By Phil Ely from Phil Ely Communications and Dr. Shannon Bosshard, founder and managing director at Neuroconsulting Australia

Highlights of the 2024 ACRA Awards: Ben Fordham crowned Individual Talent of the Year, Jonesy & Amanda win Best On-Air Team (Metro), and Hannah’s Story claims Podcast of the Year.

Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller, have been named Best On-Air Team (Metro) at the 35th annual Australian Commercial Radio & Audio (ACRA) Awards, held at The Star, Sydney. This marks the fifth time the WSFM stars have won the coveted title, taking home the award in 2012, 2014, 2019, and 2023.

Ben Fordham, the voice behind 2GB’s Sydney breakfast show, was honoured as Individual Talent of the Year (Metro) in recognition of his outstanding impact on Australian radio. He also took home the Best Talk Presenter (Metro) award for the second consecutive year.

The Kyle & Jackie O Hour of Power (ARN) continued its dominance, winning Best Networked Show, while Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne of Life Uncut were awarded Podcast Host(s) of the Year for their candid conversations that have captured audiences across Australia.

‘ACRA winners are setting the bar for excellence’

CRA chief executive officer Lizzie Young praised the winners, saying, “These awards recognise the talent, passion, and creativity that drive the audio industry forward. From impactful local news to engaging entertainment, the ACRA winners are setting the bar for excellence in Australian radio and audio.”

Lizzie Young

The prestigious Gudinski Award for Australian Music Champion was presented to Triple M Homegrown with Matty O (SCA). Honouring the late Michael Gudinski, the award celebrates outstanding contributions to Australian music, and Matty O’s dedication to showcasing local talent has made Triple M Homegrown a key platform for artists.

The podcasting world also celebrated major wins, with Hannah’s Story (9Podcasts, Nine Radio) named Podcast of the Year. The true crime sensation, produced by Jess Lodge, Melissa Downes, and Adam Buncher, has captivated listeners across the country.

Australia’s love for audio in all forms was also recognised with awards for innovation, including iHeartTrivia (iHeartRadio Team) winning Most Innovative DAB Format and The Reporter True Stories (6PR, Nine Radio) winning Best Podcast by a Radio Show.

Individual Talent of The Year – Metro: Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio at ACRA’s 2024, The Star Sydney

Key 2024 ACRA Awards Winners:

• Best On-Air Team (Metro): Jonesy & Amanda, WSFM, Sydney NSW, ARN
• Individual Talent of the Year (Metro): Ben Fordham, 2GB, Sydney NSW, Nine Radio
• Best Networked Show: The Kyle & Jackie O Hour of Power, KIIS Network, Sydney NSW, ARN
• Best Talk Presenter (Metro): Ben Fordham, 2GB, Sydney NSW, Nine Radio
• Podcast of the Year: Hannah’s Story, 9Podcasts, VIC, Nine Radio
• Podcast Host(s) of the Year: Brittany Hockley & Laura Byrne, Life Uncut, ARN/iHeart, Sydney NSW
• Best Podcast by a Radio Show: The Reporter True Stories, 6PR, Perth WA, Nine Radio
• Most Innovative DAB Format: iHeartTrivia, iHeartRadio Team, NSW, ARN 

2024 ACRA Awards Full Winners List

ENTERTAINMENT & TALENT                                                                                                                                                                

BEST ON AIR TEAM (METRO)
Jonesy & Amanda; Brendan Jones, Amanda Keller, WSFM, Sydney, NSW, ARN

BEST ON AIR TEAM (PROVINCIAL)
Flan, Ali & Spida; Sean Flanagan, Ali Plath, Spida Everitt, 92.5 Triple M Gold Coast, Gold Coast, QLD, SCA 

BEST ON AIR TEAM (COUNTRY)
Mixx Brekky with Jimmy & Lippi; Matt Lipiarski, James Thwaites; Mixx FM, Colac, VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters

INDIVIDUAL TALENT OF THE YEAR (METRO)
Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio

INDIVIDUAL TALENT OF THE YEAR (PROVINCIAL)
Katie Woolf; Mix 104.9, Darwin, NT, ARN

INDIVIDUAL TALENT OF THE YEAR (COUNTRY)
Courtney McIntyre; Mixx FM, Hamilton, VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters

BEST PROGRAM/CONTENT DIRECTOR (METRO) 
Luke Davis; 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio

2GB Continuous Call team in Las Vegas – 2GB content director Luke Davis (left) with Mark Riddell, Mark Levy, Darryl Brohman and Josh Morris

BEST PROGRAM/CONTENT DIRECTOR (NON METRO) 
Brendon ‘Whippy’ Dangar; 1029 Hot Tomato, Gold Coast, QLD, ARN

BEST NETWORKED SHOW 
Kyle & Jackie O Hour of Power; Kyle Sandilands & Jackie Henderson; KIIS Network, ARN

Best Networked Show – National: The Kyle & Jackie O Hour of Power; KIIS Network Sydney, NSW, ARN at ACRA’s 2024, The Star Sydney

BEST MUSIC HOST (METRO) 
‘Ugly’ Phil O’Neil; WSFM, Sydney, NSW, ARN

BEST MUSIC HOST (PROVINCIAL) 
Cam Hilder; i98FM, Wollongong, NSW, WIN Network

BEST MUSIC HOST (COUNTRY) 
Sarah Grigg; Mixx FM Swan Hill, Swan Hill, VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters

THE BRENNO / BEST NEW TALENT ON AIR – RADIO (METRO)
Andrew ‘Hayesy’ Hayes; Nova 919, Adelaide, SA, NOVA Entertainment

THE BRENNO / BEST NEW TALENT ON AIR – RADIO (PROVINCIAL)
Tubes Taylor; 107.3 Triple M Hobart, Hobart, TAS, SCA

THE BRENNO / BEST NEW TALENT ON AIR – RADIO (COUNTRY)
Nicholas Groer; Chilli North East, Launceston, TAS, ARN

BEST NEW TALENT OFF AIR – RADIO (METRO) 
Ella Kanna; KIIS 1065, Sydney, NSW, ARN

BEST NEW TALENT OFF AIR – RADIO (NON METRO) 
Leesa Singleton; 864 Triple M Toowoomba/Darling Downs, Toowoomba, QLD, SCA

STATION OF THE YEAR (METRO)
2GB; Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio

STATION OF THE YEAR (NON-METRO)
1029 Hot Tomato; Gold Coast, QLD, ARN

BEST COMEDY SEGMENT (NON METRO)
Hans The Aldi Mole; Sam Archie Arenson, Henry Bretz, Power100, Townsville, QLD, ARN

Best Comedy Segment – Metro: Aussie We Didn’t Start The Fire; Ben Harvey, Belle Jackson, Liam Stapleton, NOVA 100, Melbourne, VIC, NOVA Entertainment at ACRA’s 2024, The Star Sydney

BEST COMEDY SEGMENT (METRO)
Aussie We Didn’t Start The Fire; Ben Harvey, Liam Stapleton, Belle Jackson, Nova 100, Melbourne, VIC, NOVA Entertainment

Best On-Air Team – Metro: Jonesy & Amanda; Brendan Jones, Amanda Keller, WSFM, Sydney, NSW, ARN at ACRA’s 2024, The Star Sydney

SALES & MARKETING

SALES TEAM OF THE YEAR (NATIONAL)
Adelaide Direct Sales Team; Adelaide, SA, NOVA Entertainment

SALESPERSON OF THE YEAR (METRO)
Isabella Lorimer; Sydney, NSW, ARN

SALESPERSON OF THE YEAR (NON METRO)
Leigh Irwin; Hot Tomato Southport, NSW, ARN

MOST CREATIVE SALES SOLUTION (METRO)

