As Kyle Laidlaw writes on TV Blackbox, while there’s been a tiny uptick in kids’ drama spending, the overall picture remains bleak.
Screen Producers Australia has called out the data as fresh proof of market failure.
Thursday May 29, 2025
Dani Bassil appointed CEO of M+C Saatchi Group AUNZ
M+C Saatchi Group has appointed Dani Bassil to the newly created role of CEO of M+C Saatchi Group AUNZ, as Justin Graham steps down from his role as CEO of M+C Saatchi Group APAC later this year.
She will begin in the role August 2025 and will oversee the Australia and New Zealand businesses in advertising, consulting, and Passions and PR entities, including Sport & Entertainment.
Bassil was most recently she was CEO of Clemenger BBDO Australia.
Her previous roles include CEO of Digitas UK at Publicis, Managing Partner at JWT UK at WPP, and leadership roles in operations, and account management at Grey, W+K, VCCP and Mother. She started her career at Ogilvy Sydney.
“I’ve admired the M+C Saatchi brand for as long as I can remember,” Bassil said of her new role.
“To be able to bring all of my experience in brand, consulting, media and digital together to lead this group of incredible businesses is so exciting for me.
“How we drive value and growth for clients through strategic thinking and cut through with powerful creative and brand ideas is what I get out of bed for, and there’s no better agency brand than M+C Saatchi to partner with clients to achieve this. I can’t wait to get started.”
Zaid Al-Qassab, Global CEO, M&C Saatchi Group, said: ‘I’m excited to welcome Dani to the helm of our Australia and New Zealand businesses. Her broad leadership experience and client centric approach will power the agency forward, and her vast digital expertise is what’s most needed in the next phase of our journey to give brands Cultural Power. I’m excited to see what magic she can make.”
The leadership team of Steve Coll, Tanya Vragalis, Jenn Butler, Benjamin Harrison and Jen Hegarty will report to Bassil.
Graham: ‘It has been a privilege to lead the exceptional M+C Saatchi teams locally’
The agency also revealed news of Graham is set to step down from his role as CEO of M+C Saatchi Group APAC later this year. His exit come as part of the agency’s broader realignment with the Asia business transitioning to being led from the Singapore HQ.
He will remain in his Sydney-based role until then to help guide the handover and support Bassil as she steps into the CEO AUNZ role.
Graham joined the agency from Droga5 in 2013, Graham’s 12 years at M+C Saatchi have included six years as group CSO Australia, before being promoted to the role of CEO ANZ in 2020.
Following an impressive period of growth and creative recognition for the business, Graham was promoted to the global advertising lead role in 2022, before assuming his most recent role as APAC regional CEO.
Graham said: “It has been a privilege to lead the exceptional M+C Saatchi teams locally and around the network over my time; as a self-professed life learner, it’s been a ride.
“I’m grateful to Zaid and all the brilliant people I have been fortunate to partner with over the years; my immediate focus is to set up Australia and the key markets in the region for ongoing success.’
Graham was previously recognised as an AFR Boss Young Executive of the Year and under his leadership, the M+C Saatchi business has been awarded numerous honours, including AFR’s Most Innovative Marketing & Media Company, multiple Effies in Australia and the US, and more recently, No.1 Independent Creative Network in the region.
Al-Qassab, said: “Justin has played a critical role at M+C Saatchi, first as a chief strategist, then successful CEO, and most recently leading our APAC region.
“When I joined the business in May last year, I spent my very first day in our Sydney office to see first-hand the work of the most awarded region in our network. Justin has been a brilliant partner, and whilst I will miss working with him, I am grateful for the legacy he leaves behind.’
“At M+C Saatchi Group, we are committed to our leaders and long-term succession planning. As such, over the last few months, Justin and I have been working closely to identify the best leadership succession for key markets in the APAC region, and in particular our Australian and New Zealand businesses.’
Graham will continue in his director roles for both the Advertising Council (ACA) and social impact organisation, Unltd.
Top image: Dani Bassil and Justin Graham
GroupM rebrands as WPP Media - embraces AI era
WPP has officially replaced GroupM with WPP Media as the name of the global media company.
