Havas Media Network Records Three Episodes of The Meaningful Media Podcast at Cannes

Now in its second season, Havas Media Network’s Meaningful Media Podcast returned to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to explore topics ranging from online retail, newsrooms, and gaming for the 70th edition of the internationally renowned gathering. These special episodes from the festival are slated to debut in July and August.

by Havas Media Network

• July 4, 2023

For the second year, Havas Media Network brought The Meaningful Media Podcast to Cannes, where host Ben Downing, Global Managing Director of Ethical Media & Strategic Partnerships, held in-depth conversations with journalists, creators, and media luminaries about what trusted, engaging, and influential media looks like in today’s everchanging media ecosystem.

Over the course of three insightful episodes, recorded before live audiences at the Havas Café, Ben interviewed leading voices, ranging from TikTok and Twitch to The Washington Post and the BBC – examining how both new and legacy media entities are transforming to create communities and content that connects consumers.

Recorded Episodes:

“Social Shopping & The Era of Creative Commerce” investigated all things social shopping – why people love it, the creators who enhance it, and the marketplaces that fuel it – with guests Sandie Hawkins, General Manager of US E-Commerce, TikTok and Hina, TikTok Creator.

“The Newsroom: Disrupted” took a behind-the-scenes look at how today’s newsroom is evolving with some of the practitioners leading this transformation, featuring Carmella Boykin, TikTok Producer at The Washington Post, Joi-Marie McKenzie, Editor-In-Chief of Insider Life at Insider, and Ros Atkins, Analysis Editor at BBC News.

“How Can Brands Nurture Fandom?” closed out the Meaningful Media Podcast’s residency at Cannes by exploring how brands can effectively tap into the power of fandom – joined by Twitch Streamer, and DJ Vanessa Lopez and Kevin Paskins, Pan EMEA Sales Director at Twitch.

“Each year, Cannes Lions presents a unique opportunity to converge all sides of the media ecosystem – from tech, to brands, to agencies, to creators – to examine how our industry has changed over the past year and what the future holds,” Ben shared. “It’s always thrilling to dissect the state of media with some of the brightest minds from across our industry, but over the past year we’ve truly experienced innovation and disruption at an unprecedented scale – from the explosion of generative AI, to staggering growth of the creator economy, to brands embracing the power of fandom and communities like never before. It was thrilling to explore how our ecosystem is adapting and thriving amidst this extraordinary landscape, and I look forward to being able to share insights and extend the conversation with our listeners around the world.”

Havas Media Network launched the Meaningful Media Podcast in March of 2022, and over two seasons and 22 episodes, Ben has explored topics ranging from Artificial Intelligence and Slow Media to Gaming and Media Diversity, with guests hailing from leading institutions from across the media ecosystem, including the Institute for Advertising Ethics, FIFA, VICE, and more.

The Meaningful Media Podcast can be listened to on Spotify and Apple, and follow Havas Media Network on LinkedIn and Instagram for updates on when these Cannes-special episodes will be released in July and August.