Page 7 - Adnews Nov-Dec 2022

Editor’s Letter
Keeping up standards
Making a good return and having fun doing it. A fair goal? That may have worked well in the past but we have to go a little deeper now.
The industry, like the rest of the greater economy, has to take part in, and reflect, community stand- ards. The concept of stake-
holders isn’t confined to
shareholders or even staff.
This change is happening everywhere. Sustainability and working on climate change are big ones.
Take the increasing pres- sure on agencies to stay away from working with fossil fuel companies.
Analysis by campaign groups Clean Creatives and Comms Declare revealed a global list -- the F-List 2022 -- of more than 230 agencies working with the fossil fuel industry.
Belinda Noble at Comms Declare says at least nine Australian advertising and PR agencies are helping coal miner Glencore portray itself as part of a clean energy future.
"Agency executives need to
wake up and realise they are actively helping the cor- porations creating global warming, which is generating unprecedented disasters around the globe," she says.
Comms Declare has more than 360 members and has facilitated over 200 health professionals and organisations to sign an open letter calling for bans on fossil fuel advertising and sponsorships in Australia.
And the City of Sydney has decided to prevent coal, oil and gas from being promoted on its proper- ties and events.
A successful motion to the council, by deputy mayor Jess Scully: "The City of Sydney should also investigate ways to restrict fossil fuel advertising and Council should not accept sponsorships from com- panies whose main business is the extraction or sale
of coal, oil and gas."
Gambling is next. The fed-
eral government has its eye on this advertising.
Watch this space. A House of Representatives Standing Committee is looking into how to minimise gambling harm.
The tagline, Gamble Responsibly, is going in April next year. Social services minister Amanda Rishworth: “What we're doing is using evidence and research that clearly shows that the tagline of ‘Gamble Responsibly’ doesn't do the job of getting people to think and to mini- mise harm.”
The new taglines: Chances are you're about to lose; Think. Is this really a bet you want to play?; Imagine what you could be buying instead; You win some. You lose more;
What are you prepared to lose? Set a deposit limit; What are you really gambling with? What's gambling really costing you?
However, our industry has been making strides on equality. The Advertising Council Australia’s Create Space Report and Action Plan includes adopt- ing measures to address harassment in the work- place; support systems for people with mental health conditions; and ensuring everyone understands the damaging impact of microaggressions.
EDITOR
CHRIS PASH
www.adnews.com.au | November-December2022 7