The name changes comes as the WPP Media embraces its position as a fully integrated, AI-powered media company
WPP Media manages more than US$60 billion in annual media investment and works with more than 75% of the world’s leading advertisers in over 80 markets. Mindshare, Wavemaker and EssenceMediacom will continue to provide clients with dedicated teams as brands within the holding company, leveraging common capabilities, technology and support functions.
WPP Media is seamlessly connected with holding company’s wider global agency networks and capabilities through WPP Open – WPP’s AI-enabled marketing system – creating the industry’s most advanced platform for scaled and integrated creative, production, data, commerce and personalised media delivery services. WPP Open is backed by £300m of investment each year and partnerships with the leading AI companies.
“Consumers already expect advertising to be relevant and engaging and buying experiences to be seamless; those expectations are only going to accelerate in the age of AI,” Brian Lesser, CEO of WPP Media, said.
“WPP Media is built for a world in which media is everywhere and in everything. By investing in our AI-powered product, integrating our offer with data and technology, and equipping our people with future-facing skills, we’re helping our clients to stay ahead of rapidly changing consumer behavior and unlock the limitless opportunities for growth that AI will create.”
Brian Lesser: ‘WPP Media is built for a world in which media is everywhere and in everything.’
The global media company’s fully integrated offering enables clients to unify media, data and production and holistically manage their owned, earned, shared and paid activities to deliver personalisation at scale. The company’s services are further enhanced with best-in-class connected commerce and state-of-the-art measurement and analytics capabilities.
WPP Media is underpinned by a commitment to accelerate investments in learning and development initiatives that will provide career pathways to the jobs of the future, ensuring employees are empowered to lead the marketing and media transformation in the AI era.
Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: “We believe that WPP is the strongest marketing partner for the world’s leading brands in the AI era, where technology and talent converge.
Mark Read: ‘Our vision for the future is clear – marketing that is informed by data, led by seamlessly connected teams of brilliant people, and full of new opportunities for our clients.’
“The move to WPP Media continues our strategy to simplify and integrate our offer for clients. While GroupM was built for a time when media scale mattered most, WPP Media reflects the power of AI, data and technology and simpler, more integrated solutions.
“Our vision for the future is clear – marketing that is informed by data, led by seamlessly connected teams of brilliant people, and full of new opportunities for our clients.”
Gina Rinehart tops 2025 Rich List as wealth dips
For the sixth year running, Gina Rinehart holds the crown as Australia’s wealthiest individual, according to the 2025 Financial Review Rich List.
Her estimated fortune fell by $2 billion to $38.11 billion, reflecting a challenging year for iron ore prices and the mining sector overall.
The combined wealth of the country’s top 10 richest dropped 9.2 per cent to $202 billion, down from $222 billion in 2024, with mining moguls like Clive Palmer and Nicola Forrest also seeing declines due to the softer commodity market.
Mining and property continue to dominate Australian wealth
Despite recent setbacks, mining remains the largest sector for wealth creation, accounting for $141.3 billion of the total Rich List valuation.
Property follows closely, valued at $125.8 billion. The list’s second-richest is property developer Harry Triguboff, whose net worth rose to $29.65 billion.
Anthony Pratt and family hold third place with $25.85 billion, followed by Scott Farquhar at $21.42 billion and Clive Palmer at $20.12 billion.
Canva founders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht ranked sixth with $14.14 billion.
The overall number of billionaires in Australia increased to 161 from 150 last year, with New South Wales home to the largest share at 81, followed by Victoria with 55.
Shifting rankings reflect personal and market changes
This year’s list also highlights the impact of personal circumstances on wealth rankings.
Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes fell out of the top 10 amid his separation from Annie Cannon-Brookes, while mining billionaire Andrew Forrest dropped to 11th place, overtaken by his wife Nicola Forrest at ninth.
Female representation on the list edged up slightly, from 41 to 42, with Margaret Dymond, owner of engine oil manufacturer Penrite, the only new female entrant among 10 debutants.
Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup pointed to the growing threshold for entry, with the minimum net worth required now $747 million, compared to just $10 million when the list debuted in 1983.
