-By AdweekMedia Staff
These are undeniably challenging times for media. Budgets and
staffs are being cut, uncertainty lingers in the background of many
decisions and executives keep trying to identify the bottom of the
downturn. Such fear often leads to sticking with the tried and
true. And for some, that works.
But this year’s crop of Media All-Stars don’t fit that mold. To a
one, they don’t accept the notion that a smart, innovative media
strategy can’t be executed just because there’s less money or a
smaller staff. They boldly take their clients into new, and
sometimes uncomfortable, areas--sometimes refusing to take no for
an answer--if it means the client will gain an edge or grow market
share. These are risk takers in risk-averse times.
Some of this year’s winners won’t hesitate to use a little
arm-wringing when needed. Lisa Weinstein, our Planning All-Star,
who runs Mindshare’s Chicago office, got client BP into online
gaming--not a segment one expects to find an oil company. But as BP
exec Kathy Leech explains in the profile of Weinstein, “Even if
it’s something we’re not ready to do--and that’s definitely
happened--we’re always glad for those ideas.” Likewise, Universal
McCann’s Jeff Fischer, our Print All-Star, refuses to accept some
magazines’ definitions of themselves, choosing instead to fit them
into his vision of the larger media equation for his client,
Johnson & Johnson.
A thirst for deeper understanding of media issues and better
accountability also drives such All-Stars as this year’s Research
winner, Initiative’s Janice Finkel-Greene, and OMD’s Natalie Swed
Stone, our Radio All-Star. The former has become an important voice
in local media on ratings issues, while the latter has helped grow
the network radio business with her push for adoption of electronic
verification systems.
But seeing the big picture through the fragments of media is
probably the most significant hallmark of an All-Star--and that is
best embodied by our Media Executive of the Year, Initiative’s
Richard Beaven, who dragged the venerable but struggling shop out
of the doldrums by identifying and empowering key lieutenants,
organizing numerous P&Ls into one and involving himself in key
pitches. What’s he got to show for it? Only close to $2 billion in
new assignments for the IPG-owned shop.
Read on to find out about all 11 of this year’s winners. To each of
them, congratulations on being a leader in your field!
—Michael Burgi, Editor-in-Chief, Mediaweek
(mburgi@mediaweek.com)
READ THE COMPLETE SPECIAL
REPORT
Mediaweek's 23rd Annual Media All-Stars
MEDIA EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Richard Beaven: Initiative
NATIONAL TV/CABLE
Jason Kanefsky: MPG North America
SPOT TV/LOCAL TV
Mary Barnas: Carat
DIGITAL
Curt Hecht: VivaKi
PRINT
Jeff Fischer: Universal McCann
RADIO
Natalie Swed Stone: OMD
OUT OF HOME
Jill Nickerson: Horizon Media
RESEARCH
Janice Finkel-Greene: Initiative
PLANNING
Lisa Weinstein: Mindshare Chicago
ALTERNATIVE MEDIA
Tom Weeks: Starcom USA
RISING STAR
Colleen Soriano: MEC Interaction
Media All-Stars 2008
These are undeniably challenging times for media. Budgets and staffs are being cut, uncertainty lingers in the background of many decisions and executives keep trying to identify the bottom of the downturn. Such fear often leads to sticking with the tried and true. And for some, that works. But this year’s crop of Media All-Stars don’t fit that mold. To a one, they don’t accept the notion that a smart, innovative media strategy can’t be executed just because there’s less money or a smaller staff. They boldly take their clients into new, and sometimes uncomfortable, areas--sometimes refusing to take no for an answer--if it means the client will gain an edge or grow market share. These are risk takers in risk-averse times. (Shown: Richard Beaven, media exec of the year.)
Nov 10, 2008
-By AdweekMedia Staff
These are undeniably challenging times for media. Budgets and staffs are being cut, uncertainty lingers in the background of many decisions and executives keep trying to identify the bottom of the downturn. Such fear often leads to sticking with the tried and true. And for some, that works.
But this year’s crop of Media All-Stars don’t fit that mold. To a one, they don’t accept the notion that a smart, innovative media strategy can’t be executed just because there’s less money or a smaller staff. They boldly take their clients into new, and sometimes uncomfortable, areas--sometimes refusing to take no for an answer--if it means the client will gain an edge or grow market share. These are risk takers in risk-averse times.
Some of this year’s winners won’t hesitate to use a little arm-wringing when needed. Lisa Weinstein, our Planning All-Star, who runs Mindshare’s Chicago office, got client BP into online gaming--not a segment one expects to find an oil company. But as BP exec Kathy Leech explains in the profile of Weinstein, “Even if it’s something we’re not ready to do--and that’s definitely happened--we’re always glad for those ideas.” Likewise, Universal McCann’s Jeff Fischer, our Print All-Star, refuses to accept some magazines’ definitions of themselves, choosing instead to fit them into his vision of the larger media equation for his client, Johnson & Johnson.
A thirst for deeper understanding of media issues and better accountability also drives such All-Stars as this year’s Research winner, Initiative’s Janice Finkel-Greene, and OMD’s Natalie Swed Stone, our Radio All-Star. The former has become an important voice in local media on ratings issues, while the latter has helped grow the network radio business with her push for adoption of electronic verification systems.
But seeing the big picture through the fragments of media is probably the most significant hallmark of an All-Star--and that is best embodied by our Media Executive of the Year, Initiative’s Richard Beaven, who dragged the venerable but struggling shop out of the doldrums by identifying and empowering key lieutenants, organizing numerous P&Ls into one and involving himself in key pitches. What’s he got to show for it? Only close to $2 billion in new assignments for the IPG-owned shop.
Read on to find out about all 11 of this year’s winners. To each of them, congratulations on being a leader in your field!
—Michael Burgi, Editor-in-Chief, Mediaweek
(mburgi@mediaweek.com)
READ THE COMPLETE SPECIAL REPORT
Mediaweek's 23rd Annual Media All-Stars
MEDIA EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Richard Beaven: Initiative
NATIONAL TV/CABLE
Jason Kanefsky: MPG North America
SPOT TV/LOCAL TV
Mary Barnas: Carat
DIGITAL
Curt Hecht: VivaKi
PRINT
Jeff Fischer: Universal McCann
RADIO
Natalie Swed Stone: OMD
OUT OF HOME
Jill Nickerson: Horizon Media
RESEARCH
Janice Finkel-Greene: Initiative
PLANNING
Lisa Weinstein: Mindshare Chicago
ALTERNATIVE MEDIA
Tom Weeks: Starcom USA
RISING STAR
Colleen Soriano: MEC Interaction
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