For an industry rooted in its understanding of people, seeing DEI as expendable is deeply problematic. It has never been more vital for leaders to continue to invest in progress.

Advertising is now dominated by a handful of players that don’t play by established rules, like JICs or trade bodies. This poses a huge risk for advertisers. 

Digital has an important role to play, but it’s time we stop talking down the classic billboard. For its ability to build trust, its scope for creativity and the attention it garners, the traditional OOH poster is here to stay. 

World Media Group members discuss the most important topics for 2025 in media and marketing, from publishers’ embrace of multimedia platforms and formats to post-election uncertainty.

Brand-building is not enough. We have to be world-builders — and this requires craft and reverence for the brand, married with media smarts and technology to distribute and optimise.

We have a fax machine TV trading system in the AI age. But the need for structural change can only be addressed with the full participation of the agency community.

Never have we seen such damaging constellations of forces coming together to undermine not just the democratic process, but ultimately the social democratic consensus.

We all want happiness, but we must be able to differentiate between unhappiness and poor mental health — and they are not always the responsibility of our employers.

As Isba turns 125 this year, it will step up efforts in its mission to create a transparent, responsible and accountable advertising environment.

A focus on transparency, indies versus holdcos, predators circling legacy brands… 2025 will see some big wins for those who make the right bets and fight the good fight.