It's 2018, media transparency has plumbed to such depths of despair that the apocalypse is nigh.
Ad blockers and chatbots are taking over the world, traditional media is dead, so is digital and AI, and content stopped being king at least five minutes ago.
Influencers are still the biggest trend in marketing, but in this strange dystopian existence, they don't even have to be legitimate to dominate 99% of all media spend and control everything folks think or do before they even think or do.
As a result of this complete clusterfuck, 60 senior leaders from Adland are being sent to Yasmar Juvenile Detention Centre for crimes against media, marketing, tech and creative.
They will spend the night in jail as part of UnLtd’s Adland Bail Out to raise funds for Whitelion.
But here's the catch – they will not be released without your help.
They need to each raise $1,000 and help their prison gang raise the most money to dominate adland once again. Want to impress the big boss for that next promotion when times are less grim – here's your chance.
The inmates being locked up include: Mark Lollback, GroupM; Lou Barrett, News; Danny Bass, IPG; Aimee Buchanan, OMD; Will Easton, Facebook; Kim Portrate, ThinkTV, Emily Perrett, Clemenger BBDO; John Broome, AANA; Mark Frain, MCN; Rob Atkinson, ARN; Andrew Little, DDB; Jules Hall, The Hallway; Sophie Madden, MFA; Peter Horgan, Omnicom Group and 40 other senior leaders (see a full is below).
Why it matters
Bail Out is a national campaign for Whitelion that provides a unique opportunity to step into the shoes of a young person that has been disconnected from our community due to abuse and neglect, drug addiction and poverty.
The event exposes ‘inmates’ to life on the inside – they will be stripped of possessions, fingerprinted, photographed and subjected to interrogation before spending the night behind bars.
Whitelion is a charity that connects at risk young people with the community to educate them to make positive and often life changing choices through practical and effective support such as mentoring programs, education and employment.
“It's amazing, it's quite a humbling experience,” seasoned jail bird and OMD Australia boss Aimee Buchanan revealed. “I signed up again because it's a good way to keep you grounded and ensure you are grateful for everything.”
UnLtd chief executive Chris Freel was more honest about what lies. “I'm pretty scared to be locked up with this motley crew,” he said, clutching at bright yellow and black rosary beads.
“On a more serious note, it is great to bring our industry together to support Whitelion. To be able to experience first-hand what it is like to be locked up and hear the stories of individuals who have been through the prison system will bring to life the issues that they face and that we need to tackle in society.
“As an industry we have the influence, skills and resources to make a huge difference and events like this aim to harness that power for good. Collectively we can change our country and make it a better place for all.”
This year, the inmates will be split into four gangs – Media Owners Gang, Creative Gang, Tech Gang and Media Agency Gang, all competing to raise the most funds for Whitelion. To help support your favourite industry personality or gang, head online to contribute towards their bail and support the Media Owner Gang, Creative Gang, Tech Gang or Media Agency Gang.
Please give generously to help save your favourite adland leader and industry from impending doom.
Adland Bail Out 2018
When: 5.30pm Friday 4th May - 9.00am Saturday 5th May
Where: Yasmar Juvenile Detention Centre, 185 Parramatta Road, Haberfield
Find out more about Whitelion Bailout, Whitelion and UnLtd
To donate, please visit: Media Owner Gang, Creative Gang, Tech Gang or Media Agency Gang.
Adland Bail Out inmates
Adam Furness, Impact
Adam Sadler, SBS
Adam Wade, Amobee
Aimee Buchanan, OMD
Alex Hayes, Bold PR
Andrew Little, DDB
Andy Antoniou, Orchard
Arvind Hickman, AdNews
Brendon Cook, oOh! Media
Cameron Swan, Active International
Chris Freel, UnLtd
Craig Bonser, Quantcast
Danny Bass, IPG Mediabrands
Dave Roddick, Adshel
David Park, Maud
Emily Perrett, Clemenger
Fiona Harrop, Big W
Fiona Roberts, InMobi
Guy Burbidge, Quantcast
Jenni Hayward, UnLtd
John Broome, AANA
Jules Hall, The Hallway
Karen Halligan, KPMG
Kerry Field, Mindshare
Kerry McCabe, PlayersVoice
Kim Portrate, ThinkTV
Kristiaan Kroon, OMG
Lou Barrett, News Corp
Lucy Formosa, PHD
Mark Frain, MCN
Mark Lollback, Group M
Mary Waite, Unicef
Max Learmont, UM
Mel Hey, OMD
Mitch Waters, The Trade Desk
Nick Behr, Kaimera
Nick Young, MCN
Nicola Lewis, Group M
Nicole Gardner, Quantcast
Nicole Turley, Mediacom
Nikki Rooke, SCA
Nina Nyman, UnLtd
Nolan Yu, UM
Oliver Newton, JCDexaux
Peter Horgan, OMG
Rachel Troy, UnLtd
Rob Atkinson, ARN
Rod Prosser, CH10
Rowena Newman, ThinkTV
Ryan Linahan, Quantcast
Sarah Wyse, Wyse Women
Sev Celik, UnLtd
Sophie Madden, MFA
Sue Squillace, Spark Foundry
Susie Bayes, The Guardian
Toby Barbour, Starcom
Toby Hemming, Bold PR
Tony Kendall, HT&E
Venessa Hunt, Group M
Will Easton, Facebook
Yvette Mayer, OMD
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