The Media Leader

News analysis, opinion and insight for media and advertising professionals

Future 100 Club: Class of 2026 revealed

The Media Leader names the fifth cohort of The Future 100 Club, the talent competition that ignores age, length of service and job title to instead champion disruption, inclusion, courage and excellence.

New York Times, Observer, Economist, ITV News among 40 new members to join SPUR Coalition

The coalition was founded in the UK this year as a ‘NATO for news’ to prevent AI companies from misusing or profiting off publisher IP without permission.

Calling out scam ads is easy. Fixing the programmatic supply chain takes partnership and work

Times Media’s commercial director responds to Nick Manning’s frustration at seeing scam ads in trusted news media.

What Generation Alpha reveals about trust in a post-social media world

Generation Alpha may discover brands through search, social media and online video, but trust remains rooted in human relationships, according to research from the7stars.

Be careful what you wish for: Why advertisers are pulling the wrong agency levers

Advertisers who design contracts that starve strategic planning and creativity are dismantling the part of the agency they’ll need most, writes Paul Evans.

The Media Leader

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Opinion

Nicola Kemp

An industry debate which punishes women for calling out the damage toxic media narratives do to women and girls leaves us all falling short, writes Nicola Kemp.

Elliott Millard

Kantar finds that marketers have a growing lack of confidence in their media decisions. This could be due to ‘fear of missing out on marketing opportunities’, argues Thinkbox CSO Elliott Millard.

Sharon Lloyd Barnes

The Future Leaders Network will feed insights, lived experiences, and big ideas into broader industry discussions and programmes, says the AA’s commercial director.

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

Future 100 Club: Class of 2026 revealed

The Media Leader names the fifth cohort of The Future 100 Club, the talent competition that ignores age, length of service and job title to instead champion disruption, inclusion, courage and excellence.

New York Times, Observer, Economist, ITV News among 40 new members to join SPUR Coalition

The coalition was founded in the UK this year as a ‘NATO for news’ to prevent AI companies from misusing or profiting off publisher IP without permission.

Calling out scam ads is easy. Fixing the programmatic supply chain takes partnership and work

Times Media’s commercial director responds to Nick Manning’s frustration at seeing scam ads in trusted news media.

What Generation Alpha reveals about trust in a post-social media world

Generation Alpha may discover brands through search, social media and online video, but trust remains rooted in human relationships, according to research from the7stars.

Be careful what you wish for: Why advertisers are pulling the wrong agency levers

Advertisers who design contracts that starve strategic planning and creativity are dismantling the part of the agency they’ll need most, writes Paul Evans.

The Media Leader

Opinion

Wanted: More difficult women

FOMOMO and dying confidence

Advertising’s next generation: Why we are creating the Future Leaders Network

Industry News

How is Playout data verified? Mediasense explains its OOH audit process

AMI co-founders look to launch rival body for independents after being removed by AIA

Why one-third of PMG’s employees are engineers – with EMEA CEO Josh Krichefski

ITV’s generative AI ads feature attracts 16 new-to-TV advertisers in debut year

Upfronts 2026: Amazon, Disney, Mail Metro Media, Netflix kick off season of pomp and circumstance

Lots of bigs and lots of littles: Lumen finds cumulative attention drives brand outcomes

Are you in a promotion dependency spiral? 75% of marketers are unable to identify profitable promotions

Stagwell transforms Assembly into global agency Stagwell Media

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