Zooper Dooper Mission Space Freeze; Cam Busby, Sophie Hudson, Aaron Joseph, Melbourne, VIC, SCA

MOST CREATIVE SALES SOLUTION (NON METRO)
Archibald by ALAND; Lauren Montgomery, Alice Worthy, Star 104.5, Central Coast, NSW, NOVA Entertainment 

PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (METRO)
Kerry Gregory; KIIS Network, Melbourne, VIC, ARN

PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (NON-METRO)
Amelia Cutmore; 864 Triple M Toowoomba/Darling Downs, Toowoomba, QLD, SCA

MOST CREATIVE STATION PROMOTION (METRO)
Golden Holden; The Christian O’Connell Show, Gold 104.3     Melbourne, VIC, ARN

MOST CREATIVE STATION PROMOTION (NON METRO)
Lyndal & Crammy’s Origin or Bust; Lyndal & Crammy, 96.5 Wave FM, Wollongong, NSW, ARN

MARKETING TEAM OF THE YEAR 
NOVA Entertainment Marketing; National, NOVA Entertainment

BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN (NATIONAL)
Smooth FM – Together in Music; NOVA Entertainment Marketing, National, NOVA Entertainment

Podcast Host Of The Year – National: Brittany Hockley & Laura Byrne; Life Uncut, ARN & iHeart, Sydney, NSW, ARN at ACRA’s 2024, The Star Sydney

PODCASTS & DIGITAL

PODCAST HOST/S OF THE YEAR (NATIONAL)
Brittany Hockley & Laura Byrne; Life Uncut, ARN & iHeart, Sydney, NSW, ARN

BEST PODCAST BY A RADIO SHOW (NATIONAL)
The Reporter True Stories; 6PR, Perth, WA, Nine Radio

PODCAST OF THE YEAR (NATIONAL)
Hannah’s Story; Jess Lodge, Melissa Downes, Adam Buncher, 9Podcasts, VIC, Nine Radio

BEST NEW TALENT – PODCAST (NATIONAL)
Joey Watson; LiSTNR, Sydney, NSW, SCA

MOST INNOVATIVE DAB FORMAT (NATIONAL)
iHeartTrivia; iHeartRadio Team National, iHeartRadio Team, NSW, ARN 

PRODUCTION

BEST RADIO SHOW PRODUCER (METRO)
Liam McGuire; 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio

BEST RADIO SHOW PRODUCER (NON-METRO)
Monique Cremona; 1029 Hot Tomato, Gold Coast, QLD, ARN

BEST PODCAST PRODUCER (NATIONAL) 
Jess Lodge; Hannah’s Story, 9Podcasts, Brisbane, QLD, Nine Radio

BEST IMAGING PRODUCER (METRO)
David Konsky; Hit Network, Melbourne, VIC, SCA

BEST IMAGING PRODUCER (NON METRO)
Dan King; K Rock 95.5, Geelong, VIC, Grant Broadcasters

DIGITAL TEAM OF THE YEAR 
Jenna Benson, Brendan Jones, Amanda Keller; WSFM Sydney, NSW, ARN

BEST DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR
Jenna Benson; WSFM, Sydney, NSW, ARN

BEST INNOVATION IN ENGINEERING
Project Grande; ARN Regional – Brad Hambleton, Greg Hateley, ARN, Canberra, ACT, ARN

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – SINGLE (METRO)
Fisiocrem; Nikki Price, Jamie Lechner, 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – SINGLE (NON METRO)
Ace Building Co; Chloe Burgess-Jones, David Horspool, Hit 101.3 / 107.7 Triple M, Gosford, NSW, SCA

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – CAMPAIGN (METRO)
Unique Homestyle Foods; CREATE – Darren Russell, Eddie Bye, Adelaide, SA, NOVA Entertainment

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – CAMPAIGN (NON METRO)
Avoiding Hackers; Robbie Goodwin, Kelcie Toet, Mark Stevens, TRFM, Traralgon, VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters

TALK, NEWS & SPORT

BRIAN WHITE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM 
Clinton Maynard; 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio

THE GLENN DANIEL AWARD – BEST NEWS PRESENTER FM – (METRO)
Patrina Jones; GOLD104.3, Melbourne, VIC, ARN

THE GLENN DANIEL AWARD – BEST NEWS PRESENTER FM – (NON METRO)
Matt McDonald; 1029 Hot Tomato, Gold Coast, QLD, ARN

BEST NEWS PRESENTER AM – (METRO)
David Armstrong; 3AW, Melbourne, VIC, Nine Radio

BEST NEWS PRESENTER AM – (NON METRO)
Emma Clark; 3WM, Horsham, VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters

BEST NEWS EVENT COVERAGE
Bondi Attacks; Ben Fordham, Mark Levy, Will Bottom, 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio

BEST LOCAL NEWS TEAM – (COUNTRY)
Triple M Newcastle; David Dollin, Dan Flegg, Saskia Channing, 102.9 Triple M Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, SCA

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PRESENTER – (NATIONAL)
Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio

 BEST SPORTS PRESENTER – (METRO)
David Morrow; 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio

BEST SPORTS PRESENTER (NON-METRO)
Annabelle Brett; 102.3 Triple M Townsville, Townsville, QLD, SCA

BEST SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE (METRO)
2023 NRL Grand Final – Panthers Miracle Comeback; The Continuous Call Team, Ray Hadley, Mark Levy, Darryl Brohman, Mark Riddell, 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio

BEST SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE (NON-METRO)
2023 AFL Grand Final; K rock Football Commentary Team, K rock 95.5, Geelong, VIC, Grant Broadcasters

BEST DOCUMENTARY – AUDIO – (NATIONAL)
Secrets We Keep – Shame, Lies and Family; Amelia Oberhardt, Ellen Leabeater, Jake Morcom, Nial Fernandes, LiSTNR , Brisbane, QLD, SCA

BEST COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN (METRO)
Gifts For Kids; The Christian O’Connell Show, Gold 104.3, Melbourne, VIC ARN 

BEST COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN (PROVINCIAL)
i98FM Illawarra Convoy; i98FM Illawarra Convoy Team, i98FM, Wollongong, NSW, WIN Network

BEST COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN (COUNTRY)
Christmas by the Lake; 3CS & Mixx FM Team, 3CS & Mixx FM, Colac, VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters

BEST TALK PRESENTER (METRO)
Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio 

BEST TALK PRESENTER (NON-METRO)
Katie Woolf; Mix 104.9, Darwin, NT, ARN

Individual Talent Of The Year – Provincial: Katie Woolf; Mix 104.9, Darwin, NT, ARN at ACRA’s 2024, The Star Sydney

MUSIC

BEST MUSIC FEATURE
Taylor Swift Triple M Versions; Andrew Very, David Konsky, Kalun Townsend,104.9 Triple M Sydney, Sydney, NSW, SCA

THE GUDINSKI – AUSTRALIAN MUSIC CHAMPION
Triple M Homegrown with Matty O; Matthew O’Gorman, Kalun Townsend, Andrew Very, Shaun Gough, Julia Di Gregorio, 105.1 Triple M Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, SCA

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Scott Baker-Smith; Nova Network, Melbourne, VIC, NOVA Entertainment

Bob Rogers

HALL OF FAME
Bob Rogers

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AWARD
Sound Future; NOVA Entertainment, Sydney, NSW, NOVA Entertainment

See also: 2023 ACRA Awards – Jonesy & Amanda win big while Kyle Sandilands takes home Talent of the Year

Main photo: Jonesy and Amanda winning at the 2023 ACRA night

Fourteen10 has launched into the market with experienced marketing trio Duncan Allan, Cameron Roberts and Tom O’Connor at the helm.

