What HBO’s ‘Succession’ can teach us about advertising

As an abashed former News Corp employee (thankfully at HarperCollins, one of the Murdoch portfolio’s least-offensive holdings), HBO’s "Succession" is my straight shot of Sunday-night dopamine. The show’s great even if you aren’t attuned to the devastating, thinly veiled media and publishing world portrayals—but it’s a lot more fun for those of us who are. And watching through the eyes of a current ad guy, there are still a lot of professional lessons to take away from the savage, but often insightful, Roy family and their various hangers-on. In anticipation of the season coming to a close this Sunday, when we bid adieu to our favorite deliciously dysfunctional and unscrupulous family of one-percenters until next year, I bring you my favorite ad-world lessons learned and reaffirmed in the first two seasons of HBO’s latest tentpole show. What's the protein? Roy family patriarch Logan’s go-to phrase, “What’s the protein?” is quickly becoming my internal mantra in all sorts of daily situations. Logan’s a busy guy who shoots from the hip, so he needs a quick phrase that helps get to the meat of the matter at hand—or points out the lack of substance in a given proposition (like his daughter Shiv’s much-mocked family memo). “What’s the protein?” is great shorthand for stripping the BS out of the equation and weighing whether there’s real substance at the core of an idea or it’s just carbohydrate filler. I’ve toyed with “What’s the protein?” becoming my new go-to filter in... Continue reading at 'Advertising Age'

[ Advertising Age | 2019-10-11 11:22:17 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: " What HBO’s ‘Succession’ can teach us about advertising "


Michael Clarke and Karl Stefanovic clash proves tabloid gold as Daily Mail chastises Nine and ABC | The Weekly Beast

Mail accuses Nine and ABC of ‘radio silence’ over fracas. Plus: conservative media attacks Jacinda ArdernThe Daily Mail called it “the biggest story in Australia on Thursday” and the News Corp tabloids agreed, serving up salacious front pages that editors of a scandal sheet can be proud of. The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-20 00:58:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this


HarperCollins Union Plans Rally at News Corp Offices in Manhattan

As the union approaches its 50th day on strike, union representatives are aiming to put pressure on the publisher’s parent company to settle the strike. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Australian: Michelle Gunn becomes Murdoch-owned newspaper’s first female editor-in-chief

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller announces Gunn’s appointmentFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian has promoted the paper’s editor, Michelle Gunn, to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-06 01:24:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Lachlan Murdoch seeks to draw Private Media chairman Eric Beecher into lawsuit against Crikey

News Corp co-chair pushes to extends defamation lawsuit against the independent media companyFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastLachlan Murdoch is seeking to draw Private Media chairman Eric Beecher... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-12-22 01:17:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this


News Corp ends year on a low note as another senior figure investigated over alleged behaviour at staff drinks | The Weekly Beast

The Murdoch stable has let indiscretions slide in the past but there is less tolerance now. Plus: Nine returns to AAPJust as News Corp Australia was licking its wounds after terminating three big name journalists for allegedly behaving badly, another scandal has broken.The Australian’s... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-12-16 02:16:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Wall Street Journal Names Emma Tucker as New Editor

News Corp said that Emma Tucker, a longtime editor in London, would replace Matt Murray, who has led the news organization for four years. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-12-12 22:10:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Top 10 Library Stories of 2022

PW looks back at the library stories that captivated the publishing world this year, and what they portend for 2023 Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Lachlan Murdoch’s whirlwind week: from US court testimony to Sydney Christmas party as elites rub shoulders | The Weekly Beast

Global head of News Corp among Murdoch’s guests. Plus: Toni Collette reveals split with husband after Daily Mail photosLachlan Murdoch’s week began with a deposition on Monday in the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox News and ended with the News Corp co-chair hosting an exclusive party... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-12-09 01:26:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Lachlan Murdoch alleges Crikey hired marketing firm to turn legal threat into subscription drive

News Corp co-chair’s lawyer tells federal court she intends to show Crikey did not republish article for public interest reasonsFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastCrikey hired a marketing company to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-30 06:29:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Chris Dore’s exit from News Corp lifts lid on behaviour at governor general’s residence | Weekly Beast

Dore was promoted to editor-in-chief of the Australian despite alleged behaviour and remained in post until WSJ event. Plus: Friendlyjordies’ fire scareFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastNot even a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-25 03:15:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Peter Gleeson leaves News Corp’s Courier-Mail and Sky News after multiple instances of plagiarism

In one case the Courier-Mail columnist and Sky News presenter filled almost half a column with the unattributed reporting of a regional ABC journalistGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Sky News presenter and Courier-Mail columnist Peter Gleeson has left... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-24 07:57:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Australian’s editor Chris Dore lost his job after attending News Corp event in California

Exclusive: Key Murdoch editor was at Wall Street Journal Tech Live event at Laguna Beach last month along with top News Corp executivesFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastChristopher Dore lost his job... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-18 07:59:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Crikey’s Peter Fray apologises over Walkley outburst as speculation surrounds Chris Dore’s News Corp exit | Weekly Beast

Crikey editor told to pipe down after ‘unacceptable’ heckling of ABC winners. Plus: faint praise from the Australian for its departing editor-in-chiefCrikey’s Peter Fray heckled the Gold Walkley winners during their acceptance speech at Thursday night’s gala journalism awards ceremony, but it... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-18 02:09:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Chris Dore resigns as editor-in-chief of the Australian blaming ‘personal health issues’

Dore tells staff he is ‘exhausted’ and is leaving News Corp Australia to ‘concentrate on restoring my health’Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe editor-in-chief of the Australian, Chris Dore, has resigned suddenly, citing “personal health issues”.The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-16 07:28:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Kevin Rudd accuses News Corp of ‘dog-whistling’ over reporting of Daniel Andrews

Former prime minister and media academics criticise reports, but Jeff Kennett says questions are ‘fair play’Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastKevin Rudd has accused News Corp Australia’s Herald Sun tabloid of “dog-whistling to conspiracy theorists” over its... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-08 07:13:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this


‘Lachlan gets fired the day Rupert dies’: Murdoch biography stokes succession rumors

New book by Australian reporter Paddy Manning hints at Succession-style feud with ramifications for US rightwing politicsIt’s long been thought that the succession plan for Lachlan Murdoch to take control of Fox Corporation and News Corp was set in stone for when his 91-year-old father, Rupert... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-31 13:39:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The New York Post says racist and sexist posts came from rogue employee (updated)

Fast Company isn't the only news outlet to suffer a recent, high-profile security breach. As CNBCreports, The New York Post has confirmed a rogue employee was behind racist and sexist posts on the newspaper's website and Twitter account. The perpetrator lashed out at various targets as part of... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-10-27 15:22:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Murdoch’s succession: who wins from move to reunite Fox and News Corp?

Deal would seal legacy with favoured heirs, but markets question whether companies should merge in the first placeThis week’s 200th anniversary soiree for the Sunday Times gathered some of the biggest names in media at the headquarters of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-21 14:56:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Lachlan Murdoch’s legal team loses bid to have parts of Crikey’s defamation defence dismissed

Australian independent publisher’s application to strike out parts of Murdoch’s reply also failed ahead of defamation trialFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastLachlan Murdoch’s application to have... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-21 03:20:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Virago founder Carmen Callil was a powerhouse who changed the publishing world for the better

The publisher and writer – who has died aged 84 – was a pioneering champion of female writers. Virago’s chair Lennie Goodings remembers her long-time colleague and friendMore than 40 years ago when Carmen and I were working late in the first Virago office on Wardour Street I asked her why she... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-18 15:06:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this