The Truth will out
The intertubes—and even The Guardian—have been abuzz this week with the news that “internet shock jock” and “New Zealand’s number 1 news and opinion blogger” Cameron Slater aka Whaleoil has been handed the editorial reins of The Truth.
According to a release, “Truth is New Zealand’s last remaining Kiwi-owned national newspaper,” which this year turns 125 (of course, there are a few Kiwi-owned regional papers, with the Otago Daily Times the biggest of them) and Slater has been brought on board to “fundamentally change the way newspapers deliver to their audiences”. Newspapers worldwide are in decline, due to a tired old business model that no longer works, Slater says.
“We’re not going to spend $4 million on a paint job and then deliver the same tired old paid-for sh*t. Most of the media in this country is weak, and it’s paid for,” he says. “The integrity in news went ages ago … Each and every one of us has got an investment in NZ Inc, and the majority of the people in charge of the place are taking the piss out of our investment. We’re going to keep the buggers honest. There’s no better disinfectant than sunlight. To use a tired phrase – if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear, so Wellington, you’re on notice – if you’re having a lend, we’re coming for you!”
Changes will be rolled out over a period of months and will include both print and a 24 hour news website to support the paper.
“We took the pulse of the nation, and it had nearly bloody died. No bastard wants to read old news. They can get that online. We’ll be more of a views-paper that promises to deliver REAL news, REAL opinion. The people are numb from the eyes down with the diet of PR’d crap they get now. I will not do it to them anymore – it’s not right. I assure you, the little paper that could still can!”
Slater will continue his blogging at Whaleoil and his first issue will hit newsstands on 8 November. He has already made a few changes, replacing columnist Martyn ‘Bomber’ Bradbury with Josie Pagani. Another columnist, Ross Meurant, has also left.
The Truth’s print run is not audited, but Slater plans to include it in the ABC survey in due course. Truth PR manager Amanda Maclaren told the NBR the current print run was 16,000 and that its sales ran to 10,000 copies.
OMDeparture and arrivals
Lee-Ann Morris has left her role as OMD’s business director and moved to Spark PHD (in keeping with what seems to have become something of an OMD tradition, a few cheeky Adshels were whipped up for the send off and positioned near the offices on College Hill Rd). 
She is replaced by David Parker, who will lead its large FMCG account portfolio of Fonterra, Tip Top, Heinz Wattie’s and Sara Lee. Parker was most recently business director at Ogilvy NZ, and has worked at Spark and Starcom in the past.
Hamish Roderick has also joined OMD as associate trading director joining the senior trading team alongside David Turner and Maree Reinink. He comes from Mediacom, where he was media director.
And Monica Wales has also joined the OMD fray as a senior account manager, moving across from Barnes, Catmur & Friends.
Digital developments
Just up the road, Colenso BBDO has appointed Greg Forsyth, ex-Tribal DDB managing director, to the new role of digital business director.
He has been working with the agency over the past six months and was Aim Proximity’s digital services director from 2001 to 2005.
“Interactive thinking is at the heart of all our best work and being able to add more value strategically in the comms and business space for our client partners will make a big difference and Greg is the right man to drive this,” says Nick Garrett, Colenso BBDO managing director. “We are always looking for opportunities to invest in developing our digital offering further so we can remain one step ahead of the competition, and Greg will build our expertise and capabilities in this field. Greg was perfect for the position. Not only is he a world-class digital strategist, he’s also a familiar face to many of our staff and he’s fitting in well.”
Forsyth has been in the advertising industry for more than 20 years and has worked for brands such as Air NZ, BNZ, Telecom, Fonterra, Frucor and Sky Television. He will be tasked with building Colenso’s digital strategy team and developing new long-term structures around the agency’s digital creative work.
“I’m very excited to be working with a truly integrated agency that’s continually reinventing itself to deliver leading through-the-line campaigns,” says Forsyth. “Colenso is a great example of a new generation agency with remarkable digital output while also shaping itself for the needs of the market and I look forward to adding further strategic rigour.”
Speaking of remarkable digital outputs, Colenso BBDO is well positioned going into the Digital Media Awards (DMAs) with six nominations, the most of any Australasian agency.
