“At my signal, unleash hell”: Why industry outrage is pointless without action
Social shaming and online outrage are this century's bloodsport. Fingers are pointed - sometimes erroneously - and behaviour is dissected but, argues Amy Kean, without action after the indignation then it's all pointless.
How would young people ‘do’ diversity?
Amy Kean explains how, after enlisting students from the University of Lincoln, she asked the industry’s future creatives to tackle the omnipresent threat of apathy towards inclusion at conferences and events.
How not to... age
In this episode of the ongoing series of video interviews, Culture Editor Amy Kean chats with Jane Evans and Carol Russell, co-authors of the recently released Invisible to Invaluable: Unleashing the Power of Midlife Women, about why midlife women are often overlooked and certainly underestimated.
Toxic Workplace IPA: Why Mental Health First Aid hides the real emergency
After last week's revelations around the working culture at BrewDog, Amy Kean examines why the move to appoint Mental Health First Aiders in the workplace isn't enough, and how things that sound good aren't necessarily doing good.
Nil points and flag shaggers: Can Brand Britain ever recover?
It's said that pride comes before a fall and, as far as Amy Kean is concerned, Britain has fallen a long way. From its government of 'pantomime villains', its 'panel show mafia' and annihilation at this year's Eurovision, the proud nation of Britain is in sore need of a rebrand.
How not to... treat graduates
In the ongoing series of video interviews Culture Editor Amy Kean chats with Jessica Kielstra and Nina Forbes about their recent experiment which examined the different ways in which the industry responds to male and female graduates.
“Don’t call us girls!”: Six female creatives trying to fix the industry
If a job's worth doing, sometimes you just have to do it yourself. That's what three young, female creative teams have decided as they look to reflect, redefine and rewrite an industry still struggling with issues of gender and equality. Amy Kean, herself no stranger to ad land horror stories, reports.
The predictability of PinkyGate, and why women deserve a bloody apology
A ‘discreet solution for pads and tampons’, invented by two men, throws further light on the lengths to which women are sometimes forced to go to appease men. Inspired by some apt quotes from Margartet Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Amy Kean says an apology would be more welcome than yet another bloody product.
How not to... talk to women
In her continuing series of video interviews shots Culture Editor Amy Kean talks to the authors of a new book about how and why brands still get it wrong when they're trying to talk to women.
Please sir, can we have some respect? Tackling the problem of changing men
Recent, tragic events have brought to the fore the question of women's safety but, argues Amy Kean, well-meaning ad campaigns are not enough; sometimes too much trying means there's not enough doing. She explains why women's battle for respect is such a hard one, and how advertising can really help in the fight.
Clubhouse: “Addictive!” or “Sheer and utter waffle!”? Young creatives sound off
Clubhouse is the new app on the block and is making sound-waves in the creative community. But is it just filling a social space in our currently locked down lives, or can it continue to make noise post-pandemic? Amy Kean talks to a series of young creatives to find out.
“Run faster, girls!”; Where are the good guys, and why aren’t they helping us?
Harassed in the street, bullied in the work place and targeted by unrealistic advertising messages, women are too often at the mercy of entitled men. But there must be good guys out there; men who are supportive and generous. Amy Kean sets out to find them.
