The Media Leader

News analysis, opinion and insight for media and advertising professionals

The asymmetry of risk: why does news pay a price platforms don’t

At The News Alliance breakfast, senior marketers agreed that trusted news is one of the best places to build a brand. So why is it still treated as the riskiest place to spend?.

Upfronts 2026: Paramount simplifies streaming ad buy; Goalhanger asserts ‘niche is the new mainstream’

The Media Leader will be publishing news, highlights, and takeaways from media owners’ upfront events this autumn. Among the announcements, Amazon has joined Barb’s CFlight, Mail Metro Media has unveiled new branding, and Netflix made its UK upfront debut.

Why Stagwell launched Stagwell Media – with Slavi Samardzija

Stagwell’s global chair of media and commerce discusses the rationale for its new media agency and the degree to which agency groups are building comparable AI-driven products.

Week in Focus: Future of Brands – Creator Economy recap

From creators becoming media businesses in their own right to the ongoing debate over measurement, brand safety and authenticity, The Media Leader looks back at the Creator Economy Week in Focus.

Meta keeps growing amid $25bn fine and ‘outrageous assault on journalism’

The tech giant posted 26% year-on-year revenue growth to $64.6bn in Q3, with growth continuing amid rising costs, a record-setting fine, and changes to its terms of service that would force publishers to allow AI scraping.

The Media Leader

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Opinion

Kerry Nortcliffe

Under the Employment Rights Act 2025, employers with 250+ staff need to publish a menopause action plan from spring 2027. Kerry Nortcliffe looks at what makes a good policy.

Charli West

After 25 years at Radiocentre, the planning director reflects on his career championing radio, the impact of its effectiveness research and the work still needed to win advertisers’ budgets.

Liz Parkin

KISS demonstrates that by combining the strengths of traditional media and the creator economy, established media brands can build on their heritage while adapting to changing audience behaviours.

Data Snapshot

Data-led charts from across the UK media landscape

Find out more about the UK's most comprehensive aggregator of media data.

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22 Sep 2026

28 Jul 2026

Our next event

The Future of Media Manchester 2026 is the region's premier event bringing together media planners, strategists, and buyers to explore the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping the commercial media landscape. Hosted by The Media Leader, the event features expert speakers, thought-provoking debates and research-led sessions designed to spark honest conversations about where the industry is heading. Taking place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on 17 September, the event will bring together 600+ industry professionals and 40+ speakers for a full day of insight, discussion and networking. Attendees can expect sharp debates, fresh perspectives and valuable connections with senior leaders across the media ecosystem — making it a must-attend for anyone looking to stay ahead of the industry’s next chapter.
17 September 2026

News analysis, opinion and insight for media and advertising professionals

The asymmetry of risk: why does news pay a price platforms don’t

At The News Alliance breakfast, senior marketers agreed that trusted news is one of the best places to build a brand. So why is it still treated as the riskiest place to spend?.

Upfronts 2026: Paramount simplifies streaming ad buy; Goalhanger asserts ‘niche is the new mainstream’

The Media Leader will be publishing news, highlights, and takeaways from media owners’ upfront events this autumn. Among the announcements, Amazon has joined Barb’s CFlight, Mail Metro Media has unveiled new branding, and Netflix made its UK upfront debut.

Why Stagwell launched Stagwell Media – with Slavi Samardzija

Stagwell’s global chair of media and commerce discusses the rationale for its new media agency and the degree to which agency groups are building comparable AI-driven products.

Week in Focus: Future of Brands – Creator Economy recap

From creators becoming media businesses in their own right to the ongoing debate over measurement, brand safety and authenticity, The Media Leader looks back at the Creator Economy Week in Focus.

Meta keeps growing amid $25bn fine and ‘outrageous assault on journalism’

The tech giant posted 26% year-on-year revenue growth to $64.6bn in Q3, with growth continuing amid rising costs, a record-setting fine, and changes to its terms of service that would force publishers to allow AI scraping.

The Media Leader

Opinion

World Menopause Month: Enough talk with no change – we need to move to action

Charmingly silly: Mark Barber on 25 years making the case for radio

The creator economy is a two-way street

Industry News

Anonymous group of ad execs asks for intervention on ad industry’s funding of hate

Thinkbox launches tool to compare cultural impact of media channels

Exclusive: James Denton-Clark takes charge of Stagwell Europe

How Beehiiv is accelerating ad-funded indie publishing

Netflix reduces ad revenue forecast amid ‘slower than expected’ rollout of products

Creators offer ‘more than reach’: What’s driving creator partnership growth?

Purple Goat launches Antidote to improve representation of disabled creators

Journalists who built careers in traditional publishing are leaving it for the creator economy

Data Analysis

Cities: A moving target for planners

How spectacular advertising can hijack the algorithm

Has Origin failed?

Mapping the UK agency landscape

Data Snapshot

End of year cinematic treats

Podcast Ad Promo Position Plays A Part In Perception

Our next event

Upcoming Event

The Future of Media Manchester 2026