Advertising needs more art directors who will fight for the great layout, the killer image, for the best photographer or artist, or to keep something simple.
Advertising needs more copywriters who will write the 800 headlines needed to get the four great ones. And then fight for the great ones.
Advertising needs more creative directors who will sweat every detail, fight for the time their people need to do a great job, support their people when it gets tough, and not let any crap out of the door.
Advertising needs more planners who will fight to simplify the brief, who will resist multiple propositions, who will support great work.
Advertising needs more typographers and designers who live and breathe the detail of type and design, who give a shit whether every word is kerned properly.
Advertising needs more account people who know that the best work comes out of a strong, honest relationship with the client, who will say no when the time is right, and fight for the best work.
Advertising needs more agency execs who give a shit about the work they're doing for their clients, who will stand up to the holding company or the financial guys to make sure things are done properly, people are paid properly and have the time to do a good job.
Advertising needs more media people who wont just rehash last year's plan on autopilot, or recommend something just because the agency makes the biggest cut off it, or stands by while dodgy media is being sold-in.
Basically, advertising needs more people who really give a shit.
If you're involved in mediocre or crap work, and you're blaming someone else, maybe take a minute to take a hard look at yourself and ask if you really fight for great work.
Do you give a shit?