The independent media agency – which launches on October 14, Roberts and Duncan’s shared birthday – blends marketing science, experimentation, and direct-response advertising to bridge the gap between established big-brand marketing and the world of startups.

Fourteen10 aims to challenge the traditional media agency business model and create a new media agency thinking era. The agency will target growth-oriented challenger brands ready to take on their categories with robust thinking and strategies.

“Fundamentally, we believe advertising has never been harder and the need for skilled agencies never higher,” said Duncan Allan, co-founder of Fourteen10.

“Our collective experiences garnered from media agencies, working with high-growth startups and behind the curtain at Google, have shaped our vision for a new type of agency model that’s laser focussed on helping companies solve their biggest advertising challenges as they mature through different stages.”

Cameron Roberts, former head of strategy at RyvalMedia and co-founder of Fourteen10, said: “We’ve designed the agency with a clean piece of paper to help our clients achieve profitable growth as advertising and marketing becomes more complex. We’re in the business of simple, not easy.”

Tom O’Connor, the third founding member of Fourteen10, said that the agency is clear on what they need to build and what media agencies need to do to stay relevant moving into an AI-driven future.
 
“We know the biggest advertising challenges brands will face moving forward and are solely focussed on providing solutions to address them.”

The agency’s foundation clients include travel insurance company Fast Cover, men’s healthcare brand Mosh, Fintech Accelerator Archie, salary advance company Wagetap and investment platform Stake.

Bryan Wilmot, CMO of Stake, told Mediaweek the platform’s investment in marketing in its early days was a gradual scale-up as it had not yet reached its $90m Series A and was not in a position to spend.

“As such, we were more in need of consultancy and support rather than a full-service agency. We were referred to Cam and Duncan as an option of how we could get this support on a more moonlit basis. This suited us as it did Cam and Dunc.”

Wilmot said his team was impressed with the Fourteen10 team and their dedication, diligence and determination to prove they could add value to the business to establish a model.

“They did this by demonstrating deep knowledge and adherence to marketing science principles, but also with an ability to be flexible and savvy in how they could apply these and work with us given the stage of the business we were in.

“It’s been a great working relationship since then, and we are incredibly proud to have been with them on their amazing journey and to be one of Fourteen10’s foundational clients.”

Wilmot said Stake’s partnership with Fourteen10 has been a strong contributing factor to its most significant period of growth.

Bryan Wilmot

The agency helped the platform scrutinise the consumer and competitive landscape, identify opportunities, and allowed it to over-index the impact of its budget.

“With a strong basis of marketing science principles enriched with genuine insights on how to relevantly apply these for a scale-up business, we were able to successfully build a lean but highly effective media strategy.

“The results have been clear. We’ve significantly underspent some key category players but have managed to grow awareness from 6% to almost 30% while growing market share almost 2.5x. We now stand as the 3rd largest brokerage platform in the country,” he said.

Stake’s partnership with Fourteen10 has seen it go from being a niche company with limited revenue and budget to commercial growth with funding rounds.

“We have been able to develop the brand, starting to behave as a more mainstream player. While we still focus on community, content and PR, we have become intentional on long-term brand equity growth, consistency of presence in market and importantly orienting to address as many potential category buyers as possible.”

Stake is now the third-largest broker in the country and boasts over 600,000 customers. Wilmot said the platform’s mission to help ambitious Australians grow their wealth remains amid an evolving economic environment.

Meanwhile, in his outlook on the platform’s relationship with Fourteen10, Wilmot optimistically said there is “only one direction. Onwards!”

–

Top image: Cameron Roberts, Duncan Allen, Tom O’Connor

Medium Rare Content Agency has announced the appointment of Claire Bradley as general manager of the Coles account.

In the newly created leadership role, Bradley will supercharge the supermarket brand’s content marketing strategy by developing content that drives growth and engagement across both owned and paid channels.

Coles general manager brand, digital and media, Kate Bailey, said: “We are thrilled to officially welcome Claire to the Coles team. She has been key in building our new content operating model. We have worked with Medium Rare for the past decade and as we continue to expand our partnership, Claire is the perfect choice to execute our content marketing vision and future growth strategy.”

Before joining Medium Rare last year in a consultancy role, Bradley worked across various brands at News Corp Australia for almost two decades. She was general manager of commercial content production at News, head of content at Suddenly content marketing agency and publisher of the company’s homes portfolio including Vogue Living.

Nick Smith

Bradley said: “I’m passionate about the journey Coles is on to help Australians eat better every day. Working on such an iconic Australian brand, supported by the best content team in the business, means it’s going to be a very exciting place to be.”

Medium Rare first began producing content for Coles 10 years ago with the launch of its magazine and over the past decade the scope of work has expanded and now includes content strategy and insights, digital content, video and social.

Medium Rare managing director, Nick Smith, said: “We’re excited to be working with Coles to enhance and amplify their customer content experience. Medium Rare is uniquely placed because we can offer clients a world class level of food expertise, content production and strategy across a broad range of channels, both owned and paid.”

Bradley is set to make several key appointments to her team as the partnership between Medium Rare and Coles continues to move into the next phase of growth.

Queensland’s #1 news service has announced award-winning journalist Sarah Greenhalgh will join Max Futcher (pictured above) as co-anchor of 7NEWS Brisbane’s flagship 6.00pm weekday bulletin from Monday, 21 October.

Greenhalgh replaces Sharyn Ghidella who was sacked by Seven earlier this year. Ghidella has subsequently moved to 10 Brisbane as the nightly anchor.

Born and bred in the River City, Greenhalgh makes her return home after five years travelling the world as a foreign correspondent and investigative reporter for the Seven Network.

Most recently a reporter on Seven’s public affairs program 7NEWS Spotlight, Greenhalgh has received nominations at the Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism, the Kennedy Awards and the Queensland Clarion Awards, and was nominated for a TV Week Logie Award for her coverage of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes in 2023.

Greenhalgh’s career has so far taken her to more than 20 countries, and after a decade with Seven, she said she is excited to be heading back to the Mount Coot-tha Seven studios to embark on a new chapter.

“Max has been an incredibly supportive colleague and mate of mine for the past 11 years now, so to be sharing the news desk with him while also returning home to my original 7NEWS family is a huge thrill,” Greenhalgh said.

“Sharing people’s stories remains my greatest passion, so in addition to delivering the news to Queenslanders each night, I look forward to continuing investigations with the 7NEWS Spotlight team as well.”

Max Futcher said: “I’ve known Sarah for many years now and have so much respect for her and what she has achieved throughout her career. I can’t wait for our viewers to get to know Sarah too, as we share the news that matters to them each weeknight.”

Sharyn Ghidella – former 7NEWS Brisbane anchor, now at 10 Brisbane

Seven Network director of news and current affairs and Seven West Media editor-in-chief, Anthony De Ceglie, said: “Sarah is an extremely accomplished journalist who has had a remarkable career rise that all started as a reporter in regional Queensland.

“We’re incredibly excited for this next chapter in her career, where she won’t just be the co-anchor for our must-watch 6.00pm bulletin alongside Max but will also be a leader across the newsroom championing journalism and investigations.”

Greenhalgh began her media career flying high above the skies of Brisbane as a traffic helicopter reporter, followed by stints in regional newsrooms in Mackay and Cairns before returning to Brisbane in 2013, where she covered everything from natural disasters to crime.

In 2019, she became Seven’s London-based Europe correspondent during a pivotal period of world events which saw her recognised for her extraordinary reporting from the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic; during several postings to the war in Ukraine; the death and funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; and her compassionate coverage of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes in 2023.

Viewers will still see Greenhalgh on 7NEWS Spotlight.

Greenhalgh joins broadcaster Futcher who has more than 30 years’ experience in media and has also travelled around the world to report on global news events.

