David Lidsky's Blog, page 100

Why defunding research on misinformation and disinformation isn’t what Americans want

Trump’s executive order seeks to ban misinformation research, which will likely weaken Americans’ defenses.

Research on misinformation and disinformation has become the latest casualty of the Trump administration’s restructuring of federal research priorities.

PepsiCo is the latest in a fast-growing club of marketers betting on Formula 1

PepsiCo joins the growing list of advertisers pouring millions into Formula 1’s global audience.

PepsiCo is the latest big-name marketer to rev up alongside Formula 1, joining a growing roster of brands eager to tap into the surging popularity of the global motorsport.

How influencer marketing lost its edge

Oversaturation, consumer fatigue, and declining trust are challenging the future of influencer-driven advertising.

Scroll through a TikTok feed, and you’ll eventually come across someone—usually incredibly photogenic, with perfect teeth and flawless skin—extolling the virtues of some product or another, or a restaurant, or a destination. And then another. And another.

What’s open and closed on Juneteenth 2025? Banks, stock markets, stores, post office, pharmacies, more

Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in America, has only been a federal holiday since 2021. Many services will be closed for the day.

Any student of American history knows that there are hard truths to ponder about our past. Slavery certainly falls into this category. Today (Thursday, June 19, 2025), the United States commemorates the end of that horrific institution and wrestles with its lasting impact. As this occasion has only been formally established as a federal holiday since 2021, it may be confusing to know what will be open and closed. Let’s take a deeper look so you can plan ahead.

AI users have to choose between accuracy or sustainability

New research shows the smarter and more capable AI models become, the larger their environmental impact.

Cheap or free access to AI models keeps improving, with Google the latest firm to make its newest models available to all users, not just paying ones. But that access comes with one cost: the environment.

Why building bigger from the start is the smarter bet

The compound startup makes sense when the problem you solve doesn’t fit into just one feature.

For two decades, conventional startup wisdom followed a simple mantra: Build one killer feature, win a devoted audience, and expand later.

What women’s sports fans really want

Why trust is the sponsorship superpower of 2025.

Something powerful is unfolding in women’s sports, and it’s being driven by the fans. They’re not asking for more flashy campaigns or superficial endorsements. They’re calling for something deeper: genuine, athlete-led engagement that reflects the values they believe in. In an era of constant noise, what they’re truly seeking is trust—in the athletes, in the brands, and in the stories being told.

Are you not entertained? The next frontier of brand entertainment

In partnership with Omnicom, Jeff Beer sits down with Patty Morris, the head of brand at State Farm; Erwin Dito, the VP of global brand leadership at McDonald’s; and Jae Goodman, the founder and CEO of Superconnector Studios, to discuss why effectiveness and efficiency are not the same thing in the advertising world.

In partnership with Omnicom, Jeff Beer sits down with Patty Morris, the head of brand at State Farm; Erwin Dito, the VP of global brand leadership at McDonald’s; and Jae Goodman, the founder and CEO of Superconnector Studios, to discuss why effectiveness and efficiency are not the same thing in the advertising world.

IRL > Algorithm: The Future of Socialization

Jeff Beer speaks with Giles Hedger, the global consumer planning director at Diageo; Rachel Rix, the chief growth officer at Ketchum; and James Kirkham, the founder and CEO at Iconic, about how AI and algorithms are making culture vanilla.

Jeff Beer speaks with Giles Hedger, the global consumer planning director at Diageo; Rachel Rix, the chief growth officer at Ketchum; and James Kirkham, the founder and CEO at Iconic, about how AI and algorithms are making culture vanilla.

Hack the Future

At Cannes, Fast Company’s Jeff Beer sits down with Meghan Signalness (global head of media, marketing planning & operations and agency leadership at Philips), Rei Inamoto (founding partner at I&CO), and Erin Lanuti (chief innovation officer at Omnicom Public Relations Group) for a conversation on how marketing and product teams can work better together.

At Cannes, Fast Company’s Jeff Beer sits down with Meghan Signalness (global head of media, marketing planning & operations and agency leadership at Philips), Rei Inamoto (founding partner at I&CO), and Erin Lanuti (chief innovation officer at Omnicom Public Relations Group) for a conversation on how marketing and product teams can work better together.