US – The Media Leader

News analysis, opinion and insight for media and advertising professionals

Meta: Media planning can’t be replaced in AI era

Meta connection planning director Pete Buckley reassured big-brand media planners that its AI tools, which CEO Mark Zuckerberg has touted as being able to replace much of what they do, work best in tandem with humans.

Netflix’s ad tier reaches 190m monthly active viewers

The streaming giant’s EMEA ads VP sat down with The Media Leader to discuss three years of ads on Netflix, and what is coming next.

‘We are the change that has to happen’: Kilby and Ghey implore industry to disinvest from social media

The Bauer Media Advertising MD asked advertisers to take social media’s impact on mental health seriously by putting their wallets where their heart is.

So what is your f-cking job, media planners?

Lumen’s Mike Follett responds to feedback on his provocative comment that planners “do your fucking jobs”, lest they risk replacement by AI tools.

How Roku is piecing a fragmented TV landscape back together — with Tom Price

Roku’s content distribution director speaks with host Jack Benjamin about its recent developments in FAST and SVOD, what makes the UK TV market unique, and how it works with its content partners to improve discoverability.

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Opinion

Jake Thomas

Why are marketers pressing pause on more interactive platforms when consumers are playing forward? Snap’s senior commercial director believes ‘comfort’ is slowing marketers down.

Francesca Coia

In response to Mike Follett’s comments at Future of Media Manchester, one planner advises interrogating the platforms and tweaking how you utilise them; don’t blindly de-invest because of the attention metrics.

Lara MacAlpine

Community and peer advice matter to consumers. Fashion brands have an opportunity to be part of these communities, but only if driven by a real desire to become a constructive member.

Industry News

WPP CEO labels group’s performance ‘unacceptable’ as it looks to SMEs

Stagwell CEO: There is a ‘perverse distortion’ in the news media ad market

Why there is a ‘human premium’ in consumer research — with IPG Mediabrands’ Michael Brown

‘We are in a crisis’: Advertising: Who Cares? suggests media business models must change

Smart TV OEMs can use DirecTV UI with Ventura TV OS

CMOs on what makes publisher partnerships work: ‘Great partners push back’

Platforms’ teen safety efforts amount to ‘broken promises’ — with Andy Burrows and Harriet Kingaby

Binet and Davis warn of marketing ‘death spiral’ over focus on ROI

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The conference and community for media leaders, planners, buyers and strategists. Launched in 2021, The Future of Media has become the UK's leading event dedicated to media.

Curated by The Media Leader and driven by our mission champion the media industry, The Future of Media has consistently put the core media issues front and centre; allowing the industry to share and learn from the most prominent figures in the market.

Returning to Kings Place, 4-5 November, join our community of over 1000 of the brightest minds from across the industry who will gather to discuss best practice and excellence in media leadership, buying, selling, planning and business.
4-5 November 2025