In a significant push toward streamlining campaign workflows, Guideline a leader in advertising data and media planning technology has rolled out a major update to its Guideline Planning Suite, integrating automation, real-time collaboration, and deeper analytics across its flagship tools, MediaTools and Lumina.

The move is aimed squarely at eliminating inefficiencies, unifying planning systems, and empowering agencies and advertisers to make faster, smarter decisions in a fragmented media ecosystem.

“Many top advertisers have already moved past spreadsheets using our planning tools,” said Guideline CEO Vince Mifsud. “This upgrade is a direct response to their evolving needs—and a leap forward in what media planning tech can do.”

What's New? A Suite of Data-Powered Features

The newly enhanced Planning Suite introduces a powerful set of capabilities that stitch together campaign planning, execution, and analysis with a focus on automation, integration, and transparency:

• On-Demand Data Extraction – Export campaign data instantly through the platform's UI.

• Scheduled Reporting – Set recurring reports to automatically track campaign metrics.

• Read & Write APIs – Integrate directly with internal tools and data lakes, keeping taxonomy and planning data in sync across platforms.

• 30+ 3rd Party Integrations – Automate ingestion of actuals from external vendor platforms, eliminating time-consuming manual uploads.

• Flight Mapping IDs – Improve visibility by linking media flight plans to real-world performance data.

• Advanced Analytics Module – Custom dashboards, high-speed performance, and pivot-style reporting built for power users.

Why It Matters

The upgrade reflects a broader industry trend: media operations are no longer siloed. With data flowing across platforms, teams, and stages of the media lifecycle, planning tools have to be both agile and interoperable.

Guideline’s expanded capabilities aim to address three critical pain points in modern advertising:

1. Disconnected Systems – By integrating data and taxonomy across platforms, brands can ditch the spreadsheet chaos.

2. Slow Optimization Loops – With real-time visibility and on-demand insights, teams can iterate and reallocate budgets without delay.

3. Manual Data Mapping – API integrations and scheduled reporting reduce human error and free up planners to focus on strategy, not data entry.

Connecting People, Platforms, and Performance

With these changes, Guideline’s Planning Suite is more than a media planning tool—it’s a collaboration engine. From strategy to reporting, cross-functional teams can now share the same data environment, ensuring consistency and reducing the latency between insight and action.

For advertisers investing millions in digital, TV, audio, and cross-platform campaigns, the impact could be substantial: better data hygiene, faster decisions, and tighter control over spend effectiveness.

Competitive Context

As media spend continues to shift toward digital and streaming, the demand for integrated planning platforms has intensified. Competitors like Mediaocean and Adobe are making similar moves, but Guideline’s tight coupling of real-time ad market intelligence (via its SMI and MediaCosts products) gives it a key differentiator in surfacing true performance and pricing benchmarks.

Moreover, with the addition of advanced pivot-style analytics, Guideline is stepping into BI territory—bringing enterprise-grade insights to the fingertips of media planners and investment teams.

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In a strategic move that blends deep catalog access with rich community engagement, Everand—the premium reading subscription from Scribd, Inc.—has acquired Fable, the social reading app known for its vibrant book clubs and goal-oriented reading tools.

The deal brings together two reader-first platforms with a shared mission: to make reading not just more accessible, but more meaningful.

From Discovery to Dialogue

Everand offers millions of audiobooks and ebooks under a tiered subscription model, while Fable carved its niche by turning solitary reading into a shared experience—with over 100,000 active book clubs led by authors, BookTok creators, and everyday readers. Together, the platforms promise to support the entire reader journey, from discovery to discussion.

“This partnership is about amplifying what both teams do best while staying true to the people we serve: readers,” said Scribd CEO Tony Grimminck.

What Changes for Readers?

In short, not much—yet.

• Fable’s book clubs, social features, and personalized goal tools will remain intact.

• Everand’s Standard and Plus subscriptions stay as-is, alongside Fable Plus and its à la carte ebook catalog.

