AUCKLAND, Today: The Comms Council has set dates for the 2020 Pressies – entries open tomorrow, and the awards show will be held on Thursday 26 November.

AUCKLAND, Today: NZ production house Reel Factory has added two distinguished new directors to its roster – Mark Toia (who’s ex-Brisbane) and Jackie van Beek.

AUCKLAND, Today: TBWA/’s Eleven PR has created a video game, Pick Up Quick!, which aims to inspire Kiwis tackle the issue of litter. The coastlines at Tokahaki Point, Kapiti Island and Ta Tāhunanui Beach, Nelson are the virtual focus of the game created for Sustainable Coastlines with support from PlayStation NZ.

SYDNEY, Today: WPP AUNZ has recorded a 68.5% drop in headline profit before tax – from A$26.9m to A$8.5m, and a 61.5% decline in headline earnings before interest and tax – from A$34.6m to A$13.3m – in its half-year results. Headline profit after tax fell 70.4% to A$4.7m.

AUCKLAND, Thursday: Colenso BBDO has produced a new campaign for the launch of Tui’s new Hard Soda. Ironically, The Full of Flavour, Not Itself campaign uses influencers to highlight just how clichéd brands and influencers have become curating their perfect Instagram shots.

AUCKLAND, Today: Four months after the Bauer exit,  North & South is back in business with a new team. Career journalists Konstantin Richter and Verena Friederike Hasel (both from Berlin) put in a bid for the title when it was first offered for sale. Twelve weeks later they were told theirs was the winning offer.

AUCKLAND, Today: The Marketing Association has engaged MDS AdSchool programme leader Kate Humphries to conduct a one-day Mastering the Creative Brief workshop.

AUCKLAND, Wednesday: Phantom Billstickers reports business on the streets in the north continues “more or less” the same as before – despite the lockdowns.

AUCKLAND, Today: Charlie’s – maker of juices, quenchers, coolers and smoothies – has selected Special Group’s design team to refresh their brand.