Futcher’s career has taken him to four Olympic Games and seen him report on everything from Nelson Mandela’s death and funeral to earthquakes in Italy and floods across Queensland.

He won a UN Media Peace Award in 2006 for his reporting on violent upheaval in East Timor and a Clarion Award for his coverage of the Bali 9 executions in 2015.

7News promotion for Katrina Blowers

As part of the reinvigoration of the Brisbane newsroom, local journalist and presenter Katrina Blowers has also been promoted to Queensland chief reporter. In this high-profile new state and national role, Blowers will take on the most important stories and investigations impacting audiences in Queensland and right across the nation.

De Ceglie said the role was recognition that Blowers sits among the most elite journalists in the country.

“Katrina is one of the fiercest and most respected news reporters in the country and in this new role she will take the lead on uncovering and delivering north-east Australia’s biggest stories to our national audiences,” he said.

Blowers will continue to share 4.00pm weekday presenting duties with Samantha Heathwood, who also remains anchor of the 6.00pm weekend bulletin for 7NEWS.

Futcher and Greenhalgh will present their first bulletin together on Monday, 21 October, alongside 7NEWS sports presenter Shane Webcke and meteorologist Tony Auden.

See also: Sharyn Ghidella returns to 10 as presenter of Queensland’s 10 News First

“The stuff that we do from a strategy perspective is different. We like to be disruptive. I like to be a bit of an agitator,” Atomic 212’s national head of strategy, Asier Carazo, told Mediaweek.

The independent media agency has had a successful year with impressive campaigns, business wins, and retentions thanks to its “disruptive” approach.

Carazo said that because of the Australian market’s “fairly conservative” nature, Atomic 212 is well-placed to agitate the market and marketers “but always within reason and confidence.”

“We love giving them the right confidence in what media will deliver for them.”

He said Atomic’s strategy is in a “sweet moment”, with the team growing strong and strategic product resonating with clients and prospects.

Carazo worked across the European and US markets before joining the agency in 2020 after meeting with national managing director Rory Heffernan and CEO Claire Fenner.

“I was like, these guys are onto something, and they had big ambitions and very open minds, which we don’t find often in the industry. They didn’t have a strategy team and asked if I wanted to build one, and I gave it a crack. It’s been almost five years now.”

Rory Heffernan and Claire Fenner – Atomic

‘Strategy that is easy to understand is a good strategy’

Atomic 212 has grown from strength to strength, particularly in the last year, with many new business wins, including Chinese car manufacturer GWM, BlueScope Australia, the NT Government, NT Major Events Company, Darrell Lea, and My Muscle Chef.

Carazo credits this to its people. He said: “We like to be a smart agency, especially from a strategy perspective.”

“Our strategy is down to earth, easy to understand, and grounded in numbers and data. We try to make strategy easy for all types of marketers because a strategy that is easy to understand is a good strategy.”

He said that his team is focused on helping and upskilling clients.

“That’s what has helped us have so many advocates within our clients, not just CMOs that love Atomic, but even marketing execs and managers are advocates for our work because we empower them with the right tools and input.”

‘We can deliver’

In addition to pitching aggressively and new business, Atomic 212’s success comes from retaining clients. He explained that reappointments were as important as winning new pitches as they highlighted the long-term, close working relationships.

“The latest one was BMW Australia and then expanding into New Zealand. That shows that what we pitch is true and excites clients, but also, we can deliver over the years.”

Carazo also noted health insurance provider Bupa as a significant client retention, which is now entering its fifth year, and the agency’s reappointment to Tourism Northern Territory, which is going into its ninth year.

‘I want Atomic to be very good at media and research’

Looking ahead, Carazo said his priority is to continue building “the best strategy team in Australia.”

“I’ve got an incredible group of seven humans who put a lot of passion and effort into the team. I am learning from them as much as they learn from me, being a good mentor for them and the best chief strategy officer in the country.”

He also said the strategy team is set for continued success by expanding its offering into new spaces after launching its consumer research product, Sonar, which has become an important revenue stream.

“We’re treating this product as our baby in the strategy team. This is the first time strategy is not just a cost centre but a revenue driver with bespoke research and brand tracking for our clients.”

Carazo said with the agency’s focus on investment, numbers, data, and accountability, research was the missing piece of the offering.

“A lot of agencies have tried to bring media and creative together. I don’t think there’s a good agency that does both well in this country or anywhere.

“I want Atomic to be very good at media and research. There’s a much bigger synergy between research and media than creative and media within my experience, having had different roles across creative and media agencies.”

‘Interesting work that delivers on results’

Carazo said his vision for Atomic 212’s strategy over the next five years is for the team to continue doing interesting and memorable work that delivers results.

“Delivering business results for our clients is important, but so is having an interesting approach to how we show up in media.”

He highlighted Atomic 212’s recent work with BMW and JCDecaux to launch the billboard in the Southern Hemisphere in Melbourne. He said the agency intends to continue delivering such results while finding opportunities to be part of popular culture.

Pawena Kaniah, Angus McLeod, Asier Carazo and Philippa Moig

‘Australia is way behind the rest of the world’

Carazo took to the stage at this year’s MFA EX alongside MFA DE&I Council members for a frank and enlightening conversation about the state of diversity in the industry and the work produced.

Carazo said he hoped attendees understood the importance of their role in making advertising more accessible.

“There are four million Australians that are living with some form of disability. That means that a lot of them are not experiencing media in the same way as someone who has no disability. Australia is way behind the rest of the world in terms of including closed or open captioning on TV ads or audio descriptions.”

Carazo said in the next 12 months, he hopes to see a change across the local industry.

“It’s not just the right thing to do but also what makes our job so much more interesting. Especially as strategists, our job is to understand audiences. If we’re not thinking with diversity in mind, we’re not thinking about the entire Australian population.”

Carazo hopes media agencies ask clients about accessibility features in future campaigns.

“Some publishers already offer them, but it’s making them (accessibility features) more front and centre in advertising. If we make advertising more accessible, the networks will also make their content more accessible.”

–

Top image: Asier Carazo

After 26 years hosting 702 ABC Radio Sydney’s Drive program, presenter, journalist and author Richard Glover has announced he’s stepping away from the mic.

Glover began hosting Drive on 702 ABC Radio Sydney in 1998.

Earlier this year Richard Glover was among the first ABC Sydney-based broadcasters to make the move to the new Paramatta broadcast facility. Many of the ABC staff have campaigned against the move.

Nine Publishing reported at the time: An ABC spokesperson said the decision to house the full ABC Radio Sydney team in Parramatta had been made to ensure operational efficiency and a cohesive broadcast unit.

The SMH added: While Glover was one of the first presenters to broadcast from Parramatta, he initially requested more time for he and his team at Ultimo. He said the letter was about accommodating very occasional special guests in Ultimo, not regular jaunts.

“I really am not a campaigner on the issue. I just whinge about the lack of bins!” Glover said.

Other broadcasters who have either swapped timeslots or left the station in recent years include Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck, James Valentine, Indira Naidoo, Chris Bath, and Josh Szeps.

Richard Glover first joined the ABC in 1996, presenting Mornings and before that worked at The Sydney Morning Herald, where he was arts editor, news editor and for a time, European correspondent. He has been nominated for three Walkley Awards – two for print, and one for radio.

Glover is the author of a number of books, including the memoir Flesh Wounds and the bestseller The Land Before Avocado.

In 1998 Glover started his weekly Thank God It’s Friday radio segment before adding a live studio audience to the show in 2009.

Of the decision to leave Glover said in a statement: “It’s been a tough decision, but I’ve decided to leave the ABC Radio Sydney Drive show after 26 years, finishing at the end of November.