Over time, both teams will look to integrate features thoughtfully, potentially bringing Everand’s robust catalog to Fable users and extending Fable’s social capabilities across Scribd’s ecosystem.

Why It Matters

This move aligns with broader trends in digital media where platforms are consolidating features to boost user stickiness. Spotify has nudged into audiobooks. Amazon owns Goodreads. But where many competitors focus on access alone, Everand and Fable are betting on connection.

“Reading is about more than what’s on the page—it’s about how it brings people together,” Grimminck emphasized.

A New Value Proposition for Publishers

For content owners, this union is also a boon. It creates a vertically integrated pipeline that:

• Drives discovery through Everand’s catalog

• Supports engagement via Fable’s discussion-centric features

• Encourages re-engagement through social recommendations

This could translate into longer shelf lives for midlist titles and deeper reader loyalty for series authors.

The Team Behind the Deal

Fable CEO and founder Padmasree Warrior will move into an advisory role as all Fable employees join Scribd, Inc. leadership. Grimminck remains CEO of the parent company.

The acquisition adds to Scribd’s ongoing evolution from a document-hosting startup to a multi-platform media ecosystem that now includes Everand, Scribd, and SlideShare.

The Takeaway

As digital reading continues to expand, experience matters as much as access. By acquiring Fable, Everand isn’t just adding another bookshelf—it’s creating a reading environment built for the way we read today: digitally, socially, and with a desire to connect.

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In a bold move to strengthen its national logistics footprint, Postmedia Network Inc. has announced the expansion of its Parcel Service to Newfoundland and Saskatchewan. The rollout builds on the company’s growing delivery network across Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and British Columbia—reasserting Postmedia’s ambition to become a trusted player in regions long underserved by traditional carriers.

This latest expansion goes beyond just faster shipping. It underscores a commitment to community connectivity, economic inclusion, and infrastructure reliability across Canada’s most remote corners.

“Extending our reach into Newfoundland and Saskatchewan is about more than logistics,” said Andrew MacLeod, President and CEO of Postmedia. “It’s about ensuring Canadians in every region have access to reliable delivery options, no matter where they live.”

Why It Matters

While Canada Post and major courier brands like FedEx and Purolator dominate urban areas, rural communities often suffer from delays, limited pickup points, and higher costs. Postmedia is looking to change that equation by tapping into its existing print media distribution infrastructure to support its parcel logistics arm.

A Quiet National Contender

Originally known for its newspaper empire, Postmedia has quietly transformed part of its operations into a logistics service. This expansion adds momentum to a broader strategy: repurposing legacy delivery routes for modern e-commerce and parcel fulfillment needs.

With additional regional expansions already in development, Postmedia is positioning itself as a national alternative to the existing delivery giants—particularly for merchants and consumers in areas where options are limited.

The Bigger Picture

The growth of Postmedia Parcel Service comes at a time when:

• E-commerce demand in rural Canada continues to rise.

• Consumer expectations for delivery speed and reliability remain high.

• Small businesses in remote areas need more affordable shipping solutions.

For now, Postmedia’s quiet logistics pivot may seem niche—but its potential impact on Canada’s rural digital economy could be significant.

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Indeed, the world’s leading job site, has named James Whitemore as its new Chief Marketing Officer, marking a strategic leadership move as the company doubles down on global expansion and AI-driven hiring innovation.

Effective immediately, Whitemore will join Indeed’s senior leadership team, reporting to Chief Revenue Officer Maggie Hulce. His mandate: lead Indeed’s global marketing organization across brand, communications, category and lifecycle marketing, country-specific strategies, and the Indeed Hiring Lab, a thought leadership and labor market research arm.

“James brings a strong track record of helping business customers thrive through innovative, customer-first marketing,” said Hulce. “He’ll play a vital role in shaping how the world sees and experiences Indeed.”

A Heavyweight Hire in a Shifting Talent Tech Landscape

Whitemore steps into the role with more than 25 years of senior leadership experience at the intersection of marketing, growth, and technology. Most recently, he served as Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Celigo, a fast-scaling cloud integration platform. There, he led the sales and marketing push that accelerated the company’s market presence in a crowded automation landscape.

