Nina DiSesa Hates You, Me And Everyone Who Likes Blogs
March 3, 2008
Update: Nina has a blog and it takes anonymous comments! Ah-ha!
Nina DiSesa, in case you didn’t know, is a honcho over at McCann. In this video (for WordPress users, the video is in the separate post above), she talks about people putting their opinions out their anonymously on the web and makes the “what about the children” kinda pitch. She damn will knows that anonymous bloggers in her industry are doing it because they may get fired, lose clients, etc. Read our post “The Spy Who Loved You” where a few anonymous bloggers in our industry sound off on their reasons for remaining behind the curtain in the comments section.
Nina has had a great career in advertising. She worked her way up to the big corner office at McCann and whether or not you think the agency churns out mediocre work and wastes talented employees, that’s a hard thing to do. We respect her for that, but the rest of this…? She wrote her book, “Seducing The Boys Club,” after being at the top. And all those men she calls “dogs” in the book? Yeah well… Ain’t no one gonna take away this lady’s bread and butter for spreading her opinion about folks and their work behavior in print and all while making money off it.
As we said before… Anonymity allows for tipsters and commenters to be upfront with us allowing for an honest, if pointed, look at the industry and its executives, office politics, campaign wins, finances, hires, ethos, green policies and everything else under the sun. This blog attempts to pull back the curtain on the inner workings of a business that has spent a whole lot of time in the closet. We don’t post about people’s affairs, the kids they lost in the divorce, the bankrupt CD with the gambling problem. Believe us. We could. Tips come in all the time. We care about the inner workings of the business. And that’s that. Besides, Jonah Bloom makes an excellent point – all this is just a horrible distraction:
“In the weeks and months that follow, Mr. Tilley’s death might reasonably prompt us and others in the industry to ask questions about the nature of the marketing world today and the pressure felt by its executives. Me, I don’t believe in all that coddling stuff, but I know lots of other people do and will want to debate it.
Still, I hope we can do that in a way that is constructive; that remembers that Paul Tilley is not a cartoon, but a man who leaves behind family; and that shows we understand there’s life beyond the narrow confines of the ad world. “
Word. Now go help make St. Patrick’s Day an official holiday. Cheers to Guinness and Red Urban for dreaming this one up!
March 3, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Anyone who is outed as a blogger on this site should be banned from working at advertising agencies for life.
I know that some of the statements made were outrageous lies- so outrageous that Agency Spy should have had the sense NOT to post them.
March 3, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Spy should never work again because they write a blog that your apparently read and enjoy?
March 3, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Nina wants it both ways (like many women). She wants to be treated like a lady and at the same time she wants to destroy all men.
She used her female assets wisely to get to the top. Men don’t have that advantage.
March 3, 2008 at 9:41 pm
The point is not that Agency Spy caused Paul’s death. It may have been one factor, but it was not decisive.
The fact is, however, that Agency Spy provides a forum for the most despicable human impulses and sees nothing wrong with it. Then, she/he hides behind anonymity (unlike George Parker who seems a stand up kind of a guy) and tries to claim she is offering a public service.
Note that Freerepublic shut down the thread on Paul and pulled it from the internet. “Shut down by admin. Reason: A disgrace.” Now that is someone with a moral compass.
There is a special place in Dante’s version of hell for the sorts who spill their soulless vitriol on Agency Spy — they are condemned to tear at each other’s flesh for all eternity.Hmm, maybe Dante should be required reading for anyone wishing to get into the business.
March 3, 2008 at 9:43 pm
For the record, we removed all the posts on the R.I.P posting that were not either comments of grief, respect or love. We also kept up all the posts slamming us.
Anyway… Let’s continue to move forward as Mr. Bloom suggests. This posting above is about anonymous blogging, not a rehash of a man’s untimely death.
AS
March 3, 2008 at 9:48 pm
@Sic Transit Gloria
What’s your name? Mine is Kevin. Really like that you are making nasty comments about people who read and write on this blog anonymously.
Isn’t that funny?
March 3, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Banned from working in advertising?
Wouldn’t that be like being banned from a life of crime?
Seriously mm, if a strong sense of decency and community are important to you (as well as a lack of outrageous lies), you should abandon the Ad biz this instant. Or at least drop the righteous indignation and find a more productive way of coping with the lunacy. As long as the holding companies are driving the decisionmaking in the executive suites, things on all sides are only going to get more and more cutthroat.
March 3, 2008 at 9:55 pm
She seems disastrously out of touch. On the face she’s really just saying that she hates rumors and mean spirited comments from anonymous sources,(sounds like a tough elementary school) but on a deeper level she seems to only appreciate the blogs that appreciate her.
March 3, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Sic Trasit Gloria…
You are making a huge assumption that this “hell” of yours exists… and for us godless souls — well we need not worry about something that was made up to scare the neophytes of the world, right?
There are always reasons for anonymity — hell you hide behind yours (lest s/he who lives in glass houses throw the first stone…)
The ad world is made up of a lot of petty, vindictive, mindless fucks who think nothing better of crushing those who “oppose” them for the most insignificance of thoughts, feelings or stances. (Hell I’ve worked for a load of them over the past 20 years)
Now we cannot not all be George sadly. George has a unique place in this business — much like Nina — he has been in it so long that he could be considered “bulletproof” — of course, George also has the resume and work to back up that he knows what the fuck he is talking about as well.
