Hard to believe it's been 11 years since The Cluetrain Manifesto, and we're still doing the same f***ing panel. And we're still trying to teach big companies and ad agencies how to communicate like humans, how to listen, and how to use transparency as a messaging tactic. Brand Journalism is a way to take those decade-old ideas and incorporate them into actual campaigns (we know, we've done it). The first step is to teach agencies and clients to think like publishers instead of marketers--it's not a new idea, but it's one that is rarely executed well. In this panel, Brand Journalism pioneers will share some of the secrets, successes, and obstacles of their award-winning campaigns.
David Eastman is CEO of JWT North America. He is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of the North American network with a particular focus on the JWT head office, New York.
David is also Worldwide Digital Director for JWT. In this role, he is responsible for the strategic oversight and management of the digital discipline within JWT and all subsidiary companies.
He is also a member of the JWT global executive committee.
David became involved in digital in 1997 and previously worked at the Omnicom-owned Republic Family, where he was Chief Executive since June 2007 looking after a portfolio of interactive agencies ranging from from digital creative to marketing technology and including five-time UK digital agency of the year, Agency Republic. Prior to that, he spent seven years at TBWA aligned Agency.com most recently as President & Worldwide Chief Executive, where he was responsible for all aspects of worldwide operations. He was also a member of the TBWA global operating group.
He has worked with numerous clients including: British Airways, T-Mobile, Mercedes, The Economist, British Telecom, Carphone Warehouse, eBay and Heineken.
He is a Webby judge and has had articles published in or been interviewed for The Times, Business Week, New Media Age and Revolution magazine, as well as numerous speaking engagements including the Cannes Ad Festival, Internet World and Mobile World. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in the U.K. and a TEDster. Eastman also completed the Omnicom/Harvard Business School senior management program.
Kyle Monson arrived at JWT in September 2009 by way of the publishing industry, having worked most recently as a Senior Editor at PC Magazine. While at PC Mag, Kyle oversaw the editorial production of PCMag.com, founded successful blogs, hosted popular podcasts, and wrote some of the highest-trafficked feature stories in the publication’s history. He has written for magazines as disparate as Newsweek and ReadyMade, and has regularly appeared on TV and radio.
In his role as Content Strategist at JWT, Kyle oversees the agency’s Brand Journalism efforts. Utilizing his publishing background and training, he advises clients on content creation techniques, with an emphasis on incorporating transparency and audience voices into brand narratives.
Kyle spends his free time playing mandolin in a bluegrass band and bass guitar in a '60s-revival powerpop band.