Before that, as CMO and EVP at NetApp, he spearheaded an award-winning integrated digital marketing campaign that helped fuel the company’s Public Cloud business growth—an experience that aligns closely with Indeed’s increasing push into AI-powered solutions.

Whitemore’s resume also includes marketing leadership roles at IBM Europe, Sun Microsystems, and Intrado, making him well-versed in both B2B tech and global brand scaling.

Humanizing AI-Driven Hiring

Whitemore’s appointment comes as Indeed continues to evolve beyond a job board into a full-scale hiring platform powered by artificial intelligence and data. The company has been investing heavily in simplifying the hiring process, from job search to interview to offer—especially as businesses and job seekers alike navigate the complexities of remote work, labor shortages, and skills-based hiring.

Whitemore emphasized this mission in his statement:

“As Indeed continues to lead with AI-powered innovation to transform hiring, I’m excited to help more job seekers and employers unlock the full value of Indeed—especially by harnessing our unmatched data, insights, and sister brands like Glassdoor and Indeed Flex to create smarter, more meaningful connections.”

A Brand on the Move

This leadership change signals Indeed’s broader focus on expanding its brand footprint, sharpening its data storytelling, and integrating its ecosystem of hiring tools—including Glassdoor’s employer insights and Indeed Flex’s gig work platform—under a cohesive go-to-market strategy.

With Whitemore at the helm of marketing, expect Indeed to take a more proactive role in defining the future of hiring, and solidifying its position as the platform of choice for both job seekers and global employers in an increasingly AI-driven world.

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In a market flooded with either overpriced agencies or DIY content chaos, StoryVid enters the scene with a clear mission: help growth-minded Kentucky businesses create video content that’s not just sleek, but built to perform.

The newly rebranded video production agency, founded by creative director Alex Masterson, officially launched this week with a no-fluff, strategy-first model that promises end-to-end, high-output production systems for businesses that are ready to scale.

“Most businesses don’t need a $100K video—they need consistent, on-brand content that moves the needle,” said Masterson. “We’ve built StoryVid to deliver just that—fast, strategic, and scalable.”

Built for Marketers, Not Filmmakers

While many agencies still sell video as a one-off asset, StoryVid flips the script, designing each production to serve as a content engine. A single shoot can yield 15+ deliverables—think A/B testing variations, thumbnails, GIFs, vertical cutdowns for TikTok and Instagram, or explainer edits for product pages.

This model helps brands maximize their investment while minimizing content gaps. Video isn’t just a campaign add-on—it’s the campaign.

Strategy First, Then Storytelling

Unlike creative shops that prioritize aesthetics over outcome, StoryVid begins with the business goal: product launch, conversion boost, brand refresh—you name it. The team then builds the video concept backward from that target, optimizing each asset for channel, audience, and performance.

“A great story without a strategy is just a nice distraction,” Masterson noted. “We build with intent—every cut, frame, and format is tied to the funnel.”

Agile Team, Scalable Output

StoryVid runs lean—but wide. Rather than keeping a bloated in-house team, the agency works with a curated network of editors, motion designers, cinematographers, and strategists—tapping only what’s needed for each job. This modular model keeps costs low, turnaround fast, and quality high.

Clients benefit from working directly with a dedicated team, not bouncing between siloed departments or account managers who don’t touch the creative.

Services Designed for Today’s Platforms

StoryVid offers a full suite of video formats with growth marketing baked in:

• Brand commercials with strong hooks and call-to-actions

• Explainer videos—live-action, animated, or hybrid

• Product launch content designed to convert

• Testimonial and case study videos to build trust

• Social-first micro-content for TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram

• Multi-platform edits optimized for size, speed, and scroll-stopping visuals

It’s the kind of modern, modular marketing support that in-house teams often dream about but rarely achieve.

Local Roots, National Standards

Despite its scalable model, StoryVid keeps production local—tapping into Kentucky’s creative talent pool and rejecting the idea that great video must come from LA or New York.

