The Media Leader Podcast
It has been a tough year for many working in media. Jobs appear to be shrinking amid AI transformations and cost-cutting drives necessitated by struggling or transitioning business models.
WPP has cut its head count by 7,000 in the past year. Omnicom’s acquisition of IPG will lead to “cost synergies”, which also translates to potential redundancies, and similar consolidations are expected to come to the TV market. Meanwhile, publishers continue to get squeezed by Big Tech via the development of AI search, and Big Tech itself is also replacing many of its workers, especially at the entry level, with AI.
We view our mission at The Media Leader in part as being as helpful as possible to the industry in which we serve. With that in mind, we wanted to open the conversation about redundancy and see if we could help impart advice on those affected or feeling precarious.
Annabel McCaffrey leads the Advice Line team for NABS, the ad industry’s wellbeing charity. Last year, NABS received a record number of calls from those in distress, including a 39% year-on-year increase in calls for redundancy support.
We asked our readers and listeners to send in their questions on the topic of redundancy and related topics, and host Jack Benjamin put those questions to McCaffrey.
Listen now by hitting the play button or use the appropriate entry point into Spotify, Apple or Google Podcasts:
Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode. Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audience.
Highlights
1:49: Characterising the current state of adland
5:21: Is AI replacing jobs, particularly at the entry level? Are jobs applications even being viewed by humans anymore?
15:05: Advice for putting a CV together, networking
22:53: How redundancy impacts people at different ages
39:07: How can organisations do more to support staff and achieve buy-in for mental wellness efforts?
Related articles
What to do if you’ve been made redundant: Tips from experts
WPP cut 7,000 jobs over past year
What I learnt from redundancy early in my career
Dealing with redundancy
Previous episodes
How opaque algorithms are influencing communication — with Lea Karam and Patrick Fagan
Measurement can’t be an afterthought — with IPA’s Denise Turner
Why sport is every brand’s playing field — with Sky’s Pippa Scaife and Dan Cohen
