Blog

Nov 12, 2023

The Brazilian Report, Paramount Brand Studio, New York Times Advertising and The Wall Street Journal are among the 2023 Digiday Media Awards finalists

Personalization, authenticity and inclusivity emerged as significant themes

Personalization, authenticity and inclusivity emerged as significant themes among this year's Digiday Media Awards shortlist. With the expansion of digital media's global reach and influence, brands are recognizing the importance of investing in emerging channels to engage diverse communities.

The Brazilian Report was shortlisted for several categories, including Best Podcast for its weekly series, ‘Explaining Brazil.’ The podcast aims to provide in-depth analysis and nuanced insights on the country's current affairs to a global audience of business leaders and policymakers, attracting listeners to its website and ultimately converting them into subscribers of the publication's written content. Explaining Brazil's cultivated brand image and reach has also led The Brazilian Report to be cited in international outlets as a reference for the country's news, including Time magazine, Axios, Vox Media, CNBC, CGTN, Al Jazeera, BBC and more.

In the new Best Use of Emerging Tech category, Paramount Brand Studio earned a nomination for its ‘Yellowstone’ set tour with longtime partner Ram Trucks. Available online, the Ram and ‘Yellowstone’ set tour is an interactive AR experience that uses 360 footage from the set to allow fans to tour the Dutton Ranch from the driver's seat of a Ram 1500. Users can also explore the truck's unique features through photos and descriptions, even customizing the color of an exterior 360 view of the truck. The AR experience created deeper engagement for ‘Yellowstone’ fans to interact with the Ram brand, resulting in more than 363,000 page views at YellowstoneSetTour.com and over 10 million social media impressions.

LGBTQ+ media brand PinkNews received a nomination for Media Brand of the Year following the relaunch of its website and apps. PinkNews produces content that elevates marginalized voices and highlights the diversity of the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum, reaching over 100 million unique monthly users across its website, apps and social media platforms. The independent digital publisher introduced new features on its owned platforms to better engage with its audiences, including an "uplifting news filter" and a personalized newsfeed based on user preferences. In another nod to inclusivity, the PinkNews website and apps now adhere to the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

In the Best Branded Content Program (B2C Category), German footwear brand Birkenstock and New York Times Advertising received a nomination for their ‘Ugly for a Reason’ campaign. Created in partnership with T Brand Studio, Birkenstock's first global content campaign emphasized how the brand's "ugly" shoes play a role in maintaining foot health. The campaign spanned a three-part documentary-style video series, custom print and digital media content, audio spots and social extensions educating audiences on the role feet played in human evolution and how to protect foot health. ‘Ugly for a Reason’ leaned on visual storytelling, scientific experts and cultural figures to raise awareness about foot health and Birkenstock's unique approach to functional footwear. The campaign reached a global audience of over 140 million people and garnered coverage in several business, health and lifestyle publications.

The Wall Street Journal is a finalist in the Best Event category, earning the recognition for its annual Future of Everything Festival. The 2022 event was one of the publisher's largest hybrid events, with over 16,000 registrants. Virtual guests participated through the Journal's online event platform and within its ‘Festival Multiverse,’ a metaverse experience featuring interactive digital twins of the event. For the in-person offering, attendees joined a variety of bespoke off-campus activities across New York City, including a drive-in movie, two chef's table dinners and kitchen tours, and intimate workshops led by visionaries across several industries, including tech, social media and health. At the main stage, attendees participated in masterclasses and physical activations such as ‘Iconic Mints,’ a hybrid metaverse exhibit, and The Lab, a hub showcasing innovative products from more than 20 brands. The program, which surpassed its audience goals, also emphasized diversity and accessibility. It included more than 50 speakers from multiple backgrounds and disciplines, with 41% female speakers and 21% people of color. Additionally, the event platform and content were accessible to all attendees through a partnership with Userway, which provided closed captioning, keyboard navigation and other accessibility features.

Altogether, the work the judges nominated in 2023 demonstrated that brands are emerging technologies and media to offer personalized and engaging experiences to a breadth of audiences.

See the complete list of finalists below.