Nina DiSesa may have the same thing — hence her comments on the sexism inherit in the ad business — hard to take them down when they are at the top (we’ll leave aside that if she was fired from McCann at this moment in time — how long do you think it would be until she filed her sexual harassment suit?)
Sadly, the first amendment doesn’t protect all of us from the petty fucks who either currently reside in the corner office — or would fuck their mother over to get there.
When it does — get back to me and we’ll chat about the lack of need for anonymity.
March 3, 2008 at 10:05 pm
It’s ok to get ahead in the game by considering male coworkers to be like “dogs”, but not ok to say negative things on a blog? Puh-leez.
A little self censorship in both writing AND READING is required in these forums. People can easily tell the difference between a critique negatively stated, and just having an axe to grind. Ignore the jerks and they usually go away.
March 3, 2008 at 10:06 pm
@Sic Transit…
Exactly how is the act of anonymously suggesting that others will end up in hell for spewing “soulless vitriol” on Agency Spy not the act of doing that very thing?
Sorry, but by your own logic, you’ll be there, too.
March 3, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Let me put in my 2 cents. first of all didn’t your mother teach you that sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never harm you. How can the head of a worldwide agency be so narrow minded . Oh wait a minute… Mcann Erickson….Priceless….
You’ll never work in this town again!!!!!!
March 3, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Regarding the need for anonymity, perhaps if those at the top in this business operated in a more civil manner those below them would be more likely to follow? Just a thought. They don’t call it leadership for nothing.
March 3, 2008 at 10:31 pm
You know what?
Blogs “out” bad creative directors.
Before blogs, bad creative directors were the ones who could work anonymously.
Because nobody noticed their work. Creatives who toil under them be damned. Their careers slip by anonymously as well.
If a good CD is attacked (happens all the time) people fairly LEAP to their defense (happens all the time.)
Sometimes, blogs make bad CD’s redouble their efforts at making the WORK better.
ECD’s can’t be down in the blog trenches, posting responses as themselves and be taken seriously as leaders at the same time.
Imagine that, upper management being held accountable for the quality of the work they produce.
No wonder they’re pissed.
Face it: Creative directors will be victimized by anonymous attacks…and if you got where you got through politics, backstabbing and self promotion, don’t expect it to end.
Or you can jump on the Nina bandwagon and try make blogs illegal.
PS, @Nina–I’m sure ATTACKING THE INTERNET will fill your clients with confidence that you grasp the tidal changes happening in the media landscape.
March 3, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Please Nina, just stop. We’re all glad you made it to the top of the ad world–although it you were running Goodby or Wieden it would be a bit more impressive. Let’s face it, the McCanns, Greys and others of their ilk are hardly bastions of creativity. Astute politicians rise to the top of those shops, not creative folks. As for your book, well, when you’re ready to tell the real story of your life in advertising, I’m sure it would make for some interesting reading. This one was a snooze.
March 4, 2008 at 12:41 am
LOL @ Welcome to the 21st Century.
If there were blogs like this 20, 30 and 40 years ago, the CDs and ECDs you worship now would be just as villified. This must be your first week in advertising if you think the subjective criticism is ever appreciated. It happens than lots of creative “geniuses”, in every business, also happen to be arseholes. And thus fair game on blogs such as this. Doesn’t make them any less of a genius though. So grow up you wanker.
March 4, 2008 at 2:45 am
@Orly
You’ve really given me something to think about.
Not to mention…..it IS my first week in advertising!
Are all the hot bitches in media or what!? Am I right people?!
March 4, 2008 at 4:14 am
I’m just too tired to even say anything more about this. Nor do I want to. Can we just move on? Please? Pretty please? There simply has to be more worthwhile topics to discuss in this business than this ridiculousness.
Seriously. Stop milking this insanity. The breast has no more milk to give. The nipple has been sucked and chewed to a bloody pulp. It’s over. Stop. Just stop.
March 4, 2008 at 5:07 am
she’s an old beady bit.. a has been hag who doesn’t get it.
March 4, 2008 at 9:32 am
For the love of blogs, Stop!
Enough already! Nina has a point, much to your dismay. She responded to the death of a colleague/friend! Are we forgetting that
And you have a point, much to her dismay.
But enough already!
March 4, 2008 at 10:52 am
Its sad that all the CEO’s and front men/women of creative companies are always so afraid of reaction. good or bad, so so sad… who was it that said any press is good press even micro press. poor McCann…
No worries, they will all run for the hills as their clients demand micro press, and the copywriters are forced to blog on the clients behalf ha ha ha.. (wait thats a really scary bad thing, i just got chills…)
March 4, 2008 at 4:06 pm
For the life of me, I don’t understand why the people who have an issue with this (or any other) blog and its point of view or with the anonymous posting of comments on said blogs don’t just STOP READING?
WTF?
Either enjoy it as I do for its info, its wit, its “snarky comments,” or log into Adweak where you won’t get any of that. Jesus!
March 4, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Nina, who cares what these “bloggers” (whatever that is) say? You’ll always be welcome at our place.
March 4, 2008 at 9:20 pm
NIIIIIIIIIIINA!
NIIIIIIIIIIINA!
NIIIIIIIIIIINA!
You are a douche.
March 4, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Yeah. Right on agency spyreply. If you hate on the blog, just stop reading it.
AS
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