| Welcome to The Conscious Advertising Network (CAN) newsletter for September 2025. Here's what we're covering in this month's newsletter:
If you've got news related to CAN and our Guiding Principles, please do get in touch with us at hello@consciousadnetwork.org.
#TogetherWeCAN | | | What We Are Reading
Molly Russell charity CEO: Social media's user safety efforts have been 'performative' - The Media Leader | | | Following the release of their report Pervasive-by-design, the Molly Rose Foundation has warned that social media platforms' safety measures remain "performative." Speaking to The Media Leader, Andy Burrows (CEO of the Molly Rose Foundation) and Harriet Kingaby (CAN co-Founder) highlighted the urgent need for accountability and stronger protections, echoing CAN's call for advertisers to demand transparency in the digital supply chain.
"The takeaway for advertisers is pretty clear: if you are a brand that is likely to appeal to young teenagers, and young teenage girls in particular, then as it stands right now you should not have confidence that your ads are not appearing next to just the most appalling types of content."
- Andy Burrows (CEO of the Molly Rose Foundation) "What we know is verification tools aren't working. The platforms are still pushing this content. And they're pushing it in order to serve our ads. So we as the advertising community have a real responsibility here and we have real power because we are the platforms' customers. Frankly, we should be leaning into that power and talking to the platforms about why the algorithms are designed in this way and why they're not prioritising child safety by design. We don't know where our ads are going. We collectively as an industry really need to be demanding transparency from platforms, from adtech providers, about where these ads are going."
- Harriet Kingaby (CAN Co-Founder) | | | New Resource
The RePlaybook: Tackling the Climate and Information Crisis | | | CAN Co-Founder Harriet Kingaby has contributed to The RePlaybook: A Field Guide to the Climate and Information Crisis by Tactical Tech, with her piece focussing on working together with businesses.
This is a first-of-its-kind practical toolkit created by a coalition of over 30 journalists, researchers, technologists, climate communicators, creatives, and NGOs with practical tools for:
The RePlaybook is a must for everyone who needs to navigate and respond to the polluted information landscape that fuels polarisation and confusion, threatening effective climate action.
| | | New Initiative
Campaign4Good - European Association of Communications Agencies | | | The European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA) has announced their Campaign4Good initiative, an open brief for creatives. Young professionals in EACA member agencies across Europe now have the chance to design a campaign that protects children online. The winning idea will be produced, aired across Europe in 2026, and presented at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
We are proud that the campaign used CAN's Children's Rights and Wellbeing Guide as a source of guidance for the initiative.
This groundbreaking, youth-driven initiative will drive positive change in the industry and wider society, plus it will shine a spotlight on the creative talent of the future. Deadline for entries is October 31st. EU Commissioner Michael McGrath will announce the winning team and campaign at the Effie Awards Europe Gala in Brussels on 10 December. | | | MEFA Diversity and Inclusion Awards 2025 | | | Entries are now open for the MEFA Diversity and Inclusion Awards 2025, which celebrate organisations and individuals driving meaningful change across media, advertising and marketing. The deadline for submissions is 12 October. The MEFA Diversity and Inclusion Awards features seven distinctive categories that recognise outstanding contributions and efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion. These awards highlight the importance of embedding equity and inclusion into everyday practice and are an opportunity to showcase best-in-class work. | | | What We Are Reading
One-third of indie publishers could shut down by next year as AI search hits traffic – The Media Leader | | | A new article in The Media Leader warns that one third of independent publishers could face closure by next year, as AI-driven search engines divert traffic away from their platforms. The piece highlights the urgent challenges facing smaller publishers and the importance of advertisers investing responsibly to sustain a diverse media ecosystem.
Chris Dicker, CEO of Candr Media Group, told The Media Leader: "As it stands at the moment, our content is being stolen without permission. [AI companies] are taking our content and surfacing it to their users instead of them having to come back to us.