Among the new faces, fund manager Michael Dorrell, co-founder of Stonepeak, emerged as the highest-valued self-made debutant with $13.9 billion, placing him seventh overall.
The list also features a record 16 billionaires with fortunes exceeding $10 billion.
Meanwhile, media and construction magnate Kerry Stokes boosted his net worth by over $1 billion to $12.7 billion, securing the 10th spot.
Redrup emphasised that behind these numbers lie years of persistent effort and strategic growth, underscoring that becoming a Rich Lister remains a challenging milestone.
The Top 10 (worth a collective $202 billion)
1. Gina Rinehart – $38.11 billion – Mining
2. Harry Triguboff – $29.65 billion – Property
3. Anthony Pratt & family – $25.85 billion – Manufacturing
4. Scott Farquhar – $21.42 billion – Technology
5. Clive Palmer – $20.12 billion – Mining
6. Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht – $14.14 billion – Technology
7. Michael Dorrell – $13.85 – Investment
8. Ivan Glasenberg – $13.3 billion – Mining
9. Nicola Forrest – $12.83 billion – Mining
10. Kerry Stokes – $12.69 – Media
The full Rich List will be available on www.afr.com and will appear in a special edition of The Australian Financial Review Magazine in this Friday’s Financial Review.
TIME’s Creative Director reveals the secrets behind an iconic magazine cover
In a media landscape shaped by the infinite scroll, where attention is a currency and every frame competes with cat videos and breaking news, TIME Magazine’s D.W. Pine is in the thick of it.
As the magazine’s Creative Director, he’s not just steering a legacy brand these days, now he’s helping redefine how we experience journalism one scroll-stopping image at a time.
But that transformation isn’t happening in isolation. TIME’s mastery of visual storytelling has been decades in the making, with Pine at the centre of its modern era.
Ahead of his Vivid Sydney event, Where Do Ideas Come From? (which takes place at Sydney’s Town Hall Thursday, 29 May) Pine sat down with Mediaweek’s Natasha Lee on the Newsmakers podcast to reveal the secrets behind the iconic red border of TIME.
D.W. Pine
Telling stories at the speed of swipe
While Pine’s work speaks to the magazine’s physical legacy, the team around him is shaping its digital present and future.
Across platforms, TIME’s multimedia division is tasked with taking complex global stories and distilling them into something instantly gripping and shareable.
“You’re always asking yourself, what’s the most powerful version of this story in a single frame?” Pine said.
That question drives how his team navigates storytelling at the speed of swipe. It’s about distilling complex narratives down to their most potent, shareable truths, without flattening them.
The challenge? Balancing the seductive clarity of a visual with the rigour of journalistic integrity.
In a world where a photo might be all a viewer sees before swiping on, Pine’s crew obsesses over every pixel, every caption, every beat, because each image isn’t just content, it’s an invitation into a deeper story.
More than a magazine
If you’ve ever paused in a newsagency, pulled a TIME cover from the rack and felt a jolt of recognition or emotion, you’ve experienced Pine’s work.
But what’s more remarkable is how that feeling now lives on beyond the printed page. It’s in Instagram posts, homepage banners, and YouTube thumbnails. It’s visual journalism built for the modern gaze.
And yet, through all this evolution, the mission hasn’t wavered: to make you look twice. To pull you into a conversation. To remind you that behind every image is a story worth telling.
Listen to the full chat with DW Pine and Natasha Lee here:
Where Do Ideas Come From? takes place at Sydney’s Town Hall Thursday, 29 May. Get your tickets here.
Taste.com.au unveils major overhaul. Expanded Coles integration.
Taste.com.au, Australia’s leading food media platform, has introduced a significant overhaul to its website, enhancing user experience across meal planning, recipe discovery, and online grocery shopping.
Increased Coles integration
The update, described as the most ambitious in the brand’s history, includes new navigation features, a refreshed homepage, and extended integration with Coles’ e-commerce platform.
The relaunch strengthens the longstanding digital collaboration between Taste.com.au and Coles, now in its twelfth year.
The upgraded shoppable recipe functionality enables users to shop ingredients from over 50,000 recipes, add them to a digital cart, and complete purchases through Coles Online nationally.
