Leila Fataar

I've read a lot of interesting takes on this social platform and others, regarding the demise of the Evening Standard (newspaper). I spent two spells at the Standard and, largely, have great memories of my time there, worked with some brilliant journalists and fulfilled a childhood dream of seeing my byline in the paper that my Dad brought home from his commute each day. My first spell (2005-2009) was working as a reporter for, primarily the newspaper, which published three editions each day. One person (!) was tasked with uploading our stories online which he dutifully did throughout the day. My second spell was as digital sports editor (2013-2016), as the organisation began to pivot more purposefully towards digital. The decline of print has been two decades in the making, at least. The fact is, we all have these incredibly powerful devices that access a whole host of news sources rapidly. Newspaper ad revenues have plummeted because, yes people do not want to pay for print products like they used to, but most significantly, the social platforms offer advertisers incredible data and targeting. It’s not a fair fight. Newspapers had needed to evolve into digital first news brands since the turn of the century - with purpose and a clear commercial strategy. The Standard was slower than others to realise this, partly because of its privileged and long established distribution network across London. It also leant to the right, supporting Tory mayoral candidates and preferring to concern itself more with London’s aspirational set rather than an increasingly diverse, economically-challenged city. That suited the commercial team which liked to position the paper as a harbinger of middle class trends, and go after the luxury brands. London is a lot of things to a lot of people, but 8 years under a Labour Mayor tells its own story. Nevertheless, the Standard always championed investigative journalism, proper news values, and often set the agenda for the dailies the following day. I hope it continues to do this via digital platforms and products because the name means something to a lot of people and there remains some really talented and committed journalists at the paper. For those mourning the paper’s demise, ask yourself: when was the last time I paid for a newspaper? We are all complicit in print’s decline because tech has changed the means with which we get our news. But with all the fake news out there, major news stories such as national elections in the UK and US and conflict raging in the Middle East and Europe, real, trusted journalism matters more than ever in 2024. The Standard's owners do not need to look far to see how newspapers have successfully pivoted to online, with The Independent (also owned by the Lebedevs) and Daily Mail both growing their audiences, revenues and improving their user experience in recent months.

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Many thanks to Creative Boom for recommending my book - the Creative's Guide to Starting a Business - in your really good article about helping creatives master work-life balance https://lnkd.in/eMAYqrCx

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Interesting piece in Sunday Times on financial PR advisory boom falls into lazy trap of misunderstanding and underestimating the US market and also doesn't look at the 60pc to 70pc of the most impressive industry professionals who are "in-house" many of whom are invisible to the media because they have regional teams that handle regional media, which is what the UK press is to most global companies. All editors, me included in my time, only see the part of the PR world that world wants them to see. They never see inside the secret box. The reality is that as the London market declines in importance what London business editors see is not the real picture. So although it is fun for the UK press to run stories about all the usual UK suspects (and my mates) the real power is often held beyond their horizon. For example, who and how does Microsoft handle its AI challenge? How does Apple grapple? How do the big seven Chinese players handle? More of this on the BBC's When It Hits the Fan, back on Radio 4, September. Simon Lewis and myself.... https://

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https://lnkd.in/eebY8t4G A great colour piece here on Stockomendation & Investegate, a research tool that is used by so many private investors and needs to be cheered as London fights to see liquidity imporved. John Blowers Paul Roberts #capitalmarkets #liquidity

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We’ve submitted our B Impact Assessment at Few and Far® and are on the journey towards B Corp certification! 💪 #BCorp #ForGood #WhatInspiresMe

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What does Britishness mean today? And how might it be turned into a brand strength?      We work with iconic British brands like the BBC, Tanqueray, Aston Martin, and Fortnum & Mason. We often get asked what's the role of "Britishness" in their brand – and what does it mean in 2024?     My colleagues Robert, Claire, and Adam are working on a project to understand how perceptions of Britishness are changing, and how British brands can make the most of their heritage, while also benefitting from new associations – some of their sketches are below.     The project's in its early stages and there are 4 areas of exploration.     1. The WPP BAV Group's Best Countries index, which reveals global perceptions of Britain that British brands can potentially borrow from.     According to the 2024 study, the UK is near the top when it comes to entrepreneurship (4th in the world), power (5th) and cultural influence (6th).     Digging into the data reveals some interesting shifts. Brand Britain has climbed 4 places to reach 23rd (out of 87) in terms of friendliness, and risen 3 places to 51st when it comes to "having great food", sandwiching Britain between Denmark and Uruguay in terms of its cuisine.    2. Audits analysing how a variety of brands communicate different elements of Britishness to help them stand out and boost their appeal.     Some of the things we're noticing are: - How brands are reflecting and celebrating Britain's diversity - How brands are drawing on national myths, legends and folklore   - How brands are namechecking their regional origins and specific communities   - How brands are tapping into the beauty and enduring influence of Britain's environment     3. A broader cultural deep-dive around how the conversation about Britishness is changing.     Importantly, it's not just the topics being discussed, but how they're discussed and by whom. Devolution has led to stronger expressions of Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish identities and language. The Welsh Government has set a target for 70% of learners to be able to speak Welsh when they leave school by 2050.     While 61% of self-identified white people express pride in their "English" identity, this feeling is shared by only 32% of ethnic minorities. However, "British" identity is embraced by 75% of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) community.     4. Most crucially, engaging with people – consumers and commentators alike.     We're about to start some consumer research to get people's take on what Britain stands for, as well as sharing some of our early hypotheses – it'll be great to see how our thinking evolves. We're also keen to incorporate insights from those working directly with British brands – and here's where you can help... If you manage a British brand (whether brand-side or agency-side) we'd love to feature your thoughts in our report. In return, we'll share the full debrief with all participants.    Interested in an interview? Let me know in the comments or via DM.

