Business of Media
‘Did we witness an execution?’: Soldier testifies at Ben Roberts-Smith trial
An SAS soldier who accuses Ben Roberts-Smith of an “execution” has defended the Victoria Cross recipient, saying he was only killing “bad dudes we were sent there to kill”, reports News Corp’s Perry Duffin.
Roberts-Smith is suing Nine newspapers and journalists over a series of articles that claim he killed six unarmed Afghans while deployed with the SAS.
Nine’s latest witness also claimed an SAS patrol commander had long tried to ruin Roberts-Smith through the media.
Enigma boss rejects Ella Campbell’s sexual assault allegations
Chris Laws, a high-profile Sydney advertising executive, is threatening to sue a former colleague who says that he harassed her, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
Ella Campbell’s allegation is the latest in a string of sexual misconduct claims that have rocked the industry. It relates to a period when both worked at the Born & Raised creative agency.
Campbell is a vocal critic of the advertising sector’s workplace culture, and has previously published commentary describing the industry as one with “a strong bias against women, and a tendency to favour males in the workplace”.
In a LinkedIn post at the weekend, however, Campbell went further and named Mr Laws as the man who had abused her.
“He has harassed and illegally touched other women, to the point where he got fired by WPP,” Ms Campbell wrote. “Then he created a business where he could do it all on his own.”
Laws, now the managing director of Enigma, has described the allegation as “entirely inaccurate and defamatory”.
In an email, he told The Australian he had engaged law firm Boyd House & Partners.
Agencies
Brands must ditch crisis mode and shift back to purpose-driven action
Crisis mode for brands can be comforting, but it is always temporary. This means, what has been working for the past two years during the pandemic won’t necessarily cut it for much longer, writes Rhys Ryan for News Corp.
Instead, in 2022, “emotion” is set to come roaring back to life for marketers in Australia and businesses must be ready.
Long-term trends predict that as the pandemic crisis recedes, Australians will revert to type. Consumers will expect the brands they love and trust (and work for) to take concrete steps to operate more “responsibly” over time.
Mango Communications appointed as PR agency for The Edge96.ONE
The Edge 96.ONE has appointed Mango Communications, part of DDB Group, as its PR agency.
Mango will be responsible for supporting ARN’s commercial Hip Hop and R&B station across PR and will handle the rollout of a highly anticipated rebrand.
The campaign will see Mango Communications drive rapid brand awareness around the new proposition, amplifying the launch and sustaining the momentum through content and talent-led conversations.
The Edge is known for its unrivalled connection to young audiences and strong presence in the digital space. The brand has identified the opportunity for potential expansion and growth in Australia’s under-served contemporary youth space, with further details regarding the rebrand to come.
In addition to the upcoming rebrand, The Edge has put together a new team of inspiring leaders, content makers, culture creators and out-of-the-box thinkers. There will be key staff announcements, alongside the talent announcements in coming weeks.
L&A Social reappointed as Volkswagen’s social media management
Automotive giant Volkswagen has appointed L&A Social to manage organic social media for their Passenger Vehicles brand, following a four agency competitive pitch.
The social media strategy and management agency based in Sydney, has been working with Volkswagen for two years and was reappointed to handle end to end social media activity.
L&A Social’s role will include strategy, content development, photo and video shoots, campaign development, reporting and social listening. It will also continue to manage Volkswagen PV’s social pages across Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and TikTok for its Passenger Vehicle brand.
News Brands
Ukraine invasion: American journalist Brent Renaud shot dead during fighting around Kyiv
A US journalist was shot dead and another wounded on Sunday in Irpin, a frontline suburb of Kyiv that has witnessed some of the fiercest fighting since Russia invaded Ukraine, reports AFP.
Video documentary maker Brent Renaud, 50, was working for Time Studios on a project about global refugee issues, the media outlet said.
“We are devastated by the loss of Brent Renaud,” Time editor in chief Edward Felsenthal said.
Michael Pell to move to Los Angeles in major shake-up at Sunrise
A major announcement is brewing at Seven this week. Diary hears the force behind Sunrise’s unprecedented dominance of breakfast TV over more than 11 years, Michael Pell, is about to fly the Sunrise coop, reports News Corp’s Nick Tabakoff.
We’re told that Seven has offered Pell a lucrative new opportunity, based in Los Angeles, to source new programming out of the US for the network, both in terms of concepts that can be adapted for the Australian market, and finished productions. And Pell will no doubt be delighted at the prospect of any longer having to set his alarm for 4am.
If Pell is indeed announced as heading to Hollywood in the next few days, expect him to only stay in the Sunrise role long enough for a brief handover, with April believed to be his most likely departing date from Australia.
The question is, how exactly will Seven fill Pell’s shoes?
We hear the most likely option is a restructure of how Sunrise will be run going forward.
One possibility, Diary is told, is that a single person could be appointed as Seven’s head of morning television, taking in Sunrise and The Morning Show, the latter of which is currently run by Sarah Stinson.
Sunrise co-host David Koch tests positive for Covid after Australia Unites telethon
Sunrise co-host David “Kochie” Koch has tested positive for Covid-19, reports News Corp’s Mibengé Nsenduluka.
The Channel 7 star, 66, was absent from Sunrise on Monday morning as Confidential understands he was diagnosed with the virus on Sunday, after attending Saturday’s flood appeal telethon.
“I tested negative on Saturday lunchtime ahead of the Australia Unites broadcast but then woke up feeling a bit shaggy on Sunday morning, which I initially put down to the late finish and sharing the bottle of red wine that Sylvia (Jeffreys) and Dr Chris (Brown) insisted we share (that’s my version and I’m sticking with it).
“But then I tested again and it came in positive. Symptoms are mild and I’m following the health orders,” Koch said in a statement.
The Project takes show to Perth for WA Week broadcast
The Project is taking the show to Perth for a week-long live broadcast from Western Australia, from March 21 to 25, after years spent apart.
Perth’s homegrown Carrie Bickmore will be joined by fellow Project hosts Waleed Aly, Lisa Wilkinson, and Peter Helliar, all heading west to present the show’s first live outside broadcast since before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Carrie Bickmore shares: “I can’t wait to get home to the beautiful state I grew up in, I miss my family and friends so much and can’t wait to squeeze them! I’ll definitely jump in the ocean while I am there too!”
The Project’s Lisa Wilkinson will cross live to the desk at the top of WA Week from Broome, before she’s live on the desk in Perth on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 to cap off an exceptional week.
Wilkinson proudly explains: “We are all so looking forward to getting back to WA. It’s such a fabulous destination at any time, but after two years of being closed off to the rest of the country, we can’t wait to explore everything that this vast, stunning state has to offer.”
The show will broadcast from multiple locations that Perth is famous for, such as the iconic Kings Park and Botanic Garden, and will also include live crosses from Perth local and well-known reporter Rove McManus.