The Zeitgeist: March 29, 2024

Today's Edition: Substack, Jarvis and Shrimp Jesus

Good morning. This week’s reputational crisis at NBC gave us a good look at the role communications can play in business strategy and execution. On a more positive note, consumers are projected to spend $22.4B on Easter this year - the second highest amount since the National Retail Federation’s survey began in 2007, just behind last year’s $24B. Also, April Fools’ Day is Monday. Brands are already soft-launching their pranks, from Sour Patch Adults to 7-Eleven’s hot dog-flavored sparkling water, but not everyone’s into it.

Campaigns

Earned-friendly campaigns & clever moments

Also, Liquid Death x e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Corpse Paint makeup kit, Cup Noodles’ 3D dancing cup billboard in Times Square, Elmo’s mental health PSA, Talenti’s Talentini for National Gelato Day and Sheba’s March Madness-style tournament for its new Gravy Indulgences cat food.

Culture 

Snackable bites of consumer culture

Corporate

Commerce

Shopper society snapshot

Connections

Feed intelligence

Media Moves:

  • Sharon Goldman, formerly senior reporter at VentureBeat, is now reporter at Fortune covering AI.

  • Anita Ramaswamy, formerly tech and finance analysis columnist at Reuters Breakingviews, is now financial analysis writer at The Information. She starts April 29.

  • Rocio Fabbro, formerly breaking news reporter at The Messenger covering labor, workplace, markets and banks on the business team, is now staff writer at Quartz - the outlet’s sixth new hire in the past eight weeks.

  • Tony Hồ Trần, formerly senior editor at The Daily Beast covering innovation and tech, is leaving the publication and has yet to announce his new role.

  • Jael Rucker, formerly pop culture editor at ONE37pm, is now associate commerce strategist at PureWow.

  • Alexis Berger, formerly deputy editor at Well + Good, is now freelance for outlets like SheKnows covering wellness and beauty and contributor at SELF.

Also... take a look inside this museum in Malaysia housing 70,000 McDonald’s toys and other memorabilia via Gastro Obscura.

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