Kerrie McCallum, Head of Food, Travel and Health, said the investment underscores the brand’s commitment to serving the Australian home cook. “This major investment in the site reflects our ongoing commitment to users and serving them with all their cooking and food needs.”
Kerrie McCallum
Taste.com.au Content Director Laura Simpson noted that the enhanced Coles integration is “market-leading,” adding: “This innovation adds value and convenience for our audience, enabling them to seamlessly move from inspiration to purchase to delivery in just a few clicks.”
Laura Simpson
Feature enhancements
Key updates include streamlined navigation by meal type, ingredient, and occasion; a redesigned homepage showcasing trending content; and a “Tried and Tested” module featuring community-rated recipes.
New sections such as “Cheap & Tasty” and “Top Picks” address affordability and editorial recommendations, while the “Taste Test Kitchen” now offers more visibility to product and appliance reviews.
The platform also introduced new tools for personalisation, including a swap feature for product alternatives and a pantry feature that omits common household ingredients to reduce grocery costs.
Enhanced imagery and a refreshed colour scheme complete the redesign.
In April 2025, the site drew more than 4.5 million users who generated 61 million browser page views, according to Ipsos iris data. This reflects a 13% increase in page views per person year-on-year.
Melanie Spencer awarded CEO of the Year at Women Leading Change Awards
Thompson Spencer CEO and Co-Founder Melanie Spencer has been awarded CEO of the Year category at Campaign Asia-Pacific’s Women Leading Change Awards, now in its ninth year.
The event, held in Singapore on Monday, highlights the high-level innovation and impact by honouring trailblazing women who are shaping the future.
Spencer was awarded the only commendation in the category and was the only finalist from Australia or New Zealand.
Over the last year, she has overseen the full integration of Thompson Spencer’s multiple business units into one full-service offering, opened new offices in Australia and led the successful merger with performance agency Reason – making Thompson Spencer one of New Zealand’s largest independent agencies.
Spencer said of her recognition: “It was already very humbling to be shortlisted, but to receive a commendation – and as the only Kiwi or Aussie recognised – it’s honestly just incredible.”
“What this commendation really is though, is a reflection of the amazing ambition and energy of our whole team and the wonderful clients who put their trust in us and back what we do.
“I’m so proud of what we’ve built together and where we’re heading next. I’d like to extend big congratulations to the winner, Sue-Ann Lim of Universal McCann Malaysia, as well as my very heartfelt thanks to the judging panel – which included many leaders I’ve long admired.”
Last month, Thompson Spencer expanded into Australia launching offices in Sydney and Melbourne.
The agency already services clients in the Australian market including Wattyl, Seagrass Hospitality Group, Chartered Accountants and DoorDash with the move coming hot on the heels of a landmark merger with performance media agency Reason, forming one of New Zealand’s largest full-funnel independent agencies.
Top image: Melanie Spencer
The Wiggles head to Malaysia to grow ABC Commercial reach
The iconic skivvies are heading further afield.
In a move that underscores both international appetite for Australian children’s content and ABC Commercial’s strategic push into global markets, Ready, Steady, Wiggle! has been picked up by Malaysia’s national broadcaster, RTM.
This latest deal signals an expanding commercial blueprint for The Wiggles brand, one that places Southeast Asia as a key growth territory in the post-pandemic media landscape.
A trusted brand lands in a new market
The agreement will see RTM acquire four seasons (Series 4–7) of the Ready, Steady, Wiggle! series for its English-language free-to-air channel.
For ABC Commercial, the distribution arm of Australia’s national broadcaster, the deal builds on a broader strategy: extending the reach of reliable, educational entertainment across borders.
With The Wiggles already established in Australia, North America and the UK, Malaysia becomes the latest addition to a growing list of markets where the brand resonates with preschoolers, and where local broadcasters are actively seeking quality content with cross-cultural appeal.
Cultural connection as a growth strategy
According to ABC Commercial’s Content Sales Manager for Asia and MENA, Alex Zhou, the timing is ideal.
