The Marcus Graham Project

A development initiative focused on the next generation of leadership in the marketing, media, advertising & entertainment field.

 

Blog Posts

Lincoln C Stephens

AOL's BlackVoices debuts new advice blog targeting black men

(November 3, 2008) BlackVoices, (www.blackvoices.com), announced the launch of BV Power List, a new blog that provides men with tips on how to succeed at work, home and play in order to make their own power moves in their daily life. A key feature of the new blog, www.blackvoices.com/blogs/category/power-list, is the editors' weekly pick of the top five industry leading African-American influencers. The first BV Power List consists of Barack Obama, Tyra Banks, Tyler Perry, Magic Johnson and Mell… Continue

Posted by Lincoln C Stephens on November 5, 2008 at 2:00pm

Lincoln C Stephens

Common, Microsoft Learn to Make Music Together

Q&A: Rapper on Collaborating With Zune and Hip-Hop's Changing Attitude Toward Brand Partnerships By Charlie Moran Published: October 08, 2008 NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- While the Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten hawks butter and Usher designs men's lingerie, there's at least one successful artist practicing some rather stringent brand discipline. Common: 'Microsoft is classy, it's a timeless brand, and it means something to the world.' Common: 'Microsoft is classy, it's a timeless brand, and it mea… Continue

Posted by Lincoln C Stephens on October 9, 2008 at 7:18am

Lincoln C Stephens

Russell Simmons Kicks off "Race to BE" Entrepreneurship Competition

Russell Simmons Kicks off "Race to BE" Entrepreneurship Competition at NYSE on Oct. 2 Contest Encourages Creative Young People to Become Entrepreneurs as Part of the First-Ever Global Entrepreneurship Week NEW YORK — Artist and entrepreneur Russell Simmons kicks off the Race to BE. competition on Oct. 2 at the New York Stock Exchange. The Race to BE. is the signature U.S. event for the worldwide initiative Global Entrepreneurship Week, which will encourage young people to leverage their artisti… Continue

Posted by Lincoln C Stephens on October 5, 2008 at 7:28pm

Lincoln C Stephens

Coca-Cola partners with artist Big Boi for re-launch of Full Throttle Fury

From TargetMarketNews.com (September 30, 2008) Coca-Cola North America today announced Hip-Hop superstar Big Boi as the new face of Full Throttle Fury Energy Drink. Big Boi, a Grammy Award-winning artist is half of the world renowned Hip-Hop duo OutKast. The new partnership between Big Boi and Coca-Cola is meant to augment the existing connection between African-American males and Full Throttle Fury. The re-launch of Full Throttle Fury includes a new look, attitude, and a bold orange taste. �F… Continue

Posted by Lincoln C Stephens on October 1, 2008 at 10:12pm

Lincoln C Stephens

Black leaders call on tobacco industry to end targeting with menthol cigarettes

From Target Market News: (September 25, 2008) African American leaders in California called on the tobacco industry to stop targeting their community with the promotion of menthol cigarettes and deceptive advertising. Menthol cigarettes are not more toxic than regular cigarettes, but the minty flavor and cooling sensation makes them more enticing and easier to smoke, paving the road to nicotine addiction. Seventy percent of African American smokers prefer to smoke menthol cigarettes, compared t… Continue

Posted by Lincoln C Stephens on September 29, 2008 at 1:45pm

Forum

Lincoln C Stephens

Reality TV - Who would work for Diddy? 5 Replies

Started by Lincoln C Stephens. Last reply by Jeff Tate Aug 20.

Lincoln C Stephens

Challenges in the Industry

Started by Lincoln C Stephens Aug 18.

Trendspotting - KenjiSummers.com

Streetshots: Uniqlo beats the cold

...and keeps you warm. New York office of Japanese agency Dentsu on behalf of client Uniqlo has a cool experiential event going on at 44th st and broadway in (Times Square) NYC (as of 1pm 12/18). The event involves giving away men and women's thermal tops and bottoms from a pop up delivery system (check the pics for what I mean).
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Black Gives Back

NYC World Children's Day Event A Success Through Cookies, Crafts and Conversation With Tamia

This month, participating McDonald's restaurants across the United States will celebrate World Children's Day at McDonald's, an annual program since 2002 that raises funds and awareness for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and other children's causes. In addition, Celebrity Friends of RMHC are also showing their support through a series of special events and a new public service announcement.

