DEI (diversity, equity, & inclusion)

Path Forward: Identity, Representation & Authenticity

• Posted: June 16, 2023

NBCUniversal and Magid partnered to determine how diverse consumers self-identify and how that informed their life experiences in relation to representation and authenticity, particularly in their brand and content choices. Research from clients, consumers and field surveys showed that, while multi-cultural audiences are multi-faceted, they are connected by common threads from shared cultural pillars, shared success and struggle, a sense of community and the straddling of two worlds. These findings led the team to a framework for “ideal representation” as a hierarchy of four distinct levels that define what consumers consider most important in being authentic.

Overcoming the Diversity Gap in Mobile Gaming

• Posted: June 16, 2023

The gaming team at Meta launched an initiative to better understand the perspectives of underrepresented gamers in order to share the importance of diversity with the mobile gaming industry. Their findings, Stephen Gray (Meta) pointed out, are just as applicable to advertisers outside the gaming industry. With gaming now, the world’s most dominant form of entertainment, Chloé Gingrich (Meta) noted that the gamers population is more diverse than ever before, encompassing a spectrum of ethnicities, genders, ages, sexual orientations and abilities.

Research on Marketing & LGBTQ+

• Posted: June 15, 2023

As many companies join in Pride celebrations this month (and some deal with backlash), we review the growing amount of research available to inform marketers on how to best market to and in support of LGBTQ+. We recommend these studies, all conducted in 2022 or 2023:

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The Path Forward: Identity, Representation & Authenticity

• Posted: June 13, 2023

Dana Sparber of NBCUniversal Advertising & Partnerships, discussed how NBCU created an actionable toolkit to guide their clients on media activations for diverse audiences. This multicultural marketing playbook was based on research with Magid on how diverse consumers self-identity and how that informs their life experiences as well as their brand and consumption choices. They first conducted client interviews to understand challenges and needs as it relates to representation. Then, they set up an online community with diverse consumers, which elicited insights into their thoughts on identity, mindsets around representation in media and their expectations and visions for what really makes something authentic. An online quantitative survey validated these findings. This ultimately led to a framework of representation hierarchy, which was validated through driver analysis.

Contending with Algorithmic Bias

• Posted: June 8, 2023

On March 16, 2022, the ARF Cultural Effectiveness Council hosted a discussion on bias in the algorithms and models used by organizations, particularly those in advertising and marketing, to make selection or recommendation decisions.  Speakers from Publicis Media, Twitter, Wunderman Thompson, Cassandra, and the University of Southern California shed light on why this issue arises, what its effects can be and how to contend with it.  The session was moderated by Council Co-Chair Janelle James of Ipsos.

New Lenses on Brand Identity

• Posted: June 7, 2023

This ARF Cognition Council event explored how brands can improve consumers’ perceptions of their pro-social messaging based on insights from fresh analyses of data from a variety of sources. Experts from Ipsos, Dartmouth College and Research Measurement Technologies shed light on a diverse range of research on ways that brands can convey pro-social messages in their advertising.

Video Games, Livestreams, and Community: Understanding the Experiences of Diverse Gamers

• Posted: June 7, 2023

On September 13, 2022, experts from Twitch, sparks & honey and MediaCom U.S. discussed the triumphs and challenges diverse communities in gaming are facing today. Although diversity in gaming has seen improvements in recent years, there is still work to be done. This event explored the role advertisers can play in making gaming and livestreaming even more inclusive. Panelists shared what brands can do to make a meaningful impact.

The Impact of Bodily Autonomy on Brand Marketing: Insights for Marketers

• Posted: June 6, 2023

As civil liberties continue to be politicized, advertisers have a growing expectation to be part of the solution and fill the trust gap between consumers, government, and media. On February 7, Mindshare and GroupM unveiled new research examining the sentiments of those most impacted—voices who have been historically marginalized and underrepresented in media and society—by the eroding rights to privacy. Further topics of discussion included the future of using “women’s empowerment” in marketing campaigns and the larger economic implications when bodily autonomy rights are lost.

What Does AI Mean for Advertising Research?

• Posted: June 6, 2023

We’ve all heard about the growing use of artificial intelligence in advertising research and doom and gloom predictions that it will knock out jobs, but is this really the case? Agency leaders joined us for an ARF Town Hall to discuss the upsides and possible downsides of generative AI, as well as how they’re utilizing it in their businesses to boost efficiency. Attendees heard predictions on how AI will change the business model of advertising and what it could mean for media agencies.

Getting LGBTQ+ Representation Right in Advertising

• Posted: May 31, 2023

According to the latest U.S. Census, between 8 percent and 12 percent of the U.S. population identify as within the LGBTQ+ community, yet this demographic is represented in just 1 percent of advertising. Kantar asked: Is the advertising industry creating ads that will reach this audience, and how can it do better? Insights into these questions came by conducting research using both explicit and implicit measures. Deepak Varma (Kantar) explained the use of explicit and implicit tools that measure reactions to advertising. Explicit measures track enjoyment (of the ad and the brand, asking questions on inclusion and diversity), while implicit measures track involvement or engagement with the ad (i.e., use of facial coding to measure smiles).