“We’re seeing strong demand from broadcasters for safe, smart content that parents can trust,” Zhou said. “The Wiggles tick all those boxes, they’ve spent over 30 years combining music, movement and learning in a way that feels joyful and inclusive.”
Part of that relatability comes from the group’s evolving cast. With John Pearce, the Purple Wiggle, bringing Asian heritage to the screen, the brand’s diversity has become a feature, not just a footnote, in how it connects with young viewers globally.
What’s next for The Wiggles in Asia?
The program is expected to premiere in Malaysia in late 2025, though a release date is yet to be confirmed.
While the initial deal centres on English-language programming, future expansion into dubbed or subtitled versions could further deepen the brand’s reach.
Luke O’Neill, CEO of The Wiggles, framed the partnership as a key chapter in the group’s international roadmap. “This is an exciting next step,” he said. “RTM and ABC Commercial have created a great opportunity for us to meet new families, and to continue delivering meaningful, playful content to young audiences.”
Founding member Anthony Field, the original Blue Wiggle, echoed the sentiment. “We’ve always believed in making learning fun, and now more kids across Asia will get to dance and sing along with us. That’s a big win.”
David Droga steps down as Accenture Song CEO
Accenture Song CEO David Droga has chosen to step down from day-to-day leadership at the end of the fiscal year and take on a broader strategic role across all of Accenture as vice chair.
Ndidi Oteh, who joined Accenture in 2011, is Accenture Song Americas lead, will step up and replace Droga in the role.
She has been a trusted partner to many of the largest and most innovative Fortune 500 companies, leading complex digital transformations and consumer growth strategies. Oteh will also join Accenture’s Global Management Committee (GMC).
Nick Law will become the new Song creative strategy and experience lead and will also join Accenture’s GMC. His reputation as a leader and global design force has long been established.
Droga stepped into the role of CEO in 2021 and lead Accenture Interactive through a period of rapid growth and bold transformation, beginning with the unification of over 40 acquisitions and groups under the name Accenture Song, and introduced a new operating model that integrated creativity, technology, design, AI, strategy and data into one connected platform.
He also assembled a leadership team that became the envy of every holding company and consultancy firm.
Within only four years, Song became the world’s largest tech-powered creative company, growing from $12.5 billion to $19 billion in revenue (fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2024).
The agency also established tech-infused creativity as another core offering of Accenture, winning Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity every year, I-COM Data Creativity Awards, Red Dot Design Awards, Webbys and even its first Emmy.
“David Droga has long been a singular force and a once-in-a-generation creative leader and business builder and he has lived our core value of stewardship and has developed the next generation of leaders who will build an even better Song,” Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture, said.
“He brings humanity, imagination, clarity, and confidence to everything he touches and helps redefine how businesses grow and connect. His brilliance is matched only by his generosity, integrity, and belief in others. As Accenture’s vice chair, his legacy and impact will continue for our people, our work, and our purpose.”
Droga said of his decision: “It has been a privilege to be part of so many missions and cultures around the world. With such extraordinary leadership in place, it felt like the right time. I could not be more confident that Ndidi, Sean and Nick will continue building on Song’s legacy of innovation, creativity, and performance.
“I am also deeply grateful for Julie Sweet’s trust, our partnership, and what will be an enduring friendship.”
Droga’s impact across industries and continents is remarkable and enduring. As the founder of Droga5, he created one of the most admired and influential creative companies of the modern era that has been recognised with plenty of industry accolades over the years. The agency became known for work that was original, culturally resonant, and creatively fearless.
Among his most iconic campaigns were those for The New York Times, the British Army, Under Armour, Marc Ecko, Meta, Game of Thrones, UNICEF, Amazon, the NSPCC, Puma, the New York City Department of Education, Tourism Australia, JAY-Z, JPMorgan Chase and Coinbase
Following its acquisition by Accenture in 2019, Droga5 became the creative cornerstone that would evolve into Accenture Song.
“I honestly could not be more grateful for my career and the opportunities I’ve had,” Droga added. “The people who believed in me, the talent I’ve worked alongside, the clients we’ve served, the trust, the ambition, the camaraderie, it’s all part of me. After 30 plus years of leaping, I am ready to catch my breath. And being vice chair will allow me to do that, but also to contribute in new ways.
