Year: 2026

2026 shortlist revealed for CIM’s ‘The Pitch’ global student competition

Stuart Mitchell

The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has unveiled the finalists for The Pitch 2026, CIM’s global student competition, with 13 undergraduate and 13 postgraduate teams earning a coveted place in this year’s live finals. Now in its fifteenth year, The Pitch, a competition that challenges participants to react to a real-life marketing brief, continues to push emerging marketing talent to think strategically. For the 2026 contest, CIM has joined forces with global brand IBM to provide students with the opportunity to gain a valuable, practical hands-on experience – sharpening their…

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New Plastics Treaty Chief Means Negotiators ‘Can Get Back to Work’

Stuart Mitchell

On February 7, UN member states elected Julio Cordano as the next Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution chair. He replaces Luis Vayas Valdivieso (Ecuador) and will officially start his role on February 7. His first order of business will be resuming the plastic treaty negotiations, which came to a halt last year. Nicholas Mallos, vice president of Ocean Conservancy’s Ending Ocean Plastics program, issued the following statement in response: “We are encouraged by the election of the newest UN plastics treaty chair, an essential step toward reviving the stalled…

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NP Digital’s AI Hallucinations and Accuracy Report Reveals the Marketing Impact of AI Errors

Stuart Mitchell

With artificial intelligence now embedded in everyday marketing workflows, new data from NP Digital’s AI Hallucinations and Accuracy Report reveals that AI inaccuracies are widespread. The report finds that 47.1% of marketers encounter AI errors several times per week, with 36.5% saying hallucinated or inaccurate AI-generated content has gone live.  The report examines which models are most prone to errors, the specific mistakes that occur most frequently and how those issues affect marketers’ day-to-day work. The data is drawn from an analysis of 600 prompts tested for accuracy across six major large language models (LLMs), including ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, alongside a survey of 565 U.S.-based digital marketers.   “As AI becomes more deeply embedded in marketing workflows, accuracy can’t be treated as an afterthought,” said Ronnie Malewski, Managing Director at NP Digital Canada. “Our…

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Stagecoach Partners With Global’s Make Some Noise To Change Lives In Communities Across The UK

Stuart Mitchell

Stagecoach, the UK’s leading bus and coach operator, has announced an exciting new partnership with Global Make Some Noise, the official charity of Global, home to some of the nation’s biggest media brands, including Capital, Heart, LBC and Smooth. Driving change together Global’s Make Some Noise aims to ensure that no one faces life’s toughest challenges alone, making a meaningful impact on communities, both locally and nationally. It is dedicated to funding life-changing projects delivered by small charities and community groups across the UK. These projects provide essential lifelines to…

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Channel 4 reaffirms its accessibility commitments ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, with NatWest to sponsor the coverage

Stuart Mitchell

Channel 4 Sales today announces it is teaming up with NatWest on a new deal that sees the UK bank sponsor it’s Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games coverage. NatWest will sponsor approximately 50 hours of live and on-demand coverage across Channel 4 and its streaming platform, with Royal Bank of Scotland idents running in Scotland. Beginning with the Opening Ceremony on 06 March 2026 and continuing through to the Closing Ceremony on 15 March, the idents will be present on coverage from morning and afternoon sessions to daily highlights.…

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