“We’re proud to raise the bar right here,” Masterson said. “There’s no need to import creativity when we’ve got the skills at home.”

Built for Growth, Not One-Offs

While StoryVid offers project-based work, its sweet spot is longer-term partnerships—monthly retainers, ongoing campaigns, and embedded creative support that function like an extension of the client’s marketing team.

“We’re not chasing film festival trophies,” said Masterson. “We’re building content that grows businesses—and that’s the only metric that matters.”

As more Kentucky startups and established brands seek agile, data-savvy creative partners, StoryVid is positioning itself as the go-to content engine for a modern era of performance-first video marketing.

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Lemon Digital HQ just added a major brain to its brand muscle.

The influencer marketing and brand development agency announced the launch of Lemon IQ, a Gen Z-focused research and strategy arm designed to help brands avoid the all-too-common fate of tone-deaf campaigns. Think of it as a direct pipeline into the cultural operating system of the most elusive and economically powerful generation: Gen Z, with over $450 billion in global spending power.

Culture Meets Commerce

“We built Lemon IQ to bridge the gap between smart brand strategy and actual Gen Z insight,” said Sarah Reilly Engel, co-founder of Lemon Digital HQ. “Modern brand growth lives at the intersection of culture and commerce—and Gen Z defines both.”

Engel, along with co-founder Jennifer Powell, brings serious pedigree from the creator economy, with backgrounds spanning LTK, Next Models, and work for brands like Armani, Blue Lagoon, and Brilliant Earth. With Lemon Digital HQ, they’ve consistently delivered influencer activations and brand experiences that resonate. Now, with Lemon IQ, they’re adding something most influencer agencies lack: a feedback loop backed by data, research, and Gen Z's own voices.

Real Voices, Real Feedback

The core of Lemon IQ’s methodology is simple but potent: start with Gen Z, not just personas. The team convenes student influencers aged 16–28 for structured focus groups, supplements those sessions with surveys, and delivers reports brands can act on—before they commit major budgets to production or ad spend.

But IQ doesn’t stop at insight. Those same student participants often become campus ambassadors, turning firsthand feedback into real-time promotion. The result is a feedback-to-flywheel model that’s part research lab, part activation engine.

“Too many brands are flying blind,” said Powell. “We’ve seen launches flop because they were built on stale assumptions. With Lemon IQ, you get breathing, evolving feedback.”

Timing Is Everything

This launch isn’t happening in a vacuum. The runaway success of Rhode, recently acquired by e.l.f. Cosmetics for $1 billion, is a case study in combining top-tier storytelling with grassroots Gen Z engagement. Rhode’s playbook—using creators for halo storytelling and campus ambassadors for community buy-in—is exactly the flywheel Lemon IQ is optimizing.

Not Just for Startups

While Gen Z-first DTC brands are obvious customers, Lemon IQ is already being tapped by established retail and CPG players looking to validate product-market fit, de-risk campaigns, and rewrite tired brand narratives.

For example, a legacy beauty brand might use IQ to:

• Pressure test new packaging or shade ranges

• Test campaign messaging with 18-year-old freshmen and 28-year-old early career professionals

• Identify overlooked creators shaping beauty culture on TikTok and YouTube

• Launch a paid ambassador program fueled by peer-to-peer recommendations

Why It Matters

Gen Z isn’t just another demo—they’re a culture engine, often reshaping platforms, language, and product expectations in real time. And they can sniff out inauthenticity in seconds.

By combining bottom-up feedback with top-down brand strategy, Lemon IQ offers something refreshingly rare: a chance to co-create with the audience that decides what sticks.

“We’re not just measuring sentiment,” said Engel. “We’re helping brands build with Gen Z, not just for them.”

Lemon Digital HQ

Founded in 2020, Lemon Digital HQ blends brand development, market research, and influencer marketing to help brands scale authentically. The agency works with everyone from early-stage startups to Fortune 1000 companies, developing brand strategies and creative campaigns that convert. With the addition of Lemon IQ, the agency cements its role as a culture-forward growth partner built for today’s attention economy.

