Brands and publishers shouldn’t fear diversity and inclusion conversations and must play an active role in addressing issues that are endemic across the ecosystem, says Channel Factory Country Manager - UK Rob Blake. 

Blake, who was contributing to AdsWizz and MAD//Fest’s ‘MAD//Fest Moments series’, said that following the pandemic, the industry should prioritise diversity and inclusion and lead the way.

D&I is the right thing to do. We’ve come so far in a pandemic when we’ve been quite insular. Now we have to be more welcoming and understanding. The media industry should be driving home D&I harder than any other (industry), not just through advertising, but in recruitment and pay structures too,” he said.

In the video, Blake also explains how brands can benefit from deploying a test-and-learn approach to individual channels and why Channel Factory has launched the ‘Conscious Project’ to help advertisers understand the true impact of their investment on the media ecosystem.

Run in partnership with programmatic audio specialists AdsWizz and produced by Shootsta, ‘MAD//Fest Moments’ is a series in which prominent industry leaders share emerging trends, challenges and opportunities. Guests include S4 Capital Executive Chairman Sir Martin Sorrell, KFC CMO Jack Hinchliffe and Burger King Brand and Communications Director Soco Núñez de Cela.