“It’s one of the best jobs in Australian journalism, and I feel I’ve hogged it for long enough. It has a terrific audience – funny, wise, full of intellect but also willing to share some of the deeper stories of being human. The program also offers the chance to do anything. Every afternoon we have politics, literature, music and comedy, all jockeying for position.”

Of what’s next, Glover added: “Sometime in the future, there may be new opportunities for me at the ABC, but in the short-term I plan to keep writing my column for The Sydney Morning Herald, attempt another book and dote over my three grandchildren. I also plan to get my knees done (after years of boring my listeners with my problems.)

“I’ll miss the listeners, of course, but also my fabulous colleagues at 702 ABC Radio Sydney – radio’s best team.”

Glover’s final program will be a Thank God It’s Friday special event on November 29 featuring Wendy Harmer, Tommy Dean and Tahir, with music from The Backsliders.

Forbes Australia has revealed its inaugural 30 Under 30 list, wanting to shine the spotlight on 30 Australian young innovators, trailblazers and entrepreneurs who are reshaping their industries and changing business and society.

The list, which can be found in the new edition of Forbes Australia out today and at forbes.com.au, includes some of the country’s best-known stars, leaders and entrepreneurs, as well as lesser-known success stories who are making a big difference in their fields.

The Forbes Australia 30 Under 30 list is presented by Pinterest, with supporting partners Food Recycle (social impact category), Motorola (technology) and Spaceship (finance and VC).

Speaking to Mediaweek about the new list, Forbes editor Anastasia Santoreneos said:

“Against a backdrop of rising start-up funding, growing capabilities in AI and increasing interest in space tech, Australia’s young entrepreneurs are making strides in the region. Sustainable growth and international expansion are high on the agenda for our tech entrepreneurs, and a global mindset is key. All in all, our young founders have raised more than $100 million in funding.

Under 30 media and entertainment finalists

“As Meta threatens to pull news from platforms, our media and entertainment finalists have been busy diversifying their revenue streams and content strategies to move off-platform. Take Zara Seidler and Sam Koslowski’s The Daily Aus: with 565,000 followers, the duo has much to lose. But after a $1.2 million capital raise, the pair embarked on a newsletter and podcast strategy that’s paying off, with 226,000 subscribers and 130,000 monthly listeners, respectively.

“The music and arts category is also bursting with young talent, with the likes of singer-turned-entrepreneur Troye Sivan, Hollywood A-lister Jacob Elordi and, hot off a 20-date tour in the US, singer-songwriter Tkay Maidza. All up, our stars hold four Grammy nominations, nine Billboard Music nominations, one Golden Globes nomination and have secured five wins.”

Anastasia Santoreneos

Sporting Legends

“Then there are our women sporting legends who took on the Olympics – and smashed it. Jess Fox became the first Australian canoe slalom athlete to compete at four Olympics – and was the flag-bearer for this year’s Games in Paris. Twenty-three-year-old Ariarne Titmus made the nation proud when she won gold in the women’s 400-metre freestyle (and still holds the world record in this event). Between them, the athletes hold 14 medals.”

Forbes Australia editor-in-chief, Sarah O’Carroll, added: “The inaugural Australian list covers eight categories – from technology and sport to Hollywood and social impact – and 30 of the brightest minds and stars under 30. What these individuals share is unrelenting ambition and an undeniable drive to leave their mark. People are always intrigued by what’s next and who’s leading the charge. The Forbes Australia 30 Under 30 list is the embodiment of that.

“Since its inception 13 years ago, the Forbes 30 Under 30 lists have become the definitive list of young leaders changing the world and championed over 10,000 disruptors from more than 50 countries. Forbes Australia is proud to officially welcome more of our local talent into this global community of bold, innovative young leaders who are changing the course of business and society. A huge congratulations to everyone who made the list – you deserve it.”

Sarah O’Carroll

The Forbes Australia 30 Under 30 List

Abhishek Maran, Rampersand (finance and VC)
Andrew Pankevicius, Lucas Sargant, Alexander Valente, Redactive AI (technology)
Annie Liao, Build Club (finance and VC)
Ariarne Titmus (sport)
Awer Mabil, Barefoot to Boots (social impact)
Chanel Contos, Teach Us Consent (social impact)
Christopher Durre, Max Mito, Kieran Start, StrongRoom AI (technology)
Davie Fogarty, The Oodie (retail and e-commerce)
Dylan Coyne, Updoc (science and healthcare)
Grace Brown, Andromeda Robotics (science and healthcare)
Hamish McKay, Order Editing (retail and e-commerce)
Hannah Ferguson, Cheek Media (media and entertainment)
Jacob Elordi (music and the arts)
Jessica Arthur, Lauren Rugolo, Emma Spiliopoulos, Lash Therapy (retail and e-commerce)
Jessica Fox (sport)
Mason Yates, Blackbird VC (finance and VC)
Mary Fowler (sport)
Matthew Crott, Matthew Boustred, ResusRight (science and healthcare)
Matt Gordon, Jesse Waller, Inner Steps (social impact)
Natasha Etschmann, Tash Invests (media and entertainment)
Oscar Piastri (sport)
Sam Crowther, Kasada (technology)
Shoaib Iqbal, Przemyslaw Lorenczak, Esper Satellite Imagery (technology)
Stephanie Claire Smith, Kic (technology)
Tammy Hembrow, Saski/TammyFit (retail and e-commerce)
The Kid LAROI (music and the arts)
Tkay Maidza (music and the arts)
Troye Sivan (music and the arts)
Zara McDonald, Michelle Andrews, Shameless Media (media and entertainment)
Zara Seidler, Sam Koslowski, The Daily Aus (media and entertainment)

See also: ‘There’s a reason we’ve waited this long’: Building Australia’s first Forbes 30 Under 30 List

Earlier this year, Nova Adelaide refreshed the brand identity for its Adelaide AM commercial talk station Fiveaa.

The first part of the campaign was new marketing for the breakfast show David & Will. The campaign returns to market this week with consumer ads promoting the drive show, Rowey & Timmy G.

The rebrand is driven by Nova’s marketing team which was named Marketing Team of the Year at the ACRA radio awards in Sydney on Saturday night. The marketing team is led by chief growth officer Adam Johnson and head of brand marketing Troy Pearce.

Behind the Fiveaa refresh

The plan was to promote the station’s lineup while paying homage to the station’s previous logo and heritage.

Built upon the new tagline of Always Adelaide, the new direction celebrates the ‘AA’ branding by evolving the positioning on from the previous Talking Adelaide strapline.

The new logo maintains the well-established brand colours of red, black and white but now features a more dynamic word mark and a speech box that helps provide a modern interpretation of Fiveaa’s history and position in the market.

Adam Johnson, chief growth officer for Nova Entertainment said when the campaign first launched, “As Fiveaa looks to the future and is committed to serving the evolving needs of its audience, the brand refresh is a brilliant nod to the station’s enduring legacy, while bringing the brand’s identity into 2024 and beyond. ‘Always Adelaide’ and the associated ad campaign to launch it encapsulates Fiveaa’s continued commitment to Adelaide listeners. We researched the new direction heavily and the data suggest that current listeners love the new approach and that the new branding will also entice new listeners to the station.”

Craig Munn, station manager for Fiveaa added, “We’re extremely excited to reveal a fresh new look for Fiveaa that we believe aligns perfectly with our new, more contemporary station line-up. Led by our outstanding breakfast show in David & Will with the additions earlier this year of Jade Robran, Graeme Goodings and Jess Adamson to the extended breakfast team, Matthew Pantelis in mornings, new recruit Stacey Lee in afternoons, Rowey & Timmy G in drive, Leith Forrest in evenings and our entire content team, we’re excited about what the future holds for the station and excited to share the new Fiveaa with the people of Adelaide.”