On November 20th, Grammy nominated singer Tamia Hill participated in World Children’s Day ® at the Ronald McDonald House of New York. Along with Tamia included actress and philanthropist Holly Robinson Peete, and Ronald McDonald House Charities Board Chairman, Linda Dunham, with members of Mocha Moms, a support group for stay-at-home mothers of color. The Ronald McDonald House of New York is a facility that offers temporary housing to children undergoing treatment for pediatric cancer and their families.

Holly Robinson Peete; Linda Dunham, Global Chair of Ronald McDonald House Charities and Tamia Hill

For two hours, Hill, Robinson Peete, Dunham and the Mocha Moms participated in service activities that included baking cookies and decorating to prepare the house for the holidays. The service day concluded with a lively, celebratory performance by Tamia and the McDonald’s Junior Gospel Choir.

Source: CSRWire and Burrell Communications

The Big Tent

AdColor Awards Unlike Most Other Award Shows

Among other differences, the black-tie dress code makes AdColor look like an event rather than the large-scale game of "Hipster or Homeless" that usually results when industry creatives and their account execs gather in the same room.

The Purveyor of Cool - Jamil Buie

Get it Phizz Poppin'


If you are a technophile, Microsoft lover or just like to kick it with folks who use a lot of acronyms The 2008 Phizz Pop tour is worth checking out.

The digital design industries best and brightest duke it out across the country for a chance to go head up during South by Southwest. Hit the site for more info and tix.

From phizzpop.com
The PhizzPop Design Challenge is a web design and development competition. This year PhizzPop is expanding from in-person agency challenges to include an online competition for web professionals.

The PhizzPop Tour will stop in seven cities across the U.S. This is the design event of the year — a prestigious design competition combined with a social gathering for top web professionals, brands, designers and developers. Watch the hottest agencies compete in an interactive design challenge in front of a panel of judges and YOU, the live audience.

WEWINNIN by Me and Phred

MultiCultClassics

6168: DiSesa DiSenseless.


The Special Anniversary Issue commemorating 30 years of Adweek features an opinion column by McCann Erickson Chairman Nina DiSesa, wherein the woman inadvertently displays a lot of the issues with today’s industry leaders.

DiSesa has gone on record with her disdain for critical blogs; hence, she’ll probably spit on the following observations as well—provided she even stumbles across our humble URL. Whatever. This honestly isn’t directed at her, so much as the attitudes she symbolizes.

For starters, DiSesa literally spends nearly 70 percent of the perspective focusing on her favorite topic: herself. How typical of Madison Avenue honchos to believe the universe revolves around them. Forget wasting precious time debating concepts or creating new visions. Let me tell you about me. And my illustrious career. And the hijinks-heavy anecdotes that are totally irrelevant in the current marketplace.

Then DiSesa writes a comment that continues to confuse after multiple readings. Please feel free to interpret the excerpt:

When I was entering this profession, a twentysomething creative person was tolerated until he or she did successful TV. Now, I am discovering that entry-level people are more fascinating to me than I am. These young people understand the Internet, digital technology and other young people. They don’t know what barriers are, and their ideas about communication are dazzling.

“Now, I am discovering that entry-level people are more fascinating to me than I am.” What the hell does that mean? Is she admitting to self-absorbed narcissism? Plus, phrases like, “These young people understand the Internet…” make DiSesa sound like a dinosaur. Besides, she really should choose her words more carefully, especially given that McCann Erickson is still facing an age discrimination lawsuit.

Ultimately, DiSesa’s essay doesn’t provide any substantial insight. It’s just a bag of air. Unless one squints between the lines and realizes it completely represents the ad world’s aristocracy.

McCann Erickson’s slogan is, “Truth Well Told.” There’s definitely truth to be found in the Adweek column. Not too sure, however, that it’s very well told.

Kiss My Black Ads

McD's Speechless


I like that they tried something new. They get a "B" for effort. It's interesting, gets your attention. I wonder what it would be like if they parodied the music video genre more tightly. They found an video regular in the female lead. A real "artist would have really had you fooled for a second, perhaps leading to a greater payoff. Isn't Glenn Lewis available, hell Bobby Brown is looking for a payday. He could be the black K-Fed.


The Nationwide spot really went there. It was uncompromising in its approach to the parody. You really believe it's a K-Fed video (which is a joke within itself) before they let you in on the big pay off.

Buzzology Surveys

Take The Survey: 2008 Holiday Shopping & Gift Giving Trends

With the holidays just around the corner, BuzzologySurveys wants to gauge the seasonal shopping and gift giving preferences of African American Consumers.

Whether you’re hitting the local mall for the latest deals, scouring the net for that “must have” toy or electronic game, or opting not to make any purchases this year due to the economy, we want to hear from you!

Click here to take our survey, which ends November 28th.
 
 

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