Forcing ads onto online consumers simply doesn’t work; to the contrary, it’s been posited as one of the reasons for the development of ad blockers in the first place. So, in this context, advertisers and media companies have had to devise new ways of communicating with consumers in a way that doesn’t annoy them. One way that Pandora has responded to this challenge is by introducing so-called ‘sponsored listening sessions,’ which give listeners an hour of ad-free listening when they engage with an ad served onto the platform. And NZTA is the first brand to have given the new offering a shot.

There’s a lot going on in the world of social media. Each week new updates see the platforms change and communication habits follow suit. So how can marketers keep up? In a new series we talk to people in the industry about what the updates mean to marketers. First up is Wendy Thompson, founder and managing director of Socialites, on how Facebook is making it easier businesses to talk to their communities.

This week, WPP AUNZ confirmed industry veteran John Steedman would be appointed to the newly created executive position of chairman of WPP Media Services across Australia and New Zealand. We chat to him about what motivated him to return to the coalface.

Kellogg’s has launched a new campaign via Pead PR, Mindshare and JWT social for its Special K brand dubbed ‘Own it’, in partnership with Women’s Health Action, which celebrates women and encourages them to embrace their bodies, whatever the size, shape or form and celebrate their inner strength. The initiative is being pushed out through social media using some Kiwi role models to help get the message across. PLUS: while the message for women to embrace their bodies is good, is it going to be taken seriously when the Special K brand was built around the idea dieting and losing weight? FABIK’s Angela Barnett shares her view.

Bonds is taking ‘The Boys’ to new heights, dangling them on a seven-story-high billboard in downtown Melbourne.

American cognac brand Hennessy has taken a trip back in time, to re-tell the stories of the Piccards, a father and son, who 30 years apart, accomplished incredible exploring feats.

Over 450,000 Australian children were victims of cyber bullying in 2013, and now the online tool Reword is taking a stand.

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘Pictures speak louder than words’, and this is truer than ever in the Diabetes Association of Thailand’s campaign dubbed ‘Sugar kills’ via Ogilvy & Mather Bangkok.

Our weekly wrap of good things, strange things, funny things and other things from inside the intertubes.

The news yesterday that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) would no longer allow embargoed lockups for analysts prior to the release of information was met with frustration from journalists across the industry. But as Businessdesk reporter Pattrick Smellie explains, the system was always precariously balanced on trust.

Australian-owned marketing technology company Squiz has recently expanded in New Zealand, adding an Auckland office to its pre-existing Wellington base. Upon the move, we talked to New Zealand managing director Patrick Fitzgerald about the changing landscape of marketing technology, how the lines are blurring between marketing and IT departments and what the technology developers are doing to help.

Tangible Media has followed in the footsteps of international publications like The Independent by ceasing the print publication of NZ Fishing World and focusing exclusively on the digital media business. We chat to associate publisher and editor Jeff Strang on why he’s betting big on digital.

Ikea Austria has released a series of creative print ads to promote its wireless charging ports, a feature integrated into select pieces of furniture.

Adobe brings to light the dangers of mobile ads, suggesting they are just as lethal as a snakebite.