MEDIA PERSPECTIVE: Christmas wishes or wishful thinking from media land?

Ace investigative reporter that I am, I have spent the past few

weeks inveigling my way into Santa’s Lapland grotto. In the interests of

the media community, I have managed to get my hands on a number of top

secret leaked letters from key players in the industry and - in the

generous spirit of the season - I am happy to share them with you

now.

First out of the sack is a letter from the boys and girls at CIA

Medianetwork.

Last year’s missive to Santa clearly got lost in the post, so they’re

hoping this year’s message gets through. Top of their Christmas

wish-list is a modest plea - not for more presents, just to hold on to

the ones they’ve already got.

So many of their toys have been snaffled by the other kids in the

playground that this year the CIA team is asking Santa to make sure they

still have something left worth playing with. Mind you, one wish has

already been granted. CIA is looking for a new chief executive.

MindShare did well out of Santa last Christmas, and all the other kids

in the playground were jealous of MindShare’s game. But it doesn’t seem

to have been as exciting as it looked on the box.

And it also appears that there was at least one piece missing - the

little managing director.

In the meantime, this year the other kids are asking Santa for the

souped-up 1999 version of the game.

The boys at MediaVest want Santa to find them a mate for 1999. The other

kids in the playground are pairing off and the MediaVest team is getting

lonely. Its US parent has cruelly stamped on one budding romance, and

now most of the good-looking boys and girls have been snapped up. Could

MediaVest be left on the shelf if Santa doesn’t come up with the

goods?

Here’s a letter from Mike Tunnicliffe of Western, asking Santa for a car

for Christmas. But Mike’s not as greedy as he sounds. He, too, has

simple aspirations. He’s already got the car he wants - a Vauxhall. It’s

his pride and joy. He just hopes Santa will stop his sister, Universal,

nicking it from him. If Santa can’t help, Western might not be around to

leave the sherry and mince pies out next Christmas.

Leo Burnett’s media department is hoping to find the keys to a new home

under the Christmas tree. All of its mates have long since fled the nest

and, fed up with the usual sibling arguments and the same old turkey for

Christmas, the Burnett media folk are hoping this will absolutely be

their last Christmas at home with mum and dad. As long as they don’t

have to move in with cousin Motive, 1999 could be a good year, thanks to

uncle Bernard Balderstone.

Since this is the season of goodwill, let’s hope the media folk around

town get their wishes granted this Christmas. Now, I must remember to

send those leaked letters back to Lapland.

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This article was first published on Campaign