The key Fiveaa weekday lineup

The Sports Wrap with Tom Rehn – 5.30am to 6.00am
Breakfast with David Penberthy & Will Goodings – 6.00am to 9.00am
Mornings with Matthew Pantelis – 9.00am to 12.00pm
7News Adelaide Bulletin on FIVEaa – 12.00pm to 12.30 pm
Conversations with Cornesy – 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Afternoons with Stacey Lee – 1.30pm to 4.00pm
Rowey and Timmy G – 4.00pm to 7.00pm
Evenings with Leith Forrest – 7.00pm to 12.00am

Fiveaa GfK Survey 6, 2024 highlights

• David Penberthy and Will Goodings are Adelaide’s #1 AM Breakfast Show (5:30am-9am) with a 12.2% share.
• Stacey Lee continues grew Afternoons Audience, up one point (1:30pm-4pm).
• Rowey & Timmy G (4pm-7pm) is Adelaide’s #1 AM sports show with a 7.2% share.
• Leith Forrest is Adelaide’s #1 Evening Show (7pm-12mn) with a 14.7% share.
• Angie McBride and Michael Keelan have Adelaide’s #1 Saturday breakfast show with a 15.1% share.
• Adelaide’s most streamed radio station in Survey 6.

See also: David Penberthy and Will Goodings power their FIVEAA breakfast show into a second decade

The Australian Traffic Network (ATN), the leading authority on traffic content across television and radio networks, has added two senior sales executives, appointing Karen Holmes as national sales director and Wade James as group sales director, Victoria and South Australia.

ATN, part of the ASX-listed Global Traffic Network Group, is one of Australia’s largest broadcast media advertising platforms. ATN’s traffic reports span more than 200 capital city and regional radio stations across major radio networks and the Seven and 10 TV networks.

Ahead of an imminent rebrand, ATN has appointed Holmes and James to work with media agency and direct advertising partners to further leverage high attention audiences across radio and TV platforms.

ATN CEO, Vic Lorusso, said: “For more than 25 years ATN has been the preeminent source of vital traffic information. As we look to the future, both Karen as national sales director and Wade as group sales director for Victoria and South Australia, bring considerable media and sales experience to ATN as we prepare to unveil a refreshed look and direction for the business. I welcome them both to the ATN family at what is an exciting time in our history.”

Holmes joins ATN from Are Media where she was national sales director. Her previous senior management experience includes head of customer solutions at News Corp Australia and various roles at dmg radio and mcm entertainment. She is also a board member of the Lokahi Foundation Australia.

She said: “I join ATN at a pivotal time in its growth. It is a unique business with a strong heritage, significant audience reach, and a strong portfolio of clients. I’m really looking forward to working with Vic, Wade and the team to make a great business even more successful.”

Reporting to Holmes, James joins ATN from oOh!media, where he was national head of sales – agency. His career highlights also include group sales director at APN Outdoor, senior client executive at DMG Radio, Founder and director of Media Circus, and a Melbourne board member for UnLtd.

Picture: Wade James and Karen Holmes.

See also: SCA signs $207m deal with Australian Traffic Network

The Media Federation of Australia (MFA) has launched MFA People First – A Playbook for Leaders on Psychosocial Safety.

This comprehensive guide is a resource representing a collaborative, industry-wide approach to tackling the important issue of psychosocial safety in the workplace.

The hub includes a suite of resources – white papers, training materials, tools, templates, and more – all curated to help leaders foster supportive environments where employees feel safe, supported, and able to perform at their best.

Developed over 12 months with input from the MFA People Steering Group, agency leaders, and led by Select Wellness Australia founder and CEO Martine Beaumont, the playbook provides tailored tools, frameworks, and insights to help leaders meet their obligations under Australia’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws, including Safework Australia’s Model WHS Act and state and territory regulations.

The launch of the playbook is timed to coincide with National Mental Health Month during October, and this year’s World Mental Health Day theme of ‘It’s time to prioritise mental health in the workplace’.

By distilling complex legislation into a practical, industry-focused resource, the MFA has created a valuable public tool that will significantly benefit the broader marketing and media industry, marking another impactful initiative driven by the MFA.

Available via the MFA’s People First Hub, the playbook is part of the MFA’s 2024 Psychosocial Safety Action Plan alongside the development of an industry Psychosocial Safety Code of Conduct, which is set to launch next month; the curation of resources, tools and training; and the measurement of industry change and sentiment.

Linda Wong, director, people at the MFA, said: “The MFA People First Playbook was created in recognition of the critical importance of mental health and psychosocial safety in the workplace. MFA members are deeply committed to promoting mentally healthy workplaces and safeguarding their people from harm and harassment. By developing this playbook, our goal is to equip leaders with the necessary tools and insights to prioritise mental wellbeing, creating workplaces that not only safeguard people but also promote a culture of inclusivity and care.

“This unique resource is designed to be an essential guide for cultivating safe, secure, and thriving workplaces, uniting us in the mission to build an industry where every individual feels valued and empowered to succeed. We are proud to offer this guide to all, extending its benefits to marketers, media partners, and the broader marketing and media industry.”

MFA CEO Sophie Madden emphasised the need for the entire industry to work together in fostering a mentally healthy workplace.

“Creating a safe and thriving environment is a shared responsibility, and the broader industry plays a vital role in this effort,” she said.

“That’s why the MFA Board decided to make the playbook and its curated resources accessible to everyone in the industry – because real change requires collective action.

“Our next step has been to engage with all stakeholders in our supply chain, including industry bodies, clients and media owners, to develop a Code aligned with the government’s guidelines on consultation, cooperation and coordination. We’re excited to launch this next month.”

Wavemaker has scaled up the strategic expertise of its Melbourne office with a senior inter-office appointment and two promotions.

Joining the GroupM media agency is Stephen Drawbridge who will take on the role of strategy partner, tasked with leading strategy for Mondelez as well as other Wavemaker clients.

He will take on the new role after a decade in the Adelaide office, where he shaped the strategic direction of clients such as Bridgestone, UniSA and the South Australian Government.

Head of digital Kristy Kinzett will take on the new role of managing partner in recognition of her innovative and results-driven work on L’Oréal and will be responsible for dialling up integrated digital and performance thinking across all Wavemaker campaigns.

Steve Thornton will step up from his current role as planning director on Mondelez to take the reins as Head of Planning Melbourne, tasked with driving the agency’s planning principles across all clients. An experienced digital marketer, Steve has been at Wavemaker Melbourne for close to five years.

Daniel Isaac, managing director of Wavemaker Melbourne, said: “The combined skill sets of these three talented individuals will offer Wavemaker clients innovative and transformative solutions, fuelled by our attitude of positive provocation. With this trio at the helm of our strategic output, I’m confident that Wavemaker Melbourne will play a key role in reshaping both the market and our business in this data-driven environment. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together.”

Wavemaker ANZ CEO Peter Vogel added: “Promoting from within is a big part of Wavemaker’s culture of positively provoking growth for our people, our business and our clients. It not only rewards talented and committed people for their hard work, it also benefits our clients by ensuring continuity and the retention of valuable IP.

“In the case of Stephen Drawbridge, Krsity Kinzett and Steve Thornton, we’re incredibly lucky to have three of the best strategic minds in the business – together, they will ensure we are leading the way in our strategic advice to clients and how we are using the latest tools and technology to drive planning outcomes.”

–

Top image: Steve Thornton, Kristy Kinzett, Stephen Drawbridge

A months-long investigation into the broken NT school system published in The Australian and The Weekend Australian, has won freelancers Kylie Stevenson, Caroline Graham, and Matilda Colling the top award in MEAA’s 2024 NT Media Awards.

