Archive - Thoughts on Writing

My inherently problematic Christmas ad diversity audit

This year's crop of Christmas ads is ethnically and gender diverse to a fault. But there's a weird reluctance to admit it in adland.

Dec 17

November 2024

The post-purpose election

If the 2007-2008 financial crisis marked the start of the purpose era, the 2024 election might just mark its end.

Nov 19

October 2024

The billboard backlash

Too many advertisers have forgotten about the social contract that allows billboards to exist in the first place

Oct 7

September 2024

Truthiness isn't beauty

An extract from my new book The Road to Hell, in which I examine the case of Dove, hailed as the exemplar of purposeful marketing, but based on…

Sep 9

August 2024

Social media, social purpose and social unrest

Facing concerns that social media is fuelling social unrest, a purposeful advertising industry is keen to step up – in any way that increases its power.

Aug 9

July 2024

The story of why

An excerpt from my new book The Road to Hell, examining the case of influential purpose pioneer Simon Sinek.

Jul 9

June 2024

Notes not from Cannes

On 'post-purpose', empowered judges, devaluing creativity, alt text facepalms, diverse juries, progressive ads, Musk, and all the creativity never…

Jun 24

May 2024

April 2024

The Road to Hell: pre-orders open

My book about purpose is coming out May 13th. It would mean a lot if you could pre-order copies for yourself, friends and/or sworn enemies.

Apr 17

#84: The problem with purpose

A Q&A with author and creative writer Nick Asbury

Published on Pass It On • Apr 10

March 2024

Have purpose agencies forgotten how to do charity ads?

With commercial clients edging away from purpose, ad agencies may need to relearn how to do great charity advertising. And it's not easy.

Mar 21

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