Leo Burnett studied journalism at the University of Michigan. His dream was to become the publisher of The New York Times. He graduated in 1914 and his first job was in Peoria, IL, where he worked as a newspaper reporter on the crime beat. Burnett soon thereafter moved to Detroit and went to work on the client-side at GM. Burnett edited a publication for Cadillac dealers called Cadillac Clearing House. His …
3 Shades of COVID-19: Community Service, Playful Reminders, and Human Connections
COVID-19 is deadly and frightening. In business terms, the pandemic is highly disruptive. The contagious disease is sending shockwaves of change that are being felt by workers and employers alike, all over the globe. Brands naturally want to help but is this genuine impulse helpful (in Marcom terms), and to whom is it helpful? Let's explore... Michelob Ultra In Michelob Ultra's case, the help from the brand is …
Become A Patron of Adpulp.com and Make Way for Emerging Voices in Marcom
I remember when I was first paid to write. It was a big moment for me. I was busy putting my "book" together and showing it to any creative director in Portland who would look and offer feedback. At the time, I heard some version of, "No thank you, but keep trying," many times over. It was discouraging, and a hard thing to work through. How do you keep the faith without some positive feedback and a helping hand or …
Continue Reading about Become A Patron of Adpulp.com and Make Way for Emerging Voices in Marcom →
A Better Idea: A Series of Homemade Frito Pie Recipes by Non-Celebrity Chefs
For way too many individuals and some brands, COVID-19 has turned into The Self-Righteous Olympics. For instance, Frito-Lay's internal creative team let go of this commercial fart. https://youtu.be/aqOvJ_9YVa4 The spot starts by saying, "Things are hard right now. The world doesn't need brands to tell us how to think or feel." If this were true, Frito-Lay wouldn't be saying it in a commercial. The spot then …
Next Time You Go Somewhere, Drive A Lexus (Or Any Toyota) To Ace Hardware
Put people first. Refer to car buyers as people and treat them as guests? I don't get it. I don't get it because I don't own a Lexus or Toyota. https://youtu.be/3-XxLd-UMcQ A Company with A Conscience and A Big Wrench As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Toyota Motor North America, Inc. continues to assist those in need with essential supplies, emergency relief and is providing on-going support to many …
Continue Reading about Next Time You Go Somewhere, Drive A Lexus (Or Any Toyota) To Ace Hardware →
It’s the Perfect Time for Reinvention and A New Humility
Humble. That's for the other guy. Marketing communications is about making bold moves and persuasive creative that builds brand value. Marcom is about shining a bright light on the one reason why the product or service in question matters. For years, the best brand communicators deftly approached the problem with wit and charm. The worst offenders, on the other hand, just stood there and pounded their …
Continue Reading about It’s the Perfect Time for Reinvention and A New Humility →
A Cash Positive Place for Emerging Advertising Voices
To help develop new writers and broaden our coverage, Adpulp.com is now accepting pitches from high achieving undergrads, grad students, and recent graduates. If you study or studied journalism, advertising, or marketing and you want to work with a copywriter/creative director and the editor of this website, here's your chance. For what it's worth, I was a college journalist. I was a reporter, then the …
Continue Reading about A Cash Positive Place for Emerging Advertising Voices →
When Readers Provide Direct Financial Support, Writers Rejoice
"The function of the press in society is to inform, but its role in society is to make money." - A. J. Liebling Howard Saltz is Knight Innovator-in-Residence in the journalism faculty at Florida International University in Miami. The professor and journalism practitioner thinks it is a serious mistake for newspapers to drop their paywalls in response to COVID-19, or for any other reason. Here's a section of …
Continue Reading about When Readers Provide Direct Financial Support, Writers Rejoice →
