Archive
News & Opinions
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Position Takers, Opinion Shapers
September 17, 2015
Ever since the release of Oliver Stone’s 1987 feature ‘Wall Street’, the marauding figure of the corporate raider has fascinated and alarmed both audiences and big business in equal measure. Today, a different breed of animal stalks the plains (minus garish braces, immaculately coiffured hair[i] and Michael Douglas). According to Hedge Fund Research, activist hedge funds grew their assets 269% to almost $120 billion between 2009-2014, largely off the back of increased investment from major...
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The Labour Mayoral Candidate Result
September 11, 2015
This lunchtime, the Labour Party announced the first in its slew of internal election results, confirming Sadiq Khan MP as its candidate for the London Mayoralty in May next year. Khan, MP for Tooting since 2005, was seen as the main challenger to frontrunner and establishment and proud Blairite candidate, Dame Tessa Jowell. Although winning is for Khan a big achievement, it is not a shock on the same scale as a Diane Abbott win...
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Abstract Digest #8
September 11, 2015
Welcome to Abstract Digest, a collection of inspirational, creative and relevant news from the past week. Future Budget changes to hit single parents hardest, research reveals. How might smoking effect you in the future? Check out this video. Coming to a record store near you: cassette tapes. The future is here, folks! Amazon to release a $50 tablet this year, WSJ says. The Assisted Dying Bill comes back to Parliament on Friday in what will...
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Stormy Water Ahead for the Labour Party?
September 10, 2015
By Saturday afternoon the waiting will be over and we will know who is the new Leader and the new Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. The announcement will be made at a Special Conference being held in London that morning and the Deputy Leader result will be announced before that of Leader. Whilst the majority of debate and coverage has focused on the leadership candidates, the role of Deputy Leader is crucial in that...
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Why True? It’s about who we are and who we want to be
September 7, 2015
True. It’s one of the most powerful ideals known to mankind. It ranks right up there with justice and fairness. Something that is true cannot be diminished. True is persistent and immovable. We’re drawn to people who are true and genuine to themselves and others. So why would a communications company like FleishmanHillard dare to associate itself with the concept of true? Is it the ultimate conceit? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G-gFZLBqqE Perhaps. But the concept of true is...
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Abstract Digest #7
September 4, 2015
Welcome to another edition of Abstract Digest, collating this week's news, trends and creativity. Future Looking forward to a glass tonight? 5 scientific reasons why drinking wine is good for you. AdAge has some good insights on Instagram's new rectangular format and what it means to marketers. Twitter publishes 2016 diversity targets. Could these tents solve the world's refugee crisis? Debenhams looks to make fashion ‘less intimidating’. Google's Chrome to start auto-pausing Flash ads...
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Can we still distinguish between people and brands?
September 3, 2015
Of course we can – a person is a human being with complex thoughts, emotions and feelings. A brand is something synthetic, created to sell products or promote an ideology; the two things are entirely different! … Except, really, they’re not. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a brand is a “particular identity or image regarded as an asset”. Is this definition restricted to big companies and corporations, or can we now use the same...
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The rise of the decline of everything you know and love
September 2, 2015
As you’re probably aware, recent years have seen a continued meteoric rise in technical innovation. Not only has the tech itself improved, but the infrastructure supporting it. With improved data networks, the almost-universal availability of free WiFi and the endless march of smartphone after smartphone, we’ve made an almost pain-free transition to an infrastructure that enables engagement with the Internet at a pace and with a confidence that feels, arguably for the first time, natural...
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Streaming: Musician’s friend or industry foe?
August 28, 2015
It’s no secret that streaming technologies are disrupting and dividing the music industry. But is it a clever way to get aspiring artists in front of a new audience, or are they robbing artists and labels of potential revenue? Whether you agree with Taylor Swift and believe music should be paid for, or your days begin and end with Spotify, we can all agree that the music industry will never be the same. Consumers –...
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Abstract Digest #6
August 28, 2015
Welcome to another edition of Abstract Digest, collating this weeks news, trends and creativity. Future Sony's drone business that will target construction, logistics and agriculture will launch in the first half of 2016. Google is testing a new Maps tool for uploading food-related photos. Can Donald Trump's stunt marketing provide the long-term value his brand needs to run for president? Microsoft reveals a prototype keyboard with e-ink displays. Batteries could soon last almost forever by...