"Where is the incentive for any publisher to carry on producing content if it's just going to be stolen and there's no remuneration back? The ecosystem collapses. There is no viable, visible ecosystem right now." | | | New Campaign
The What If Experiment | | | The What If Experiment has officially launched, designed to support organisations to dream boldly, experiment wisely, and scale anti-racist strategies that create cultures of true inclusion. With the launch, The What If Experiment team shared:
"Racism isn't only what we see in the headlines or on the streets — it's embedded in the systems, policies, and practices that quietly shape our everyday lives. That's why our work is about questioning what often goes unseen, and reimagining what could be built instead.
For the past three years, we've been working underground — experimenting away from the noise, testing, learning, and refining. Now, we're stepping into the light to share our methods, tools, and programmes with anyone who wants to build cultures of belonging and accountability.
Because we all deserve to belong.
No one has more of a right to belong than anyone else." | | | New Resource
Pay Gap Toolkit – People Like Us | | | September 18th marked International Equal Pay Day, a global reminder of the need to close pay gaps and drive workplace equity. To support employers in taking action, People Like Us has developed a Pay Gap Toolkit, offering practical guidance on measuring, reporting and addressing pay disparities. This resource is designed to help organisations make meaningful progress toward fair pay for all. | | | Upcoming Event
Advertising: Who Cares? - October 2025 Summit | | | On October 16th, the industry comes together in London for Advertising: Who Cares?, a summit focused on the intersection of ethics, creativity and accountability in modern advertising. CAN proudly champions the Advertising: Who Cares? Summit.
The event will explore what it really means to care, about audiences, supply chains, workers and the wider impact of marketing. Expect bold discussions on AI, sustainability, inclusion and how to build brands people trust. | | | What We Are Reading
Publications aimed at LGBTQ+ audiences face discrimination from advertisers, editors warn – The Guardian | | | A recent article in The Guardian highlights that publications serving LGBTQ+ audiences face systemic discrimination from advertisers. Editors warn that bias in media buying practices leads to reduced revenue and a lack of support for inclusive journalism.
"We're really experiencing the impact of what happens when voices that are pressuring organisations to give in to less inclusive perspectives start winning. Then it creates this massive behavioural shift in brands and organisations," shares Tag Warner, the chief executive of Gay Times, in the piece.
For advertisers, this serves as a reminder of the need to review buying strategies and ensure investment decisions do not reinforce exclusion. | | | Upcoming Event
Fired Up 2 | | | Calling all adtech experts! Fired Up is back and it just got hotter. This summer, the team behind CAN member The Digital Voice turned your events season up a gear with their first-ever Fired Up event, where experts took to the stage to debate what's hot and what's hotter in adtech right now. Now, they're back and this time they want YOU to get involved.
Do you think you've got what it takes to champion your sector in front of a live audience? Then this event is the one for you.
Think you could win over the judges? Pitch your place today for a chance to be a part of this one-of-a-kind event.
Event details: | | | Good-Loop Impact & Sustainability Report 2024 | | | Good-Loop's latest report tracks progress on delivering sustainable advertising and measuring impact across campaigns. The research details how advertisers can reduce carbon footprints, invest in more ethical media supply chains, and demonstrate the value of purpose-driven campaigns. It provides a roadmap for brands seeking to embed sustainability in both creative and media planning. | | | Upcoming Event
Bloomfest 2025 | | | Bloomfest returns in 2025, celebrating women and non-binary people in the communications industry. The event will bring together leaders and advocates to share insight, spark new ideas, and build networks that drive inclusion. This year's theme is 'Beyond The Bubble', and promises to be an evening full of inspiration, connection, workshops, and support & encouragement to nudge each other beyond our comfort zones and network bubbles if we really want to grow individually as well as make a difference in our industry.
Bloomfest continues to be a key moment in the calendar for those committed to creating a more representative industry. | | | Watch out for more news on all things CAN related via LinkedIn. For any other questions or concerns, or if you would like to know more about joining, please feel free to contact us at hello@consciousadnetwork.org.
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Thank you for your ongoing support, The Conscious Advertising Network | | | | |
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