“I am also excited to spend more time suffixing: Thinking, daydreaming, advising, investing, giving, mentoring, exploring, learning, playing, appreciating, family-ing, sleeping-in-ing.”
Droga began his career in Australia at the age of 18 after receiving top honours at the Australian Writers and Art Directors School. By 22, he was executive creative director of the country’s leading agency. He went on to lead award-winning agencies across Asia and Europe before founding Droga5 in New York in 2006. The agency was named after a laundry tag his mother sewed into his clothes at boarding school.
In 2012, Droga was named Global Australian of the Year by Advance.org for his contributions to business, culture, and international influence. He is the most awarded creative in the history of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and the youngest recipient of its lifetime achievement honor, the Lion of St. Mark, at age 47. He has been inducted into multiple halls of fame globally and is widely considered one of the defining architects of modern marketing.
He was among the first to champion viral, social, and earned media as central tenets of brand building. His work is studied in classrooms and boardrooms, featured in Harvard Business School curriculum, and included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Top image: David Droga
IMAA unveils 2025 Pitch-Chella participants
The Independent Media Agencies of Australia (IMAA) has confirmed 18 member agencies will participate in its 2025 Pitch-Chella program, with teams tasked with developing media campaigns for Mission Australia.
Now in its second year, Pitch-Chella provides a platform for early-career professionals from independent agencies to develop and showcase their pitching capabilities.
The initiative is sponsored by Audience360 and supported by Meta, News Corp Australia, and Pinterest.
A total of 21 teams from the 18 agencies will create campaign pitches aimed at raising brand awareness and driving support for Mission Australia’s work addressing homelessness in Australia.
Agencies on board
Agencies taking part include:
- Alpha Digital
- Assembled Media
- Admatic
- Audience Group
- Advertising Associates
- Bang Digital
- Customedia
- Co.gency
- Hatched
- Impressive
- Kaimera
- Noisy Beast
- Pearman Media
- TFM Digital
- Slingshot
- The Media Store
- The Pistol
- Vonni Media
Participants will submit written pitches covering paid, earned, and creative media strategies, along with proposals for ‘always on’ support during Mission Australia’s key fundraising windows in winter and at Christmas.
Judging panel
Campaigns will be judged by a panel of marketing leaders, including:
- Jenny Parkes, Managing Director at Audience360
- Steven Wright, Business Director and Global Media Lead at TrinityP3
- Daniel Johns, Managing Partner at Tumbleturn Marketing Advisory
- Adam Hickey, Founder of Orand
- Greg Graham from Sparrow’s Nest Consulting.
Finalists will be announced on June 24, with virtual pitch presentations scheduled for July 2. The winning team will be revealed at a closing event on July 17 at Bells Hotel in Melbourne.
Mike Wilson, Hatched Chairman and IMAA Leadership Team member, said the program reflects the IMAA’s commitment to professional development within the independent media sector. “This year, we’re looking for pitches that are innovative, intelligent and creative — campaigns that can generate a disproportionate impact,” Wilson said.
Pitch-Chella 2025 is being coordinated by a steering committee including Wilson, Lisa Blackshaw of Co.Gency, and Taylor Fielding of TFM Digital, in collaboration with the IMAA.
For more information, visit: theimaa.com.au/pitch-chella
Journalism
Nine journalist signed in by Greens amid Bradfield recount drama
According to Caroline Marcus on Sky News Australia, the Australian Financial Review’s Paul Karp entered the Asquith counting centre last week under a plan reportedly ticked off by Nine management.
Sky News Australia obtained a photo of Karp being signed in by a Greens representative on May 22, just as a full recount got underway in the ultra-tight seat.
Bondi victim’s family slams media for insensitive coverage
Canberra’s old political instincts are looking increasingly out of step as gender balance quietly but decisively reshapes the landscape.
But as Christopher Warren writes in this Crikey Op-Ed, there’s a new tone creeping in, less shouty, more considered, and not everyone’s caught on.
Television
NITV calls for bigger budget to back First Nations stories
Her mother and fiancé say they learned of her death not from police, but via a live radio broadcast.
