A look into the mind of the Gen Z-er…
MNI Targeted Media, a division of Meredith Corp., revealed today the preliminary findings of an online survey of 2,500 students aimed at examining the interests, spending preferences, and consumption habits of Gen-Z—that is, those born between 1995 and 2012—which the survey suggests will represent a massive chunk of spending power in the U.S. by 2020.
Among the survey’s more intriguing findings:
- 90 percent of Gen Z-ers rely on media to stay in touch with what is happening in the world.
- 60 percent prefer to shop in stores over online, but 75 percent use their phones while shopping to price check or seek recommendations.
- 50 percent agree that knowing a brand is “socially conscious” influences their purchasing decisions.
- The average Gen Z-er spends one hour each week reading magazines.
- 61 percent believe their generation would benefit from “unplugging more.”
Access a copy of the survey’s accompanying white paper here.
Billboard to conduct a self-reckoning…
Billboard‘s parent company announced that it has initiated an independent third-party investigation following last week’s Daily Beast article alleging that Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group president John Amato prevented reporting on sexual harassment accusations against former Republic Records executive Charlie Walk, a known personal friend of Amato’s.
“Over the course of several weeks, sources said, Amato personally insisted that he review several stories about Walk. None of those articles—which were finished and featured extensive original reporting—ever ran,” wrote the Daily Beast‘s Max Tani. “Another story aggregating allegations against Walk was also quietly taken down by Billboard several days after it was published online. No explanation was given.”
Asif Satchu and Modi Wiczyk, co-CEOs of Valence Media—as the company has been known since its February merger with film and TV studio Media Rights Capital—addressed the controversy in a memo to Billboard staffers Monday.
“Valence takes editorial integrity seriously,” the memo reads. “After consulting our colleagues, including John Amato, we have commenced the process of appointing an independent third party to lead a comprehensive review of this situation. In addition, the review will ensure that our publications have and follow best-in-class policies and procedures, and a mechanism for people to share their perspectives and experiences in a confidential manner. We are committed to a thorough, accurate and fair review. John has embraced this path forward and supports a process that clarifies and resolves this issue for the benefit of all of his colleagues and our entire organization.”
At least five women have accused Walk of repeated sexual misconduct going back decades, from harassment to inappropriate and unwanted touching. Walk and Republic Records agreed to “mutually part ways” in March, and Walk was cut from the season finale of the FOX reality series “The Four,” on which he had been a judge.
New on the job board…
Harvard Business Publishing seeks an associate director of solution marketing, responsible for developing go-to-market positioning, messaging, and sales strategies across the company’s portfolio of leadership development products. Ten-plus years of product management experience, and a “proven track record of success from strategic thinking to tactical execution” desired.
View this and other new job openings at careers.foliomag.com.
Facebook defines political issues for ad verification…
Last October, as a response to revelations that Russian entities had purchased thousands of advertisements on Facebook in the lead-up to the 2016 elections in the U.S., the company announced plans to combat improper use of its platform in part by providing greater transparency around the source and nature of the advertisements it serves to users.
Today, Facebook released a list of “national issues of public importance,” topics about which any advertising targeting the U.S. will also require additional vetting and labeling. The idea here, ostensibly, is that while many advertisements may not be overtly political in that they do not endorse a particular candidate or party, they are clearly designed to sway public opinion around a particular hot-button political topic.
The list, first discovered by Axios‘s Sara Fischer, includes: abortion, budget, civil rights, crime, economy, education, energy, environment, foreign policy, government reform, guns, health, immigration, infrastructure, military, poverty, social security, taxes, terrorism, and values.