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At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, PRophet, a communications tech suite renowned for its AI-powered software, announced an expanded global partnership with Hootsuite, a leading platform in social media listening and analytics. This collaboration marks a strategic alignment of two powerful platforms aimed at delivering unified media intelligence across social and traditional channels.

Strategic Goals of the PRophet-Hootsuite Partnership

• Deepened Integration:
  PRophet will incorporate Hootsuite’s advanced social listening directly into its MIND media intelligence platform via API.

• Unified Client Experience:
  This integration creates a streamlined experience for clients needing end-to-end media intelligence across earned and social media.

• Enhanced Journalist and Outlet Profiles:
  Enriched profiles will now feature verified handles and in-depth audience insights.

Statements from Leadership

• Aaron Kwittken, PRophet CEO:
  Positioned this as more than a tech move—it's a strategic leap toward a more predictive, data-informed media ecosystem.

• Irina Novoselsky, Hootsuite CEO:
  Highlighted this as a new chapter aimed at faster insights and more actionable data for brands and agencies worldwide.

Impact Across the Stagwell Marketing Cloud

• Exclusive Integration for Stagwell Agencies:
  All agencies under the Stagwell umbrella will access Hootsuite exclusively through PRophet.

• Operational Efficiency:
  The partnership aims to simplify procurement, standardize technology use, and reduce dependency on multiple service providers.

Client Benefits and Market Adoption

• Cross-Industry Adoption:
  Hundreds of clients in sectors like consumer goods, healthcare, finance, and tech are already utilizing the joint solution.

• Mutual Advocacy:
  Hootsuite will promote PRophet as its preferred earned media tool, while PRophet introduces Hootsuite to its customer base for social performance needs.

This expanded global alliance between PRophet and Hootsuite signifies a major advancement in integrated media intelligence. By merging AI-driven insights with best-in-class social listening, both companies are shaping the future of PR and marketing communications. This partnership not only benefits their mutual clients but also sets a new standard for data-driven storytelling in the MarTech landscape.

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ADvendio, a top-tier omnichannel advertising management platform, has entered a strategic partnership with Adhese, a Belgium-based ad server platform. Together, they aim to offer a fully integrated retail media solution, encompassing campaign management, ad delivery, and programmatic advertising. This collaboration is designed to empower retailers with more control, scalability, and efficiency in a complex and evolving media environment.

Highlights of the ADvendio–Adhese Partnership

• End-to-End Retail Media Solution
  The integration combines ADvendio’s order management capabilities with Adhese’s ad serving technology, delivering a complete retail media workflow from planning to delivery.

• Centralized Campaign Management
  Retailers can use ADvendio as a central hub for managing ad campaigns, seamlessly connected to ad servers like Adhese, Google Ad Manager, and FreeWheel.

• Efficient Ad Delivery
  The partnership ensures quick and effective creative delivery across multiple channels, minimizing technical complexities.

Strategic Vision and Leadership Perspectives

• Empowering Retailers
  Tim Sturtewagen, co-founder at Adhese, emphasized the goal of giving retailers full control over cross-channel ad delivery by integrating with ADvendio's robust order management system.

• Collaboration Over Consolidation
  Sven Marievoet, co-founder at Adhese, highlighted the partnership as a commitment to flexible, innovative solutions in a fragmented market. The collaboration enables both companies to build agile, customizable platforms that better serve advertisers, publishers, and retailers.

• Driving Operational Efficiency
  Bernd Bube, CEO of ADvendio, pointed out the increasing complexity of retail media operations and the need for easy-to-deploy, scalable solutions. This joint effort addresses operational gaps while enhancing campaign performance.

The partnership between ADvendio and Adhese marks a significant milestone in the retail media landscape. By integrating powerful order management with advanced ad serving capabilities, this alliance offers a future-ready, turnkey solution tailored to meet the needs of modern retailers. As the advertising ecosystem grows increasingly intricate, such strategic collaborations are essential for delivering value through agility, control, and measurable results.

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