I will not cease from mental fight

Campaign magazine has an article about trendspotting and the only trendspotter they quote who mentions blogs is Marian Salzman, "executive vice-president, director of strategic content, JWT". What a fantastic job title!

Her writing style is sharp and punchy. What she has to say is pretty stimulating too:

"Pornography is going mainstream" - isn't that the truth.

"Faking reality and faking celebrity...we've got a taste for voyeurism, and we want more" - the explosion of reality tv certainly supports this. I've watched reality shows with people who love them and can understand why they enjoy them so much.

"Personal control freaks" - this is where she mentions blogs and I agree a blog is about wanting to wrest back control of information from narrow, biased sources like old media. Freak is kinda derogatory though - better to call these types advocates or defenders or maybe rascals as some bloggers do seem a bit unhinged.

"Dissatisfaction - people are less delighted by brands" Could be the knock on effect of having so many brands being promoted really well. There is less 'top of mind' delight in brands but I suspect there is still some underlying satisfaction with the brands we're pleased with.

"The timelessness of China and India" - is a weird trend idea - "they are exotic and appealing. The challenge for the advertising industry is to find better ways of tapping into the timelessness of those two lands."

I don't agree with her on this, I think the list of intriguing lands is extensive and not based on "timelessness". I've never stopped being intrigued by London. I could live at the National Portrait Gallery and never get tired of seeing those old, familiar faces.