The Media Tea Leaves 2019 Year End Thoughts and Observations

The Media Tea Leaves 2019 Year-End
Thoughts and Observations

Well, it's that time again.  Hard to believe 365 days have gone by.  I haven't written here since last year, but it's time to offer my thoughts and observations on the past year.  They are strictly my opinion and based on what I've experienced or observed first hand.  In addition to the categories commented on in the past, this year I'm creating the DGY Insights Award and the Ha! Award.  The DGY Insights Award is awarded to the advertising campaign that was obviously fueled by consumer insight that the agency and brand paid attention to and executed on excellently. The Ha! award goes to a person or event that defied the pundits.  Also new this year is the Self-Righteous Award reserved specifically for sports journalists and commentators.  

The DGY Insights Award goes to Walgreen's Cancer Battle Cry  This spot about pharmacists who are specially trained in cancer treatments and able to help patients with health and beauty solutions nailed it right down to the music which was a battle cry.  

The most poignant ads:  there are 2 brands this year. Hands down, The Look by P&G.  The follow up to the Talk, which was the hands-down winner last year. 
Equally as poignant are the Modelo commercials that elegantly give the finger to current immigration policies and remind us that "it doesn't matter where you come from, it matters what you're made of."  

Best Corporate Citizen - Modelo.  Here's a link to the newest spot, which reminds those that don't know that not that a century ago, the Irish were discriminated against. Modelo's partnership with the International Rescue Committee is an excellent example of living corporate values.  "We all have an immigrant story."  

Worst campaign.  Liberty Mutual Insurance. This company can't stay off my list.  Last year they won the most insulting ad.  This year, well, I just don't get big bird, Doug, and Zolof  and WTH any of it has to do with, "you only pay for what you need."  On top of that, their agency apparently never heard of frequency caps, so we are doomed to see these ads 100 times a day for three years.  UGH!

Worst Corporate Citizen - Facebook keeps its crown.  They won it last year with little competition and the same this year.  Their inability to safeguard user's data - and tell the truth about it in addition to their decision that it wasn't their duty to monitor whether political ads were true or not over qualifies them for Worst Corporate Citizen.  On another note,  their internal recruiters reached out to colleagues looking for names of sales professionals to attend a breakfast.  After receiving the names, they canceled the event.  

The Self-righteous Award goes to Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee.   His comments about Patrick Reed and the 2 stroke penalty as a result of brushing the sand in the trap at the Heroes Tournament were unprofessional and well over the line.  Chamblee's disdain for Reed was palpable. Chamblee called Reed a cheater and went on to say he shouldn't be on the President's Cup team because he was a rotten apple.  Reed accepted his 2 stroke penalty - which is how much he lost the tournament by - without fuss.  Chamblee presumed to know Reed's intent and what was in his mind at the time.  And as it turns out, Patrick's performance at the President's Cup helped the US keep the cup.  

The Ha! Award .  We've got three.  
The Ha! Award to Tyler Perry for opening the Tyler Perry Studios. Sent a real shock wave through Hollywood.  Ha! Bet they didn't see that coming in the 21st Century.  The NY Times calls Tyler Perry "the most successful mogul Hollywood has ever ignored."  

Another Ha! Award goes to Tiger Woods.  After winning the Masters and Zozo tournaments, golf writers and analysts couldn't resist speculating that Tiger had overplayed his hand by being a playing president of the President's Cup team.  They went on and on about how no one had done that for over 30 years.  They were all proven wrong and I dare say disappointed that he would not play in their backward-looking sandbox.  They should have paid more attention to Tiger's success off the golf course to give themselves better insight into how he leads.  In the midst of an intense debate about this, only one analyst piped in, and I'm paraphrasing here, "Let's not forget that Tiger is extremely intelligent - not just about golf."  Ha!  Ya think?  

Another Ha! Award goes to Colin Kaepernick for his shoe deal with Nike.  Kap's shoe sold out in minutes according to reports.  There are several NFL teams that wish their tickets would sell that fast much less sell out. There are a few that could have used his skills, too, but that's another story.

Black Women Rule Awards go to the Black women who hold the 2019 crowns of Miss World, Miss Teen USA, Miss America, Miss USA, and Miss Universe.

• Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica,  Miss World 
• Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa, Miss Universe
• Kaliegh Garris, Miss Teen USA 
• Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA 
• Nia Franklin, 2019 Miss America 

And to Athlete of the Year Simone Biles.  Has won 25 world champion medals - the most in gymnastics than anyone ever.

Photo Credits: AP

There's so much more I could talk about.  For instance: 

The Hallmark vs. Lifetime Christmas movies.  Lifetime wins.  Hallmark doesn't quite get Black people.  They could stand some sessions on casting and styling.  And then there was this comment from a colleague, "Lifetime showed Black people falling in love."  Plus the Lifetime stories were more realistic.  Black people did other things besides work in the bakery.  "It was refreshing to see yourself on the screen," said one gentleman after watching several of the Hallmark movies. Yep, and Kim Fields was dressed to the nines, even in high tops and jeans and all the men were fine.    

The Amazon Prime Original, Carnival Row that was a searing commentary on class, race and privilege and "man's inhumanity to man."  With set and costume designs that are both beautiful as well as dark and gritty, Carnival Row is clearly based on today's global geo-political situation. There was at least one storyline that was absolutely hilarious to me that I'm sure the writer did not intend. 

Keep your eye on the Comcast vs. Byron Allen tug of war.  The potential impact on civil rights is critical, so much so, that hedge fund managers are urging Comcast to drop it.  

Wishing you a healthy and happy 2020.  May all of your goals become achievements.  

Best,