The Media Leader

News analysis, opinion and insight for media and advertising professionals

AI in media: The biggest developments of 2026 so far

AI is moving beyond experimentation to become embedded into the infrastructure of media and advertising. Here is a roundup of the biggest AI developments so far this year.

Seven things you need to know about the ex-WPP whistleblower’s latest legal filing

A new legal filing by a former WPP executive claims Sony independently investigated the holding group’s proprietary media trading activity, finding evidence WPP wrongly retained $350m in client rebates.

A modern Greek tragedy

Ray Snoddy examines how responsible the journalists who wrote about Jason Arday were for his death.

Why OOH needs accountability

When OOH campaigns reach receptive audiences, run in attention-friendly environments, and are supported by transparent reporting, confidence will follow, writes Zoom Media’s MD.

What is the future of freesheets? With Metro’s Deborah Arthurs and Jo Mazenko

Metro’s editor-in-chief and commercial director discuss how the title has adapted to changing commuting habits and declining referral traffic with new distribution strategies.

The Media Leader

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Opinion

Graham Alexander

If the industry genuinely believes trust matters, now is the time to insist on the safeguards, transparency, and accountability that will protect consumers, brands, and our industry alike.

Jon Watts and Ian Maude

An update on the European Programmatic TV Initiative and its efforts to ensure programmatic TV scales as a premium, trusted, interoperable extension of television.

Omar Oakes

Why did no one think to replicate pre-clearance for online ad inventory, whether on the open web or on platforms? The result is a whole industry now tainted with trust issues.

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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23 Jun 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

AI in media: The biggest developments of 2026 so far

AI is moving beyond experimentation to become embedded into the infrastructure of media and advertising. Here is a roundup of the biggest AI developments so far this year.

Seven things you need to know about the ex-WPP whistleblower’s latest legal filing

A new legal filing by a former WPP executive claims Sony independently investigated the holding group’s proprietary media trading activity, finding evidence WPP wrongly retained $350m in client rebates.

A modern Greek tragedy

Ray Snoddy examines how responsible the journalists who wrote about Jason Arday were for his death.

Why OOH needs accountability

When OOH campaigns reach receptive audiences, run in attention-friendly environments, and are supported by transparent reporting, confidence will follow, writes Zoom Media’s MD.

What is the future of freesheets? With Metro’s Deborah Arthurs and Jo Mazenko

Metro’s editor-in-chief and commercial director discuss how the title has adapted to changing commuting habits and declining referral traffic with new distribution strategies.

The Media Leader

Opinion

If marketers care about trust, now is the time to show it

Europe’s programmatic TV market needs plumbing, not slogans

Media owners, why are you giving away your best product for next to nothing?

Industry News

Will YouTube’s new definition of a ‘view’ undermine its effort to tap into TV budgets?

Two-thirds of UK news articles about wildfires this summer haven’t mentioned climate change

‘Scale gets you reach, but relevance gets you impact’: The push beyond podcasting’s biggest shows

‘More of an operating company than a holding company’: Agency groups transition amid mixed growth picture

TML and AMI to deliver Challenger Stage at The Future of Media London

Has podcasting reached saturation point? Seven specialists weigh in

July box office climbs 35% as The Odyssey becomes biggest film of the year

AMRAs add six categories including Denise Turner award

Data Analysis

Has Origin failed?

Mapping the UK agency landscape

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

Campaign ROI is maximised when audio gets 25% of spend, finds Radiocentre report

Data Snapshot

Podcast Ad Promo Position Plays A Part In Perception

The ad-vantages of streaming

Our next event

Upcoming Event

The Future of Media Manchester 2026