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📰 The Future of News: A Two-Tier Media Landscape? A stark warning from parliament.uk: without action, we risk a fractured news ecosystem, with informed citizens on one side and disengaged communities on the other. 💡 “Having informed citizens with a shared understanding of facts isn’t guaranteed—and may not endure.” The UK’s media has defied the odds these past 15 years, with exciting new formats and diverse perspectives. But it’s not all good news… 📉💔 🔎 Trust in journalism is falling 🙈 News avoidance is rising 💸 Revenue streams are drying up 🤖 And AI? It’s shaking up EVERYTHING The risk? A “two-tier” system where some stay informed while others fall into news deserts or questionable online sources. So, what’s next? Tax breaks for local news 🏡, smarter AI policies 🤝, and more innovation💡 could help us steer away from the cliff edge. We are doing our bit at Contribly by trying to innovate the audience engagement side of the news, by getting real people’s voices included and heard in a safe way that social media doesn’t provide. The aim is to build trust and relevance! Let’s keep the news serving everyone, not just the privileged few. 🌍💪 What’s your take on this? Let’s chat! 👇🗣️ https://lnkd.in/enjesFrY

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Great piece Andy. The age of accountability demands that organisations step out of their comfort zones and meet heightened expectations for transparency, collaboration, and trust-building. The new political and regulatory landscape will be relentless, and businesses must pivot from “managing” issues to owning them. The message is clear: reputation isn’t about spin, it’s about substance. That means ditching outdated playbooks and embracing authenticity, humility, and action. As communicators, we’re uniquely positioned to lead this charge, pushing for honest conversations in the boardroom and shaping strategies that endure scrutiny. Long-term trust beats short-term fixes every time. Let’s redefine what it means to truly build relationships with all stakeholders. In 2025, standing still is no longer an option. It’s time to lean into the uncomfortable, acknowledge flaws, and lead with care and conscience. #ReputationManagement #AgeOfAccountability #Authenticity #TrustBuilding #Transparency #CorporateCommunications #Leadership #StakeholderEngagement

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‘You can’t really measure the impact of PR’. I hear that said so often that sometimes even those of us working in the sector can be at risk of internalising that belief. Which is why it’s so uplifting when a client takes the time to write in on a Friday afternoon to say ‘the result of the press coverage [that Rostrum generated] is a 25% increase in website traffic and a 50% increase in form completions’. That’s a measurable return on investment from your PR programme.

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Cultural Relevance for Brands. Great discussion this morning organised by Creativebrief and Exposure Some points that resonated / that I thought useful to remember: 💬Raoul Shah "People don't really care about your brand they care about their own lifestyle / what makes them tick / what enriches their own communities and culture" 💭Cultural marketing does not mean sponsorship 💭Convincing investors / stakeholders of the long term approach towards building a sense of culture into campaigns is hard work but worth the effort. 🫣Brands have nowhere to hide in today's world 💃🕺Engulf yourself and your teams in culture in a genuine way and that will resonate in your marketing. 💭💡As brands we need to think at depth (do build credibility) and with breadth (to cast a wide enough net to the right community). i.e. How do we show up? Where we show up? The best mix for any brand trying to " tap into cultural relevance" is to not tap in at all... it's always better to fully commit. Find your purpose and combine it with good entertainment. Sophie More : from her Red Bull days: "WOM" SCORE - a finger in the air Word of Mouth score for each idea... scientific, data led decisions can easily become a barrier to creativity... Jed Hallam "Put more emphasis on anthropology over the economics and you'll find your place within the right communities." Create your energy and ppl will come to you Or Go to where the energy is and ppl will be there waiting. #marketing #creativeagency #production #contentproduction #speakers #events #networking #business

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"Advertising is a potent tool and now is the time for us all to step up, recognising the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to get ahead of disinformation. When information is delivered in a way that resonates with the audience, it can drive positive change. We can do three things: safeguard the public against misinformation by reaching them with a positive message, reframe by communicating the benefits of climate policy, or rebut misinformation with the relevant facts. The elections and the climate crisis will not wait, and neither can we. It’s time to act now," says Harriet Kingaby at ACT Climate Labs. Excellent piece c/o Sustainability Beat looking at why it’s important for climate communicators to help combat misinformation during the upcoming political elections. Well worth a read... 👇🏻 🌱 🗳️ https://lnkd.in/ehiCNDHw

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Another insightful webinar from the ROKBOX team Do grab yourself a place if you're interested in learning more about sustainable elements and credentials of ROKBOX crates vs wooden crates.

