In 2020, the advertising and marketing industries flipped upside down, disrupted by the 4 C’s: COVID-19, CCPA, Culture shifts and Consolidation. These forces have made a busy landscape even more chaotic than in the ‘before times.’ There is so much news and information circulating that sometimes, it is hard to know where to look for authoritative, definitive and trusted advertising and media trade publications. That’s why we’re here to help you.
The Big Players
These publications are trusted by audiences and coverage in them is coveted by agencies and adtech and martech brands for a reason. They cover all the hot trends and exciting news within the advertising and marketing industry. Still, there are a few things that distinguish each one:
Come here to read the top stories about the biggest tech companies including Google, Facebook, Apple and others, as well as the biggest brands and agencies. The focus moves beyond just adtech and martech but also focuses on digital, media and data. Annual lists analyze top spenders and celebrate creative, agencies and executives too.
Reporters at Adweek are spot on when it comes to knowing what their consumers want to read in the worlds of adtech and martech, digital media and programmatic. Those yearning for how-to pieces and news from the quirkiest brands will definitely find a home here. Their annual Brandweek conference attracts the biggest CMOs and agency leaders as well.
If you’re looking for pure dedication to the programmatic advertising and marketing landscape, you’ll find it here. AdExchanger is the holy grail for those who want to know the nitty-gritty details around both big and small adtech platforms, trends, opinions and news
While hyper-focused on brands and deep analysis, Digiday also dips into the publishing, agency and video arenas. More about thoughtful looks behind the news and in-depth profiles of leading executives than on breaking stories, Digiday is where you’ll find all the latest from the big tech brands. Their “Confessions” series, which features honest interviews with industry execs, exchanging anonymity for candid experiences, is a must-read.
No, it’s not exactly a marketing or advertising publication but deserves to be here on account of the few technology reporters who are covering the space. Additionally, its “10 Things In Tech You Need To Know Today” is a great way to stay informed about the big technology companies.
The Ones With Commitment Issues
Stuck between covering the top news of the day and the news that’s most applicable to its readers, these publications give us the best of both worlds - the particulars on the biggest announcements but also intimate details on executives and up and comers.
The Drum is on top of all that’s happening in the marketing and advertising world on both sides of the pond (US and its UK origins). Additionally, any jones for a brand and programmatic information fix will almost assuredly be fulfilled here.
MediaPost is a long-established look inside a range of media and marketing subjects and platforms. It has its toes in all kinds of waters, including mobile, social, digital, email marketing and TV. Perfect for those who love newsletter delivery by subject matter (how about an email about...email marketing?).
Turn to TechCrunch to learn all about the latest startups, what they’re offering and how they will transform (or not transform) the tech landscape. Also, if you want to know where VCs are throwing their support and, of course, their money, this is the publication to read.
Powered by global event platform Advertising Week, AW360 is a healthy blend of industry trends, informative pieces and a multitude of industry voices.
Along with its sister sites, Marketing Land and Search Engine Land, MarTech Today provides coverage around breaking news, industry trends and feature announcements.
This podcast, hosted by celebrated reporter Peter Kafka, boasts of guests who are top business execs, comedians, journalists and other podcasters. With its blend of media, entertainment and business is it a wonder it’s earned a place on this list?
With Axios, you’re getting all the good scoops – political, business, sports and technology news among others. Also, its Media Trends newsletter is a great help with understanding what is currently happening within the landscape.
The Niche
These publications are hyper focused on particular sectors within the advertising and marketing industry. They have an unmatched depth and understanding of the topics they cover.
AdMonsters is aimed at ad operations pros and gives a little break from the general advertising and marketing and shines a brighter light on the publishing side of the ecosystem. They also dip a bit more into consumers’ impact and privacy involved in adtech.
Street Fight is all about data and analytics but its main focus is hyperlocal trends and solutions. This is a go-to for how national brands execute at the local level, as well as for insights into niche topics like UX innovations. SEO strategies and location data.
For big news with a big impact, this is your marketing one-stop-shop. Chief Marketer aggregates top stories from f different publications and gathers them in one easy read. Its sections that are dedicated to consumer marketing, B2B marketing and martech make it a scannable, indispensable part of any marketer’s media diet.
This eponymously named publication goes into all-things-customer management system focused. Still, it earns a spot on the list because of its dedication to reporting on the digital transformation happening not just within the industry but within our everyday lives.
- Tanya Merisier, Account Associate