strengths, expertise and knowledge.

30 Sept, 2009

Formation of new industry organisation

The Boards of Directors of the Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association (AWARD), the Advertising Federation of Australia (AFA) and the Account Planning Group (APG) today confirmed that they are in discussions about the possible formation of a new organisation to represent their interests.


14 Sept , 2009

AANA Publishes ‘Green Claims’ Advertising & Marketing Code

AANA will shortly begin  a program of activity to ensure its members and their marketing advisors  are aware of the Code and its provisions.  The Code will form part of AANA’s existing self-regulatory system and will be adjudicated by the Advertising Standards Board.  Complaints under the Code will be considered by the board from 1 January 2010.


2 Sept , 2009

The AFA responds to proposals by the PHT on Food, Alcohol and Sponsorship Regulation

The Advertising Federation of Australia (AFA) has responded to proposals tabled by the Federal Government’s National Preventative Health Taskforce (PHT) that would impose strict new regulations on food and alcohol advertising and sponsorship.

The National Chairman of the AFA, Belinda Rowe, said that while AFA members welcomed robust debate on the issues around alcohol and food advertising, they were also concerned that the PHT’s recommended strategy had not been framed on factual evidence.


2 Sept , 2009

Preventative Health Taskforce Strategy Report to address marketing food and alcohol beverages regulation.

The National Preventative Health Taskforce (PHT) has released their Strategy document ‘Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020’– aimed at addressing health issues including obesity and high-risk drinking.

This report underlines some significant concerns for our industry in its proposal to target food advertising to children and alcohol promotion, within the next 4 years.


23 June , 2009

AFA Victorian Appointment Confirmed

The AFA has appointed Audrey Maxwell to become its Member Services Executive in Melbourne.

This newly created position reflects the importance of the Victorian market to the marketing communications agency industry in Australia and the 25% of AFA members that work in Melbourne.


18 June, 2009

AFA to host ASB Seminars

The AFA will host a series of advertising code seminars in conjunction with the Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) in five Australian capital cities in August, as part of the organisation’s commitment to best practise and industry compliance.


3 June, 2009

The AFA AGM & Presentation by Joe Talcott

For a summary of our Chairman’s and Executive Director’s report,

Following the 2009 AFA AGM Joe Talcott’s made a thought-provoking presentation on his first 100 days as AANA Chairman


29 May , 2009

Finalists found for Inaugural Australian Effie Awards

  • 81 of 131 entries have made the second round cut
  • Judges impressed by overall quality of the entries
  • Innovative viral and digital campaigns reflect changing world of marketing communications

8 May , 2009

The ACCC has released information and guidelines on their new component pricing regulations due to take effect on 25 May 2009.

The guidelines refer to the ‘Clarity in Pricing’ amendments to the Trade Practices Act 1974, issued by the ACCC.

The key requirement for businesses advertising a product or service with added components, is to provide a single figure that reflects the total price to be paid.

Various components can be shown to illustrate how the total price is made up however the total price MUST be shown in a prominent way.

Special advice has been issued for the advertising of travel, motor vehicles and electrical goods.

Updates will be available in all AFA Trade Practices workshops.

General Information on Component Pricing

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/871339

Information For Travel Advertising

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/871368

Information for Motor Vehicle Advertising

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/871382

Information for Advertising of Electrical Goods/Whitegoods

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/871346


6 May, 2009

First Ever Australian EFFIE Awards Attract Bumper Entries

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The inaugural AFA EFFIE Awards for effective marketing communications have attracted 131 entries from 48 advertising agencies and clients across 16 categories.


28 Jan, 2009

Ad Ban Plans Will Dampen the Economic Recovery

With the Australian economy on the verge of going into recession, this is not the time to dampen economic activity by imposing advertising bans on the business community, according to the country’s peak marketing agency body, the Advertising Federation of Australia (AFA).