I attended the Cannes
Advertising Festival in the South of France last week. Looking through
the delegates list I found Fairfax had sent its New Zealand group
advertising and marketing manager, Sandra King. Of the nine delegates
registered from New Zealand, only one was not from an advertising
agency – King. The delegates’ fees are 1,400 euros ($2,215) and
accommodation is pretty expensive. The hotels generally have a minimum
five-nights policy.

From Fairfax in Australia, the delegates
were Martin Chernow, commercial development manager and Guy Johnson,
NSW display advertising director. Chernow was listed as staying at the
Martinez, one of the bigger hotels in Cannes, on the beach. I don’t
know if they actually went. All I know is they were listed as delegates.

There
were no delegates from News Ltd, although Lachlan Murdoch did go to
receive a prize. Most of the other delegates from Australia were from
advertising agencies, although ninemsn sent three people.

CRIKEY:
New Fairfax boss Brian Evans is talking about cost-cutting so maybe
this was the last hurrah for the old big-spending culture.