News Archives - The Cranky Creative Blog

The Cranky Creative blog: Why better advertising is worth fighting for

January 5, 2025 The Cranky Creative

We can’t let them win: why better ads are worth fighting for

I’ve been feeling a little defeated lately, to the point where I considered quitting the blog. Ever since Google changed its search algorithm to shortchange small blogs like mine in

November 26, 2024 The Cranky Creative

Rollback: Walmart abandons DEI and other ‘woke’ policies

BREAKING: In a seismic shift that will send shockwaves throughout corporate America, retail giant Walmart said on Monday that it will roll back a number of diversity, equity, and inclusion

My USPS mail truck stuck on a pig trail in a very rural area

October 19, 2023 The Cranky Creative

My short-lived career as a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier

Earlier this year, I’d vowed to get out of marketing. After burning out on writing for university programs, being ghosted by clients who owed me money, and hearing a prospective

Big Brother looks upon citizens in George Orwell's dystopian masterpiece, 1984

September 11, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Is Big Tech censoring The Cranky Creative blog?

You bet your free speech it is. I’ve noticed it for more than two years: Every time I publish a blog post saying something that goes against an approved mainstream

The Cranky Creative blog on marketing and advertising turns five

August 21, 2023 The Cranky Creative

The Cranky Creative blog turns FIVE

A lot has happened since 2018: I left in-house and agency marketing to start my own freelance copywriting business; I found success and satisfaction working directly with clients (and not

Nick Cage running from an exploding building

June 29, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Why I’m calling it quits after 30 years of marketing copywriting

Well, I’m doing it. After nearly 32 years in marketing and copywriting, I am moving on. It’s a strange feeling, leaving a job I’ve done for so long. Interestingly, I

robot from the movie terminator 2 attacking humans (and taking their jobs?)

June 7, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Is AI coming to take your job? Yeah, it probably is.

The explosive growth of generative AI (artificial intelligence) programs such as ChatGPT and Midjourney is about to change the world — and put a metric shit-ton of people, including marketing

The Gay Pride flag flying against a blue sky

April 11, 2023 The Cranky Creative

This is why companies are pushing LGBTQ+

Everywhere you look, brands are pushing LGBTQ+ messaging. Think they’re just virtue signaling? No — they are being extorted by the country’s top three investment companies — BlackRock, Vanguard, and

Bud Light partners with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney to promote March Madness contest and celebrate 365 days of being a girl

April 7, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Did Bud Light just commit brand suicide?

No, it’s not a joke. On April 1, trans TikTok “star” Dylan Mulvaney posted an Instagram video announcing a partnership with Anheuser-Busch to promote the company’s March Madness contest. In

Hershey's Canada hires trans-rights activist to celebrate International Women's Day

March 5, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Candy culture wars: Hershey’s hires trans-rights activist for International Women’s Day

Another day, another candy company melts down in the culture war. This time it’s Hershey’s Canada, who has hired a trans-rights activist to celebrate International Women’s Day. The new “HER

Mars candy company is retiring its cast of M&M's spokescandies

January 24, 2023 The Cranky Creative

M&M’s retires woke ‘spokescandies’ amid consumer backlash

Weeks after launching its latest campaign to attach social causes to its candy, M&M’s has pulled its cartoon candy characters indefinitely. Yesterday, the company took to Twitter to admit that