ADWEEK Reporters Share Their Favorite Stories of 2024

I love talking to agency folks about their roles, and even more, finding out how they got to where they are. Michael Treff has a really interesting backstory that involved punk music and a love of tech. While those passions might not seem to intersect, the way his leadership evolved from a young musician to a record label owner to finally a CEO for a tech-meets-creative agency was a story that was not only compelling, but as unconventional as it gets. Not everyone goes from portfolio school to the agency world, and Treff’s winding route into the industry is one that should ignite a wave of creatives to seek out the ad world as their next career move. —Kyle O’Brien

Havas Media’s First Shell Campaign Is Under Fire With More Than 70 Complaints for Greenwashing

This story, about Havas Media’s first campaign for Shell getting flagged for greenwashing by the U.K.’s Advertising Standards Association, feels like it illustrates a lot of the tensions that agencies are facing right now when it comes to climate impact. While the ASA has yet to issue a ruling, the question posed by the investigation is one that will likely continue to plague agency leaders: To what extent are agencies responsible for the impact of the work they do for clients, and how does that stack up against their responsibility to turn a profit? —Katie Lundstrom

Pachinko Producer Explains Why Diverse Stories Are Breaking Out in Streaming

As an Asian American woman, I’m always drawn to entertainment where my culture is being accurately represented, so I love when I get to report on executives who are using their business and platforms to cultivate diverse talent and stories. Earlier this year, I interviewed Korean American producer and Blue Marble Pictures CEO Theresa Kang, whose experience being raised by immigrant parents played a major role in her life and fostered a strong interest in seeking out Asian and Asian American projects like Apple TV+’s Pachinko. —Saleah Blancaflor