Best Ad Tech PlatformAdapex, Inc.BLOCKBOARD Ushers in Next Generation of AdvertisingDeepIntentDstillery – ID-free®EDO, Inc. – TV Outcomes Data for the Modern MarketerFlight Control, Built for Agency EfficiencyKnorex XPO Powering Unified Advertising Execution

Best Brand Partnership – B2BCustom Content from The Wall Street Journal – IndeedFoundry and OpenText – Digital FuturesIndeed with essenceMediacom and Insider – Talent InsiderNew York Times Advertising & Giant Spoon

Best Brand Partnership – B2CCBS Sports x Bonobos Presents Decades of DripFirst Media's So Yummy & Michelob ULTRA – #ULTRAsummerFrito Lay North America, OMD & Amazon- Launch Cheetos DusterParamount Brand Studio – Ram x Yellowstone Set TourRemezclatheSkimm & Zillow – SkimmU Special Edition: Home Buying

Best Branded Content Program – B2BCisco and WP Creative Group – Hybrid Is HowCustom Content from the Wall Street Journal – DowMotorTrend & BlackBerry QNX — Coding The CarNBC News Brand Studio & EY-Real Time InsightsNBC News Brand Studio & Salesforce – The SHIFTTwitch

Best Branded Content Program – B2CIntel x The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – Kosta vs MachineNestle Drumstick x Comedy Central's ‘Screen Test’OMD & Ancestry – Launch of "A Dream Delivered"OMD & Canva- Canva x The Walking Dead Designing Dead ProgramTwitchUgly for a Reason – Birkenstock & New York Times Advertising

Best Commerce Strategy AllGear Digital – Evolution of Content Commerce StrategyApartment Therapy – CommerceBest Buy Ads and Criteo – Commerce Max CampaignCanidae & January Digital – OOH Ads for Eco-Friendly RefillsMarkacy – Finance Based Media BuyingThe Stable, Part of Accenture Song

Best Contextual Targeting OfferingAccuWeather & The Vitamin Shoppe: Summer Sips CampaignAdsWizz Unleashes Audio Advertising with Voice Adsdentsu/RAAS Labs/B&Q: easiest way to shop home improvementIRIS.TV and 4DMondelēz & Quotient Target Summer Snacking SuccessTeads – The Platform that Means Business

Best Custom AdvertisingAchieving Efficiency & Lift with Unique Creatives from KargoMarkacy – Finance Based Media BuyingOMD & Ancestry – Launch of "A Dream Delivered"OriginOris launches Social Display via Amobee PGR Media & SpacebackTwitch

Best Digital Product InnovationCooler ScreensFOX Sports & Tagboard Produce Most Connected World Cup EverGumGum & Playground xyz – Context & Attention for Domino'sHow BMW Increased Brand Metrics with Sharethrough GreenPMPs™Mirriad, Charlse Schwab and The Hallmark ChannelXaxis and Mediacom elevate Tele2AB to new heights

Best Editorial PackageCO— by U.S. Chamber of CommerceDotdash Meredith – ParentsHarvard Business ReviewInsiderInsiderMicrosoft & GDP: Crafting How to Hybrid: The WorkLab Guides

Best Editorial Video Series Family Style with Al Roker – TODAY All DayStates of America/USA TODAYUgly for a Reason – Birkenstock & New York Times AdvertisingWashington Post Live

Best EventApartment Therapy's Small/Cool NYC 2022BDG's NYLON HouseBlack Love, Inc's Inaugural Black Love WeekendGovExec – Evening of HonorsOMD & Lay's® Potato Chips – Launch Lay's® BravoConProcter & Gamble – P&G Battle of the Paddles at SB LVIIThe Wall Street Journal – The Future of Everything Festival

Best First-Party Data StrategyBloomberg – Bull or Bear Market?BlueConic & Roularta Media GroupLiveRamp Authenticated Traffic Solution (ATS)PepsiCo MediaPermutive helps PMC drive value for brands via direct-soldThe Stable, Part of Accenture Song

Best Newsletter1440, the impartial daily digestAxios Media Inc. & Sailthru by Marigold – Axios LocalBDG — Amplify Our Voices NewsletterESPN: 2023 NBA Rundown NewsletterMcKinsey Global PublishingThe Brazilian Report

