Advertising Age published a report titled, “City Spotlight: Chicago”—examining the advertising scene in the Windy City. The accompanying illustration depicted above highlights various shops in the area. However, while the article referenced and even spoke with an executive from Burrell Communications, the iconic agency was excluded from the rendering—during Black History Month. Nice.
Burrell doesn't seem to support black talent in advertising, though. BHM or otherwise. Look at the credits on anything they work on, and it's the same pattern every time. Big projects with a big budget go to white partners, foreign white partners, European white partners. Small projects with no budget go to black talent.
ReplyDeleteThey could have spent the time they've been in business feeding and growing black talent but spent it all on white partners instead.
Not too sure about your perspective. Minority advertising agencies are often pressured by clients to use minority vendors (e.g., directors, photographers, etc.), as clients view employing minority advertising agencies as part of the overall diversity supplier smokescreen. On the other hand, White advertising agencies are not pressured to use minority vendors. Additionally, minority advertising agencies provide opportunities to minority actors, vendors, etc. at much higher levels than White advertising agencies. Finally, minority advertising agencies provide jobs to minorities at much higher percentages than White advertising agencies. Yes, some Latino agencies might recruit candidates from abroad, but most minority advertising agencies are hiring U.S. talent. All of this is becoming increasingly moot as minority advertising agencies are being diminished and dismissed from the global industry.
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