The News Alliance surveyed media agencies and advertisers, finding that brand safety concerns are still causing hesitation to include news on media plans — despite research showing advertising on news doesn’t have adverse effects on brands.

Analysis by agency intelligence providers Agency by Agency has shown women occupy 57% of the lowest-paid roles highlighting entrenched barriers to progress and equality.

WACL and The Marketing Academy Foundation’s Lianre Robinson breaks down the latest IPA Census figures and what they mean for progress and regress within the advertising industry.

Each of the holding companies entered Q4 with diverse pressures, however the collective picture is one of transition, the promise of AI-driven reinvention, slowing client budgets, integration costs and structural challenges. 

The convenor of the group of senior ad agency leaders discusses why they believe the industry is failing its moral and civic duties to society, and addresses why they’ve elected to remain anonymous.

WPP Media’s Advertising Intelligence Framework evaluates current AI leaders across categories including data, tech, distribution, commerce and content. Big Tech firms are locked in a battle for the future of advertising, the framework suggests.

The contraction comes amid a period of substantial consolidation of agency groups and supposed AI-driven cost-cutting efforts.

Welcome to The Media Leader’s live coverage of LEAD 2026, taking place today at the QEII Centre in Westminster. The Advertising Association’s centenary summit, hosted with ISBA and the IPA, brings together over 450 senior leaders from across the political, media and advertising landscape under the theme “Leadership Through Trust”.

This year will be centred around optimism and growth, with the media giant arguing the “renaissance” of brand building will bring opportunities in OOH.

Analysis: The opt-out model marks a significant step forward, however, scratching beneath the surface there are concerns the scheme doesn’t go far enough.