Colenso has two campaigns nominated for the best integrated campaign—The V Motion Projectfor Frucor Beverages andThe Wine is Overfor DB Breweries. TBWA’s Good Energy Taxi is also in the best integrated campaign category.
The V Motion Projectis also nominated the media innovation and the FMCG awards.Save Sevenfor The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation is nominated for the best use of social media award and the fundraising, charities, appeals, non-profit organisations, public health & safety, public awareness category.
McComms
Kimberley Bartlett has been appointed as communications manager for McDonald’s New Zealand. She replaces Kelly Armitage.
Bartett, a former communications manager for Red Bull New Zealand and more recently Nokia New Zealand, was project leader on the ‘All Blacks take down coptercam’ video, a joint Telecom/Nokia piece of work created by Colenso BBDO in February.
She will work with McDonald’s head of communications, Simon Kenny.
Orange harvest
As we reported a while back, Tony Gardner has shifted from his role of general manager at Ogilvy Wellington to the newly created position of chief executive at the Orange Group in Auckland, with a remit to expand its digital capabilities and tap into the global trend in experiential marketing of incorporating digital into brand experiences.
“Brands want to engage consumers, not just reach them. Experiential engagement is the most powerful way to start a deep and potentially enduring connection”, says Gardner. “… I’m impressed by the breadth of Orange’s current operations and the growth potential of The Orange Group. They’ve shown strong financial performance over the past two years and there are great foundations to build on.”
Orange Group is an experiential marketing, hospitality and events agency with over 21 years of successful operations and it has created a multitude of activations, conferences, events, incentives and experiential marketing campaigns for clients including New Zealand government departments, international brands and some of New Zealand’s largest companies.
In 2011 and 2012, Orange has successfully expanded its experiential marketing division, developed in part by Orange bringing a significant amount of Rugby World Cup business into New Zealand from international agencies and tenders. Its Rugby World Cup work has provided new international opportunities being pursued by the company directors, Stu and Semele Robertson, and a number of experiential campaigns for companies such as ANZ, TVNZ, Kellogg’s and Samsung.
“We look forward to the digital expertise, industry knowledge and strategic thinking that Tony will bring to Orange, as we embark on our next stage of development, particularly with regard to the international opportunities and growth of our experiential marketing business”, says Stu Robertson, creative director. ” … As the trend of phygital [yes, phygital] marketing takes off in New Zealand, we are fortunate to have someone with Tony’s experience in digital marketing to direct and add value to our experiential marketing business and brand activations.”
Gardner has been replaced by Aaron White in Wellington.
Good Choice
Holly Pollock has taken up a position as Choice TV’s head of sponsorship, marketing and promotions. She was previously marketing manager at MediaWorks (specifically on More FM and The Breeze) and also worked at TRN.
Buzzing out
Komli, “APAC’s largest audience, media and technology network”, has announced another exclusive deal to sell advertising on Buzz Media, a music and entertainment network that attracts almost 200,000 New Zealanders each month, with its highest engagement amongst 18 to 34 year olds.
Together with the social gaming network Zynga and its 400,000 plus New Zealand users, Komli now operates one of the largest entertainment and gaming media networks in New Zealand.
“Komli’s exclusive deal with Buzz Media is key to growing Komli Premier’s entertainment, gaming and video offering to youth and female orientated advertisers,” says Komli NZ’s national sales manager Ben Osborne.
In New Zealand, Buzz Media’s most popular sites include Celebuzz, Radar Online, Just Aired, Direct Lyrics, celeb fashion site Go Fug Yourself, OK Magazine and the TV, movie and music review magazine PopMatters.
“These sites deliver highly engaged and very loyal audiences,” he says.
More Sparks
Bright Sparks Promotional Marketing has another addition to announce, with new account manager Laura Macphee joining to service the Northern South Island.
She will be based in Christchurch, but will focus particularly on the West Coast, Nelson, and Blenheim.
“Laura is young and very proactive and I know that with the support structures Bright Sparks can offer, she’s really going to take ownership of the apparel, promotion and print scene in the region,” says director Matt Withers
Macphee has just finished a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in psychology and minoring in mass communications.