The NT Media Awards judges said: “The ‘NT Schools in Crisis’ series is an exceptional piece of public interest journalism. Stevenson, Graham and Colling forensically untangled a highly complex issue at the heart of many of the NT’s challenges. Their year-long investigation – including more than 100 interviews, extensive remote travel, multiple FOIs and a deep dive into the budget books – was compelling, nuanced and hard-hitting.

“It ultimately played an important part in securing a $1 billion funding boost for education in the NT.”

Aside from being named NT’s Journalists of the Year, the team won awards for Best Feature Writing, Best Online Coverage, Indigenous Affairs Reporting, and the Pete Davies Memorial Campaigning Journalism Award. The series photographer, Rebecca Parker, also took out the Visual Storytelling category.

The winners announced at The Reserve in Darwin:

TEXT: News Coverage

Christopher Walsh (NT Independent) “Shares Scandal: The Fall of Chief Minister Natasha Fyles”

TEXT: Best Feature Writing

Kylie Stevenson (Freelance published in The Weekend Australian Magazine) “Profile: Yingiya Guyula”

TV/RADIO: Best News Coverage

Matt Cunningham (SKY News Australia) “Spotlighting Territorian News”

TV/RADIO: Best Current Affairs or Feature

Matt Garrick, Raveen Hunjan, Shaun Kingma, Fred Shaw (ABC) “Community Under Curfew”

TV/RADIO: Excellence in Radio Broadcasting

Alex Barwick, Piia Wirsu, Grant Wolter, Elsa Silberstein, Blythe Moore (ABC) “Expanse: Spies in the Outback”

BEST ONLINE COVERAGE (Sponsored by MEAA)

Kylie Stevenson, Caroline Graham, Matilda Colling (Freelance, published in The Australian/The Weekend Australian) “NT Schools in Crisis”

BEST SPORTS JOURNALISM (Sponsored by MEAA)

Lillian Rangiah (ABC) “Remote sport trials and triumphs”

BEST CRIME/COURT REPORTING

Liam Mendes (The Australian) “Body of Work”

PETE DAVIES MEMORIAL CAMPAIGNING JOURNALISM AWARD

Kylie Stevenson, Caroline Graham, Matilda Colling (Freelance, published in The Australian/The Weekend Australian) “NT Schools in Crisis”

INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS REPORTING

Kylie Stevenson, Caroline Graham, Matilda Colling (Freelance, published in The Australian/The Weekend Australian) “NT Schools in Crisis”

VISUAL STORYTELLING

Rebecca Parker (Freelance, published in The Australian/The Weekend Australian) “NT Schools in Crisis”

Gold Award Winners

MARCHBANKS AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG JOURNALIST

Lillian Rangiah (ABC) “Body of work”

2024 NT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Kylie Stevenson, Caroline Graham, Matilda Colling (Freelance, published in The Australian/The Weekend Australian) “NT Schools in Crisis”

Val Morgan Outdoor (VMO) has announced the winners of the Ultimate Media Champion (UMC), a competition that aims to unite the Australian media industry through health and wellness.

Over six intense weeks, more than 200 media agency professionals tested the limits of their mental and physical strength, endurance, and determination through a bespoke training program designed by the country’s top personal trainers in preparation for the final UMC event.

The state based final events were held across Fitness First and Goodlife gyms—venues within VMO’s Active network. Finalists faced a series of high intensity challenges, expertly created by Fitness Lifestyle Group, to determine the Ultimate Media Champions.

Zoe Stanek

Alex Kralikas, OMD

The 2024 Ultimate Media Champion winners from Queensland were Zoe Stanek from Wavemaker and OMD’s Alex Kralikas. The winners from New South Wales were This is Flow’s Kate Dampney and Philip Hasiuk from Wavemaker. Victoria’s champions were Merci Donald from Principle Media Group and Wavemaker’s Delwin Lim.

“The Ultimate Media Champion competition has demonstrated the power of community and teamwork, made possible by the VMO Active network and our team of expert trainers across our gyms,” Andy Chamoun, executive general manager FLG Australia, said.

“We’re proud to have partnered with VMO to bring this unique and inspiring event to life and showcase the incredible resilience of the participants. Congratulations to the well deserving winners.”

Kate Dampney

Philip Hasiuk

“Six individuals have been awarded the prestigious title of Ultimate Media Champion, each sharing in a prize pool of over $50,000 and receiving a coveted UMC belt,” Chamoun added.
 
Paul Butler, managing director of VMO, said: “The energy, dedication, and collaboration of over 200 competitors from across the industry has been nothing short of remarkable.
 
“The success of this event has extended far beyond the competition itself— and has united the industry around a shared commitment to well-being. Our goal is to keep driving this conversation and championing the importance of health and wellness, year after year, with The Ultimate Media Champion.”

Merci Donald

Delwin Lim

Scope3 announced the closing of $25 million in new funding led by GV, which will allow the sustainability platform to expand its work beyond the advertising ecosystem and tackle the pressing climate impact of the booming AI industry.

The round included participation from existing investors Venrock, Room40 Ventures, and Craft Ventures, as well as from new investors Aperiam Ventures and Virgo Strategic Investments. 

Scope3 has pioneered sustainable digital media since its inception in 2021. Through its ad campaign sustainability solutions and open-source methodology, Scope3 has supplied the media and advertising industries with tools to analyse and reduce carbon emissions without sacrificing ROI, cost or business success.

Coca-Cola, General Motors, Mastercard and Sanofi are among the thousands of brands that use Scope3 to measure and decarbonise their media. The platform claims nearly 3,000 metric tons of carbon emissions have been avoided by using its Green Media Products in the last 18 months.

Scope3 noted that decarbonisation solutions are gaining traction across the industry, with its platform revenue growing 12x YoY (Q2 ‘23 – Q2 ‘24). The platform noted that as AI innovation hits an inflection point and the environmental impact is coming to light, Scope3 is taking its proven approach to decarbonising the advertising and media supply chain and applying it to AI.

The platform noted that the rapid adoption of AI is leaving significant environmental repercussions in its wake and that companies across are increasingly facing pressure to implement AI strategies while trying to meet climate commitments, and struggling to find a clear solution to keep emissions under control.

Scope3 says it is uniquely positioned to help companies balance their sustainability goals without compromising their AI ambitions that drive innovation and business success.

“AI and the media industry are soon going to be indistinguishable,” said Brian O’Kelley, co-founder and CEO of Scope3.

“The biggest AI players are monetising through advertising, just like the search giants before them, and every marketer is using AI to create the content that fuels their campaigns. That’s why extending our methodology to capture the climate impact of AI is imperative, both for our business and the industry as a whole.”

“The most innovative companies in the world are considering sustainable AI practices that address environmental concerns while delivering real business value,” said Erik Nordlander, general partner at GV. “Scope3 has the talent, technology, and expertise needed to decarbonise the media and advertising industry.”

“We’ve seen the impact Brian O’Kelley and the Scope3 team have had on the advertising and marketing supply chain, and we’re excited to double down on our investment based on the traction we’ve seen. We’re proud to deepen our partnership with Brian and support Scope3’s mission as we move toward a more sustainable future.”

Alongside the funding, Scope3 is releasing its open-source AI methodology to the public. This methodology sheds light on the digital waste produced by the AI supply chain by precisely tracing and measuring the environmental impacts of the entire life cycle of an AI product, process or service. This ultimately enables every company using AI to make data-driven strategies on when, how and where to apply different AI solutions to reduce their carbon footprints and maximise the efficacy of their AI investments.

SBS has appointed Nakul Legha as head of scripted to oversee all of the broadcaster’s commissioned scripted content.

