Welcome to the lighter side of local media and marketing! Our cartoon collection is designed to give media managers, account executives, and ad agency pros a fresh, humorous way to connect with clients and colleagues. Whether you're breaking the ice, following up on a proposal, a clever way to say “I get it", or need a way to collect, these cartoons offer a memorable twist on the everyday challenges of selling, planning, creating or collecting. Think of them as conversation starters with a wink—and a nudge toward smarter, more relatable selling, collecting.

In most movie and TV scripts, the last direction at the bottom of the last page is typically “fade to black.” Whether legacy (or linear or traditional) TV ever reaches that last page is still to be determined, but it isn’t happening anytime soon. The set is fully illuminated, the cameras are rolling and the actors are in position for another take, another scene – and the American public, as well viewers globally,

Video content, however it is consumed, often steals the media spotlight, touting the popularity of streaming services, watching on multiple devices and focusing on the turmoil of video viewership as it moves from legacy to Connected TV. As much as we enjoy viewing video content on mobile devices, there are limits as to where we can watch. Listening to audio content is truly a ubiquitous experience, anywhere, any time, and via multiple devices as well.

Artificial intelligence and programmatic advertising platforms are dismantling traditional competitive advantages of large agencies by democratizing access to sophisticated tools once exclusive to major players. Boutique agencies are leveraging this technological leveling to outperform larger competitors through specialized expertise and faster decision-making, with some achieving better performance metrics than multinational networks. Specialization allows smaller firms to command premium pricing while delivering personalized service and direct access to senior strategists. Speed has become critical, as boutique agencies pivot strategies within hours compared to weeks of approval processes at larger firms. The trend strongly favors agile specialists who combine technological fluency with deep domain expertise and exceptional client relationships.

Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) is a technology embedded in smart TVs that identifies what content viewers are watching—across broadcast, cable, and streaming—by matching pixel or audio samples to a vast content database. This allows advertisers and local media reps to move beyond traditional ratings and gain precise, real-time insights into audience behavior and engagement. ACR empowers local advertising to evolve from broad media buying to data-driven strategy, enabling more targeted, measurable, and effective campaigns. It also democratizes access to advanced analytics, giving small businesses the same tools as national brands. As Keith Kazerman of Locality notes, “ACR allows us to truly understand the engagement that audiences are having across every screen,” marking a new era of precision and partnership in local media.

The squeaky wheels in your organization may also be important sources of innovation. Some of the links between creativity and risk are pretty self-evident. Creativity is all about trying something new, exploring the unknown, and accepting uncertainty and the possibility of failure. In the corporate setting, we understand intuitively that creativity fuels strategy, innovation, and growth. In a world where machines are taking over predictable, tedious tasks,

An expected $10 billion in 2026 political ad spending is rapidly shifting toward connected TV, forcing local media and agencies to repackage their traditional strengths—reach, trust, and local context—into more data-rich, addressable offerings. How are firms like Fyllo, forged in highly regulated categories like cannabis and financial services, using contextual and CTV tools to give campaigns precise, privacy-safe targeting in swing districts. The story explores the growing importance of sports as “safe reach” inventory, the rise of contextual platforms such as Proteus, and the ongoing challenges of fragmented CTV measurement. It includes a practical playbook for local sellers and agencies to own their CTV story, leverage sports and local news as high-value targeting environments, and turn regulatory and privacy complexity into a competitive advantage.

Sales managers, let’s be honest… it’s hard to watch a salesperson that seems to be flailing in shallow water when they are on a prospect or client call. However, if you take a step back, you realize they are probably going to find their feet and be able to stand up and be fine.

The shift from being an individual contributor to leading a sales force isn’t an easy transition. The character traits are different, and so are the required skills. While it’s helpful to have experience in a sales role, by itself, it’s not enough to ensure success. Few sales managers are provided the training and development that would enable them to lead their team and reach their goals. Instead,

America’s mall sector is no longer one story but two: a small group of high-end, experience-driven centers is thriving, while many lower-tier malls continue to struggle. For local media sellers and ad agencies, that means retail should be approached more selectively, with stronger malls and lifestyle centers pitched as destination brands that need image-building, traffic-driving and event-focused campaigns across radio, TV, cable, print, outdoor and digital. The bigger lesson is that winning retail properties are succeeding through curation, experience and audience focus—exactly the kind of strategy local media companies should mirror in the way they package and sell advertising.

2025 turned out to be a strong year for U.S. advertising, but multiple forecasts suggest 2026 will still grow at a slower pace—meaning local advertisers and agencies will plan in shorter windows and demand more flexibility. As ROI pressure and budget constraints rise, dollars will continue to tilt toward channels that feel more measurable and adjustable, while brand channels will be asked to “prove it” with clearer reporting. Political spending and major tentpole events will further distort local inventory and pricing, making continuity planning and non-preemptible options more important than ever. The winners in local markets will be sellers and agencies who package optionality, measurement, and optimization into their offers—so clients feel their budgets are safer, not riskier, in a choppier year.

A number of industries and potential advertisers can benefit from grant money. Nonprofit organizations usually rely heavily on grants to finance operations and special projects, but the media can also benefit from these funds. Partnering with a nonprofit organization to apply for grant money gives your station a chance to help the group reach its goals, while generating revenue for your station.

Sales professionals in the media industry face unique challenges. With a constantly evolving landscape of digital platforms, content marketing strategies, and client needs, mastering the art of the sale requires more than just product knowledge and industry insight. To stand out, media sales professionals must hone their communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. One of the most effective ways to do this? Role-playing.

Closing is perhaps the easiest commitment to acquire. But for this to be true, you need to gain a number of commitments. In 2016, after publishing The Only Sales Guide You’ll Ever Need, I had already started writing The Lost Art of Closing: Winning the 10 Commitments That Drive Sales on my flight from a meeting with the publisher in New York.

The International News Media Association (INMA) has launched a new initiative designed to help media organizations mdash;including local newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, billboards, and digital publishers mdash;navigate the increasingly complex digital advertising world. Spearheaded by industry veteran Gabriel Dorosz, the initiative offers practical guidance on data use, ad innovation, cross-platform strategies, and leveraging AI for better monetization. Through webinars, reports, and live sessions, INMA aims to equip local media sales teams with the knowledge and tools they need to stay competitive and profitable. As digital now commands 75% of global ad spend, this effort is timely and vital for salespeople aiming to evolve their strategies and grow their revenue.