Best PodcastAhead of Its Time — an original podcast by SetappBlack Love, Inc.'s Original Podcast, The Mama's DenHarvard Business ReviewIBM & EightBar Collective: SmartTalks with IBMThe Brazilian ReportThe Outlaw Ocean PodcastThe Volume – The Draymond Green Show

Best Publisher PlatformBeachfront | The Sell-Side Ad Server Built for Convergent TVBOMESI Empowers Black-Owned Media Companies with FabrikEX.CO | The Publisher-First Video Technology PlatformKeystone by OutbrainTriton DigitalWurl: Data-driven Solutions for CTV Distribution & Marketing

Best StoryStaysure/Merkle partnership & story of their covid strategyThe Brazilian ReportThe Markup: Meta Receives Medical Info from Hospital Sites

Best Subscription or Membership ProductOmeda & Gardner Business Media: Actioning First-Party DataTempt to laugh – VGTVThe LA Times & RecurlyThe Weather Channel television network

Best use of Audience InsightsAmpersand & BMW/ Universal McCannAvangrid and WP Creative Group – How Green Can We Go?Merkle & Hilton PupadvisorMerkle & TradepointTHE FIFTHThe Washington Post & ActionIQ – Launch of Newsprint

Best use of Emerging Tech Dow Jones and Active TheoryFCB – Michelob ULTRAParamount Brand Studio – Ram x Yellowstone Set TourPlaywire – Lunchables Metaverse TakeoverThe Famous Group – Vixi LiveTHE FIFTH x AELTC X #ChampionOfTheHill

Best use of SocialMerkle & Hilton – HAMPTON BREAKFAST – SCARLETT MOFFATTNRMA InsuranceNRMA Insurance – Social StrategyTHE FIFTHThe VolumeTwitch

Best use of VideoAki Technologies and Nature Valley – Personalized VideoAT&T Business & Insider Studios: United States of AutomationMcKinsey Global PublishingMcKinsey Global PublishingMerkle & Hampton By Hilton YouTube Creator TestPinkNews

Best Video Distribution and Programming StrategyCBS Sports x Bonobos Presents Decades of DripNowThis

Best Video PlatformBeachfront | The Sell-Side Ad Server Built for Convergent TVBrightcove Local NowSTN VideoWashington Post Live

Content Studio of the YearBDG Studios Hodinkee Editorial + Hodinkee StudioOne X StudiosT Brand Studio

Editorial Team of the YearGrid Hodinkee Editorial + Hodinkee StudioPinkNewsReader's Digest, a TMB (Trusted Media Brands) brandThe Brazilian ReportThe Hill

Media Brand of the YearBustleDotdash Meredith – VerywellEveryday Health ConsumerPinkNewsSPINThe Hill

Media Company of the YearCrooked MediaTastemadeThe Brazilian ReportTOGETHXR

Most Engaged CommunityHarvard Business ReviewTaste of Home, a TMB (Trusted Media Brands) brandThe DadtheSkimm State of Women 2023

Video Team of the YearPinkNews

Some European publishers believe alternatives to the third-party cookies, probabilistic or deterministic, will do more harm than good to their ads businesses.

World of Good's newly appointed CEO Lindsey Abramo spoke with Digiday about her plans to lean into experiential and embrace niche vs. scale.

The good news in Dentsu's ad forecast is that there's still growth. The bad news: most of the growth is the result of inflation, while real ad pricing actually dropped a bit.

Ali Mack, head of TV and agency, Experian Major streaming video providers have recently made headlines by adopting new currencies for ad measurement, threatening Nielsen's long-standing TV ratings monopoly. NBCUniversal, for example, has certified iSpot and VideoAmp as currencies for advanced audiences and formed the Joint Industry Committee with Paramount, TelevisaUnivision and Warner Bros. Discovery. […]

BuzzFeed's Creator Network has been valuable from an audience and production education standpoint, but Nguyen still drives most of her business on her own.

Eighty-two percent of publishers overall say they're already using first-party data to prepare for the end of the third-party cookie, and nearly half are requiring users to register and integrating first-party data segments into DSPs – indicating that first-party data is the clear path forward for publishers heading into the post-cookie world.

Get access to tools and analysis to stay ahead of the trends transforming media and marketing

Visit your account page to make changes and renew.

Get Digiday's top stories every morning in your email inbox.

Follow @Digiday for the latest news, insider access to events and more.