The Media Leader

News analysis, opinion and insight for media and advertising professionals

Strategic thinking is biggest skills gap in marketing, WFA-Mediasense report finds

Organisations ‘over-corrected’ in hiring based on technical skills rather than critical and strategic judgement, and incentives are needed to reward AI adoption, report says.

Why I now love B2B

Spirit Media’s CEO offers planning and strategy tips for getting the best out of B2B.

Publicis won most new business in H1 2026, followed closely by Omnicom, WPP

The latest figures from COMvergence show a three-horse race emerged for new business in the first half of the year.

Why global brands must become ‘internationally local’

A culturally multipolar world means we need to understand not just how Western culture lands in other markets, but also how cultural influences might cross-pollinate our tastes, content preferences, and media behaviours.

How live signals help build stronger media plans

When live signals from media owners and commerce partners flow into the planning process, the resulting plan will be quite different to one built on panel data alone, writes the global head of InfoSum.

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Opinion

Jamie Credland

Ahead of this year’s World Media Awards Ceremony, World Media Group’s CEO shares what the judging discussions reveal about what makes a winning campaign.

Sandy Shing

With only a couple of weeks to go until the Adwanted Media Research Awards deadline, Adwanted’s head of marketing Sandy Shing reveals some secrets to success.

Omar Oakes

If pitches are making way for ‘closed reviews’, this could be planning’s great opportunity, argues Omar Oakes.

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

Strategic thinking is biggest skills gap in marketing, WFA-Mediasense report finds

Organisations ‘over-corrected’ in hiring based on technical skills rather than critical and strategic judgement, and incentives are needed to reward AI adoption, report says.

Why I now love B2B

Spirit Media’s CEO offers planning and strategy tips for getting the best out of B2B.

Publicis won most new business in H1 2026, followed closely by Omnicom, WPP

The latest figures from COMvergence show a three-horse race emerged for new business in the first half of the year.

Why global brands must become ‘internationally local’

A culturally multipolar world means we need to understand not just how Western culture lands in other markets, but also how cultural influences might cross-pollinate our tastes, content preferences, and media behaviours.

How live signals help build stronger media plans

When live signals from media owners and commerce partners flow into the planning process, the resulting plan will be quite different to one built on panel data alone, writes the global head of InfoSum.

The Media Leader

Opinion

The case for putting your work on trial: BTS at Judges’ Day

What five years of AMRAs winners tells us about how to create a winning entry

Love great media planning? Then charge for it

Industry News

Planning and strategy roles have increased 18.5% at media agencies since 2024

Your guide to anti-ultra-processed planning – with Craft Media’s Sally Weavers and Jen Jones

News UK’s Octave launches direct sales of audio ads on YouTube

Why brands looking for growth can’t afford to miss Tuning In 2026

Reach to cut 13% of commercial roles as part of wider restructure

Black-led networks join forces to call for greater investment in community

Cultural relevance drives 15% of UK sales, Newsworks research finds

Ad-tier subscriptions and their impact on SVOD in the UK

Data Analysis

How spectacular advertising can hijack the algorithm

Has Origin failed?

Mapping the UK agency landscape

The industry is calling it cross-media. It’s not

Data Snapshot

End of year cinematic treats

Podcast Ad Promo Position Plays A Part In Perception

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The Future of Media Manchester 2026