Legha joined SBS in January as commissioning editor and has played a key role in the production and ongoing development of SBS’s slate of locally commissioned scripted programs, including the new SBS Original romantic drama, Four Years Later. 

As head of scripted, he will oversee the network’s flagship commissioned scripted series, short form content through the growing slate of Digital Originals and industry initiatives, such as Originate Features, that elevate new and diverse voices.

“I’m honoured to take on this role and build on SBS’s incredible legacy of bold and distinctive Australian stories,” Legha said of his appointment.

“SBS is one of the world’s great cultural institutions. The stories and faces on SBS were my connection to Australian culture and community as a newly arrived immigrant. I’m thrilled to be able to return the favour and deliver shows that delight, surprise and resonate with audiences here and across the world.”

John Godfrey, SBS’s head of commissioning, said: “We’re thrilled to have Nakul leading SBS Scripted, in recognition of his exceptional talents and genuine passion for Australian stories. We’re excited to see him continue to evolve our scripted slate, and create stories that celebrate and connect with all Australians.”

Legha joined SBS from Netflix where he spent several years helping to grow the streamer’s local content strategy and oversaw original developments and productions as creative executive, including the award-winning Boy Swallows Universe, Wellmania, Surviving Summer and ONEFOUR: Against All Odds.

He also led the streamer’s local film and TV programming and acquisitions, including the historic co-commission with NITV for Logie-nominated children’s series, Eddie’s Lil’ Homies.

Legha started his career as an Intellectual Property and entertainment lawyer, most recently at the ABC where he negotiated commissioning, acquisition and talent deals, and advised on key initiatives for emerging and diverse talent.

SBS’s scripted commissioning team also includes Zaina Ahmed who joined the network in May as development executive. Ahmed was the associate producer of SBS Original series, Erotic Stories, and has previously worked in television development at Wooden Horse, TV sales at eOne and TVC production at Collider.

Ahmed also serves as Coordinator for Screen Australia’s Gender Matters Taskforce. Sally Riley, former head of head of drama, entertainment and indigenous at the ABC, will continue to work with SBS Scripted as a creative consultant supporting the development of scripted projects.

–

Top image: Nakul Legha

Clemenger BBDO has teamed up with Carlton & United Breweries’ Great North Brewing Co to bring the beverage into popular culture with its social-first adventure and interview series ‘Long Way for a Beer’.

The series sees famous Australians on adventures that showcase the beauty of Far North Queensland while uncovering more about the famous Australians who are part of the series and ultimately revealing how much better they are in the outdoors.

Great Northern also partnered with YouTube personality Beau Miles, an outdoor adventure filmmaker, to create the six-episode YouTube series, which is part adventure show, part interview show.

Famous Australian guests featured in season one, among them homegrown global music superstar and athlete, Cody Simpson.

In each long-form episode, Miles and a famous Australian guest embark on an exciting adventure with a stripped-down set of gear in a remote Far North Queensland location, overcoming a range of ‘interesting’ challenges, before having a beer and reflecting on their journey around a campfire.

The campaign was led by Clems, working closely with its recently formed social, PR and influence practice Chemistry Set in collaboration with MADE THIS, in-house agency partner 1House and PHD. It continues the strong partnership Clems and Great Northern have fostered over many years to grow the brand to become Australia’s best-selling beer.

The campaign is designed to build on Great Northern’s strong brand story, fuel further growth and cement its icon status as Australia’s number one beer, by inserting it into popular culture.

The series will be amplified through supporting assets across social platforms, including the famous Australian guests’ platforms, media amplification, and OOH. Teasers for the season launch and each guests’ adventure and interview episode will drop on Meta and YouTube, with the series premiering on YouTube.

Locations for each episode capture the beauty and diverse landscapes of Far North Queensland, reflecting Great Northern’s famous heritage and masterbrand platform as ‘The Beer For Up Here’, and its belief that the greatness of Australian nature, and being outdoors with mates, brings out the best in our nature.

Zac Gelman, marketing manager, Great Northern Brewing Co, said: “The Great Northern brand was built in the Great Outdoors and the Far North. We’re thrilled to use this setting as a showcase to create Australia’s next adventure and interview series, in which we re-connect famous Australians with Australia’s Great Outdoors.”

“With Long Way for a Beer, we wanted to continue Great Northern’s authentic story, but tell it in a modern and progressive way,” Ant Phillips, Clemenger BBDO executive creative director, said. “As the beer that believes nature brings out the best in our nature, we enlisted the best natured person we know in Beau Miles to take some Australian legends on some unique adventures. The six part adventure and interview series is the beginning of Great Northern’s move into entertainment and we’re excited to bring it to life.”

“Great Northern is more than a beer, it’s a true lifestyle. We’re excited to be bringing its many fans more ways to enjoy the brand and what it represents to them,” added Clemenger BBDO chief creative officer Adrián Flores.

CREDITS

Client – Carlton & United Breweries (Great Northern Brewing Company)
General Manager – Marketing: Nicole McMillan
Head of Beer – Ben Eyles
Marketing Manager, GNBC – Zac Gelman
Senior Brand Manager – Paddy Wallace

Creative Agency – Clemenger BBDO
Chief Creative Officer: Adrián Flores
Executive Creative Directors: Ant Phillips. Tristan Graham
Creatives: Lara Smith, Esther Parsons
Chief Strategy & Experience Officer: Simon Wassef
Head of Cultural Design: Rhian Mason
Senior Social & Content Manager: Elly Brand
Head of Strategy: Brooke Thompson
Strategy Partner: Brigitte Bayard
Managing Partner: Scott Balalas, Jason Melhuish
Group Business Director: Sam Siddons
Business Director: Lauren Mayne
Business Manager: Mack Horton
Executive Producer: Karolina Bozajkovska

Production Company – MADE THIS
Director and Editor: Thomas Pollard
Executive Producer: Ainslee Littlemore
Lead Producer: Callum Smit
Editor: Jennifer Cahir
Photographer: Krystle Wright

Social Agency – 1House Asahi
Creative Director – Rohan Lancaster
Senior Creatives – Ellen Fromm & Steph Kitchin
Editors – Lachlan Millsom & Taylor Curry

Australian-owned global creative studio PUSH has partnered with Play Films, a veteran of Singapore’s production landscape, to launch a new creative studio, PUSH▷PLAY with a focus on youth trends and culture in Singapore.

The partnership will blend Play Films’ experience in the Southeast Asian market with PUSH’s international network of directors and creatives. Push was born in Shanghai in 2014, and opened in Sydney in late 2020.

“We’ve known PUSH for years, first working on Adidas projects together in Shanghai. We’ve always admired their ability to tap into subcultures and bridge them into commercial worlds. There’s a momentum in Singapore that feels primed for this kind of aesthetic and energy,” said Julie Chung, co-founder of Play Films.

PUSH’s recent portfolio includes an MTV VMA-winning music video for Megan Thee Stallion’s “Mamushi”, shot in Tokyo; a Hennessy campaign blending luxury with street culture, featuring Jackson Wang, shot in Thailand with Wieden+Kennedy Shanghai; and the creation of a skatepark and gallery activation on Shanghai’s Bund for Vans.

Play Films Singapore’s portfolio includes, Tiger Beer: Woks of Art campaign, celebrating cultural creativity, a Marina Bay Sands campaign featuring David Beckham, and their work for Sony Ericsson, which brought hundreds of people to the streets of Barcelona.

PUSH▷PLAY’s first major project out of Singapore was a campaign for PUMA with Singapore agency GOVT.
 
“I’m excited to create work that builds upon our style, cultivated in China and Japan,” said Jonathon Lim. “Doing it alongside David and Julie makes it a joy – they genuinely care for crew and clients, and have such a passion to create great work.”