The role of the media agency is at a crossroads
Campaign, 28th January 2021
Can an agency be an impartial brand advisor and a media owner at the same time?
Five years ago, a seminal report from the Association of National Advertisers found evidence of “non-transparent business practices” by US media agencies that needed addressing. It was widely acknowledged that the problems identified and the report’s implications stretched across the Atlantic.
However, if you ask us, five years on, whether things have got better, we would reluctantly say no. In some respects, we believe things have got worse.
While we have seen positive change in many areas – and industry bodies on both sides of the Atlantic have worked to tighten up processes – we have also seen the market move in the wrong direction in others.