The Zeitgeist: March 8, 2024

Today's Edition: CEO Fiasco, Wonka and Condiments

Good morning. What did you accomplish while Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Messenger, Discord and YouTube were down Tuesday?

This week, we saw more unfiltered transparency and tone deafness from chief executives and brands backfiring. Backlash was swift after Exxon's CEO said the public was to blame for the climate crisis. And, Tarte Cosmetics, which faced criticism last year for its lavish influencer trip to Dubai, planned another extravagant trip - this time to Bora Bora - and Gen Zers are growing sick of it.

On the flip side, Women's History Month kicked off this week, with several brands showing how they're championing the power of women's voices and driving positive change, from Stacy's Pita Chips to Kotex.

Campaigns

Earned-friendly campaigns & clever moments

Also, DiGiorno’s Rescue Program for Pi Day, Heinz’s Ketchup Insurance Policy, Whirlpool’s Care Profiles and Coffee Mate x Dr. Pepper’s “Dirty Soda” creamer.

Culture 

Snackable bites of consumer culture

Corporate

Commerce

Shopper society snapshot

Connections

Feed intelligence

Media Moves:

  • Matt Murray, formerly editor at The Wall Street Journal, is now contributing editor at independent newsletter News Items, writing the new weekly “Matt Murray’s Week in Review” newsletter and recapping the week’s major stories in business and finance every Friday for subscribers.

  • Andrew Martonik, formerly editor in chief at Digital Trends, is leaving the outlet and has yet to announce his new role.

  • Sabrina Sanchez, formerly creative editor at Campaign US, is now senior creativity reporter at Ad Age.

  • Richard Verrier, formerly investigations editor at the Los Angeles Times for the Arts and Entertainment section, is now business editor at the same newspaper, overseeing the Business department and Company Town.

  • Hannah Yasharoff, formerly wellness reporter at The Messenger, is now freelance entertainment and wellness reporter and contributor to USA Today's Wellness section.

Also... meet Strands, the newest product in The New York Times’ games empire.

Thanks for reading.

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—The Editors

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