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Interesting ad campaign by Peabody Essex Museum encouraging visitors to “escape the algorithm” and enjoy “Real Life” We’re moving in two very distinct dichotomous directions as a society: 1. Instant gratification, AI generated and AI enhanced content, deepfakes, and convenient delivery of everyting on demand, anytime, anywhere. 2. A yearning for tactile, analog experiences. Vinyl hi-fi bars, museums, gatherings, and offline interactions that cut into the ubiquitous anxiety of post-pandemic life in the 20’s. Food is the common demominator across both of these divergent paths. There will be an ever-increasing market penetration of online grocery sales YoY…but more and more people will also be looking for real home cooked meals to “escape the algorithm”. In the near future, healthy, delicious food cooked at home from scratch is going to find a second wind as “conspicuous time consumption” as digital natives in GenZ reach middle age. Pod Foods #innovation #nobadfood https://lnkd.in/eiepzdwP

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Brilliant piece from Nicola Kemp - thank you Collette Philip for your wise words - "What cannot be named cannot be changed" Please READ!!! Don't DEFUND, #DEFENDDEI #Languagematters "Our collective silence has contributed to a media ecosystem that has fuelled both misinformation and outright racism. The way we use words has power. In choosing to stay silent, we are complicit. The uncomfortable truth is that, in this industry, many of us have placed our careers ahead of our compassion. The “silent majority” cannot continue to say nothing in the face of media narratives causing real-world harm." Media For All [MEFA] explained: “Now, more than ever, it is crucial for organisations to maintain and strengthen their diversity and inclusion programmes. Cutting back on these initiatives or down-tooling is simply not an option. If anyone thinks that DEI is not required, think again. These riots underscore the urgent need for continued commitment to inclusive practices.” Fund DEI. Commit LONG TERM to inclusive practices. #Changemakers #Inclusion #Equity

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As we strive to create a regenerative, circular economy, B2B brands are realigning strategies to realise our collective sustainable future. But this journey was never going to be linear. The ESG strategies have been created and new service and solution propositions have been forged – but this isn’t enough to make a real impact without people on board. If we’re to reach our environmental targets, B2B brands must focus on internal messaging and building a culture of sustainability. @Simon Hall has taken to the Wyatt blog to discuss this further and investigate how a top-down strategy is crucial and urgent. #B2BMarketing #SustainabilityMarketing #B2BBrands CircularEconomy #SustainableCulture

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In my morning’s email bag, I was asked by a Member about the future of scholarly publishing from ALPSP’s perspective. I identified several key trends and challenges that shape our outlook, which I thought would be good to share, as ever, I am always open to feedback. The shift towards OA is seen as a positive step for democratizing knowledge, although it also raises concerns about financial sustainability for smaller publishers and could marginalize researchers from less affluent institutions who may struggle to afford APCs. Transformative agreements aim to transition subscription models to OA but their long-term viability remains uncertain. These agreements can disproportionately benefit large publishers, potentially consolidating market power and stifling competition. Initiatives like Plan S push for OA, although impose stringent requirements which can create compliance challenges for researchers and publishers, especially in regions with less robust funding. The adoption of AI and machine learning promises to revolutionize scholarly publishing, enhancing efficiency and content discovery, but it also poses risks related to data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the digital divide. Developing and maintaining industry standards is essential yet challenging, requiring ongoing collaboration and investment. Promoting reproducibility and data sharing is crucial but necessitates cultural and infrastructural shifts, with standardized practices still lacking. Efforts to enhance diversity and inclusion must overcome systemic biases and require substantial editorial and institutional changes. Balancing financial viability with the mission to disseminate knowledge widely is delicate. In summary, ALPSP’s vision for the future of scholarly publishing is optimistic, focusing on embracing OA, leveraging technology, promoting research integrity, and championing diversity and inclusion. Through innovative business models and robust community engagement, ALPSP aims to ensure that scholarly publishing remains dynamic, equitable, and sustainable. ALPSP is the international trade association which supports and represents not-for-profit organizations that publish scholarly and professional content, and those that work with them. To find out more visit: https://www.alpsp.org/

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Unveiling my latest artwork, 'Objectify' - a surreal commentary on human commodification. Inspired by the ancient tale of King Valerian's liquid gold punishment, this piece reimagines that concept in our modern world. The subject, perched atop a shattered moon resting on a lifeless tree, symbolizes the fragility of humanity when reduced to mere objects of value. 'Objectify' challenges us to reflect on how we assign worth in society and the dehumanizing effects of objectification. Thoughts? How does this resonate with your professional experiences? #ContemporaryArt #SocialCommentary"

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