Summary
This article looks at the state of the advertising industry, based on the findings of a survey of US consumers and advertising executives conducted by the 4A's and McCann Erickson. While over three-quarters of shoppers feel largely positive about advertising, some 70% of the industry panel believe the industry's best days are over.

Summary
In this article, brand marketers and social media experts share their insights, perspectives, and best practices on building a quality framework for a successful social media program. In particular, they highlight the need to set objectives before building a social media team, which then should be as big or as small as it needs to be to get the job done. The four key areas of focus suggested by the experts are development, integration, management, and measurement; moreover, all members should have access to monitoring activity and all should be stewards of the brand.

Summary
This exploratory cross-cultural study examines the experiences of women in advertising creative departments in Spain and the United States. The study, an exploration of the creative environment and its impact on female creatives, is framed by Hofstede’s dimensional model of national culture (Hofstede 2001; de Mooij & Hofstede 2010) and signalling theory (Spence 1974). Interviews with 35 top female creatives suggest that the challenges women face are rooted in the ‘fraternity culture’ or ‘territorio de chicos’ of creative departments in both countries. The data further suggest that the gender-bound cultural environment of advertising creative departments may be a global phenomenon, one that may adversely affect the creative process and impact women’s upward mobility.

Summary
June 2012 results from Warc's Global Marketing Index, a monthly indicator of the state of the marketing industry, which tracks trading conditions, staffing levels and budgets. The results show that marketing budgets reduced in all regions but the Americas. Trading conditions worsened from May, but still delivered a positive index reading. Staffing levels also rose, though recruitment appears to be slowing.

Summary
The changing political and economic landscape will require brands and planners to adopt new roles. In the next two decades cultural insight will become brands' most valuably traded currency, reflecting governments' and consumers' increased pressure on corporations to take on more socially beneficial roles. Culture produces icons, so brands that transcend their categories can become part of the fabric of the culture of the time. As a result, planners will need to take a much broader view beyond a mere consumer experience and learn how to go beyond defining and distinguishing brands within categories to doing so within culture.

Summary
May 2012 results from Warc's Global Marketing Index, a monthly indicator of the state of the marketing industry, which tracks trading conditions, staffing levels and budgets. The results show that marketing budget growth shrank markedly in all three of the regions covered – the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe. This is primarily due to volatile macro conditions. Trading conditions also worsened during May. But staffing levels stayed broadly stable.

Summary
A report from an IPA event, featuring presentations from Facebook, Yelp, LinkedIn, PlayGen, Double Negative and The Attitude Academy, among others. The speakers offer various perspectives on the concept of creativity, and how marketers can be creative in their working lives. Creative applications in new product development, building technical expertise, extracting insights from "big data" and eliminating fear of failure are all discussed. Speakers agree that in order to fully engage with the creative world marketers and advertisers need to be flexible and responsive.

Summary
April 2012 results from Warc's Global Marketing Index, a monthly indicator of the state of the marketing industry, which tracks trading conditions, staffing levels and budgets. The results show that during the month marketers in all three of the regions covered – the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe – all raised budgets. Trading conditions also improved. But staffing levels, while still registering net positive results in all regions, returned lower index scores than in previous months.

Summary
March 2012 results from Warc's Global Marketing Index, a monthly indicator of the state of the marketing industry, which tracks trading conditions, staffing levels and budgets. The results show that during the month marketers in the Americas and Asia Pacific drove global growth, that European marketers continued to cut budgets, and that Global trading conditions improved for a fourth consecutive month.

Summary
Digital media has profoundly affected the advertising industry as new channels supplant traditional media and Internet advertising moves beyond rudimentary display ads to the likes of viral video and social networking. Despite research into new creative products, few studies have investigated potential changes in creative work processes as new players nudge out traditional agencies and traditional agencies struggle to reinvent themselves. This study explores how digital media might affect the creative careers of women, who were constrained by the organizational structure dominant in the twentieth century. The findings, from interviews with 27 advertising and marketing communication practitioners, suggest that digital agencies develop their work differently than traditional advertising agencies and that the nature of digital work requires more diverse and specialized project teams. This shift has increased collaboration among creative personnel and led to a more positive workplace experience for women.