As Miklos Bolza and Alex Mitchell write on 7NEWS, the criticism was directed squarely at 2GB’s Ray Hadley, who named Singleton on air before her family had confirmed her identity.
Business
Gina Rinehart holds Rich List crown as mining moguls take a hit
As Yoland Redrup reports on The Australian Financial Review, she wasn’t alone in the slide.
Clive Palmer and Nicola Forrest also took multibillion-dollar hits, dragging the top ten’s collective wealth down 9.2 per cent to $202 billion.
Productivity slump not caused by remote work, says commission
The Productivity Commission has pushed back on claims that remote work is behind Australia’s post-Covid productivity slide, pointing instead to a wild ride in working hours during and after the pandemic.
As Patrick Commins reports on The Guardian Australia, the Commission’s latest report has found that the short-lived productivity boom during lockdowns was more about fewer hours worked than any long-term gains.
Retail
Sephora expands as beauty battle heats up in Aussie retail
But, as Lauren Ironmonger writes in The Sydney Morning Herald, Sephora, the LVMH-owned giant quietly growing its footprint since its local debut in 2014.
Now up to 32 stores across the country, including a recent launch in Bankstown, Sephora plans to open two more locations before year’s end.
Myer reveals makeover to woo younger shoppers and revamp loyalty program
As Eli Greenblat reports in The Australian, the plan includes a revamped cosmetics section featuring nail and blow-dry bars designed to attract a younger crowd.
This refresh marks Myer’s first major strategy overhaul in nearly a decade
$1.5 billion of online returns end up in landfill, report finds
According to Frances Howe in The Sydney Morning Herald, a new report from charity Good360 reveals that around $1.5 billion worth of returned online purchases were dumped in landfill last year.
Deloitte’s analysis highlights a sharp jump in waste, with $4.5 billion in unsold goods trashed annually, up 79 per cent since 2021.
Television
Fox Footy’s dedicated commentary teams prove a hit with fans
As Scott Gullan writes in The Herald-Sun, for the first time, footy fans can choose between Channel 7 or Fox Footy when it comes to who calls the game.
Thursday nights feature Matt Hill and Mark Howard alongside Richmond legend Jack Riewoldt, while Friday teams bring together veterans Anthony Hudson and Gerard Whateley with special commentary from Garry Lyon and Jason Dunstall.
Phil Gould’s role questioned after Lachlan Galvin signing controversy
According to Ben Talintyre on news.com.au, news broke on Sunday that Galvin agreed to a three-year deal worth around $750,000 a season, rejecting a huge $6 million offer from the Tigers.
Rumours had swirled that Gould, the Bulldogs’ general manager of football, was quietly pulling strings behind the scenes to land Galvin.
Is it time to give NITV a bigger budget to tell first nations stories?
As David Knox writes on TV Tonight, it’s long been a trailblazer in showcasing voices often missing from mainstream TV screens.
NITV stands out as the only broadcaster dedicated solely to First Nations storytelling, sparking a question recently asked at Screen Forever: should it get a bigger budget to amplify those stories even further?
Social media
CEO’s turn to unscripted video to speak directly to audiences
In a casual sweater, phone in hand, she told her followers the news “slightly breaks my heart,” showcasing a new wave of leaders using social media to communicate more personally.
According to Isabel Berwick on The Australian Financial Review, LinkedIn reports a 52 per cent jump in CEO videos over the past two years, with video content overall growing twice as fast as other formats.
Tech
Google faces class action over alleged ad market monopoly
As Jared Lynch writes in The Australian, This follows a US court ruling last month that labelled Google’s dominance an illegal monopoly, blocking rivals from competing fairly.
The US Justice Department is even pushing to break up Google, aiming to force a sale of its AdX platform, where advertisers and publishers trade digital ad space.
Entertainment
‘The White Lotus’ creator Mike White set to star on ‘Survivor 50’
The White Lotus creator and actor is back on Survivor’s milestone 50th season, proving he’s as serious about outwitting and outlasting as he is about storytelling.
As James Hibberd writes in The Hollywood Reporter, White first appeared on the show in 2018, finishing a strong second place in the “David vs. Goliath” season.
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