CaMpfire Journal
Our journal is where media, values, and fresh perspectives collide. From industry insights to stories that move us, this is where we spark conversation and share what shapes our work, and the world around us.
Wicked lessons: What Challenger Brands Can Learn From Cinema and Out-of-Home Media
Big cultural moments change how people pay attention and this week’s Wicked premiere is one of them. Cinema and out-of-home aren’t just high-visibility channels; they’re high-receptivity environments where challenger brands build familiarity faster than anywhere else. When audiences gather in shared spaces, attention deepens, emotion rises, and brand signals get clearer. In a fragmented digital landscape, these channels help brands be recognized, remembered, and chosen. Here’s what this moment reveals and why it matters for every challenger brand looking to grow.
Media IS Your Supply Chain
As the world gathers for Climate Week, it’s time to recognize media as part of your supply chain. Every ad campaign carries a carbon cost—and chasing bargain CPMs only fuels waste, fraud, and emissions. By buying direct and investing in quality journalism, brands can cut carbon, reduce wasted spend, and strengthen the truth at a moment when it’s under attack.
Why Outsourcing Media Execution Isn’t Enough Without Strategic Alignment
Outsourcing media is common but without a strategic layer, campaigns risk hitting KPIs without moving the business forward. At Campfire, we align digital, linear, and sponsorship buying with real brand and business goals, combining strategy with in-house execution to make media investments matter.
Retail Media, Responsibly: Get Incrementality and Brand Safety Right
Inside the store isn’t a free pass. Make RMNs accountable with clear tests, brand-safe contexts, and carbon-aware choices. We also cover the magic that can happen when you pair the right direct-to-publisher opportunities with your retail marketing.
Smarter Media Buying for Smaller Budgets
Every dollar matters when your media budget is small. Here are practical strategies to help you target smarter, choose the right channels, and get the most out of your spend—so your message reaches the right people without wasting resources.
Lessons from the 2025 ANA Benchmark
The latest ANA 2025 Programmatic Transparency Benchmark shows billions of ad dollars still lost to waste and low‑quality sites. Learn how an integrated, community‑driven strategy delivers real value and trust.
When Media Ownership Shifts, So Does Trust
Media ownership is shifting again, with David Ellison taking control of Paramount and reports of Bari Weiss stepping into CBS News leadership. What does this mean for trust in journalism, and why should brands and communities care?
Local Media Gets Smaller Again: What Nexstar’s $6.2B Grab of TEGNA Means for Communities and Advertisers
When one company controls nearly 200 local TV stations, who really benefits — shareholders, advertisers, or communities? Nexstar’s $6.2B acquisition of TEGNA is being sold as scale, but in practice it may mean fewer local stories, fewer authentic ad opportunities, and fewer voices shaping the conversation.
MS Now and the Future of Media Spinoffs
MSNBC is spinning off into MS Now—but is this a bold step forward for television, or just financial engineering dressed up as strategy?
For viewers, the stakes are trust. For advertisers, it’s clarity versus more fragmentation. Our latest POV unpacks what this shift really signals for the future of TV and why the next gold rush might not be where you expect.
Rethinking TV: Why How It’s Sold Matters As Much As How It’s Watched
Streaming may be the buzz, but the future of TV isn’t just about what people watch—it’s about how it’s sold. Explore why brands that balance linear and streaming buys will win on reach, efficiency, and impact.
How to Craft Messages People Repeat — Lessons from Anat Shenker-Osario
The best messages don’t just persuade — they get repeated. In this conversation with political communications strategist Anat Shenker-Osorio, we explore how shared values, simple language, and a clear vision can turn your audience into your amplifiers. Perfect inspiration as you plan your 2026 campaigns.
There Is No Easy Button: An Honest Conversation About Marketing Attribution with Madan Bharadwaj
Attribution isn't a one-click answer. In this Fireside conversation, Campfire's Chris Marine and M Squared's Madan Bharadwaj unpack why true marketing insight comes from triangulation, not dashboards, and how brands can make smarter, more honest decisions about media ROI.
Stop Grading Your Own Homework: The Case for Independent Attribution in Media
Too many brands trust platform dashboards as gospel. In this piece, we explore why attribution deserves the same rigor as any smart investment and why we believe real media strategy means using multiple sources of truth to guide what’s working, what’s not, and what to do next.
Why the Senate’s Vote on NPR Funding and Global Aid Matters
The Senate is debating a bill that could gut funding for NPR, PBS, and global aid programs. For businesses, media buyers, and impact-driven brands, this moment isn’t just political, it’s personal. Here's why it matters, and what you can do to protect the signals that connect and inform us all.
Why Journalism Still matters, a fireside chat with Brian Yocono
What does it really mean to serve a community through journalism? In this Fireside episode, NewsCenter Maine anchor Brian Yocono joins Campfire founder Chris Marine to explore the evolving media landscape, the emotional weight of storytelling, and why trust in local news is more vital than ever. A must-read (and listen) for anyone who cares about truth, media, and the power of connection.
The FTC Just Redefined What It Means to Be a Media Agency
Why the Omnicom-IPG merger ruling should have every brand, strategist, and publisher paying attention. This isn’t just a regulatory update, it’s a major shift in how media power is policed, raising urgent questions about transparency, bias, and what it really means to build values-aligned media strategies.
Celebrating Five Years of our podcast and a New Declaration of Interdependence
Five years into the Responsibly Different™ podcast, the Campfire team reflects on the evolving role of media in shaping community, democracy, and business. This milestone episode marks a new chapter and a renewed commitment to building a healthier media ecosystem.
Juneteenth and the Power and Responsibility of Media
Juneteenth marks the day freedom was finally announced to over 250,000 enslaved people in Texas—years after it was legally granted. This post explores the powerful role media played in that delay, how communication continues to shape justice today, and why recent moves by the FCC deserve our attention.
Why Foundational Research Should Guide Your Media Strategy (And How AI Is Making It Easier)
Foundational research doesn’t have to be slow or expensive. In this episode of Fireside, we sit down with Anastassia Laskey of Ground Control Research to explore how AI is transforming audience insights making it faster, more accessible, and more human. If you’re launching paid media without a clear sense of your audience, this one’s for you.
Honoring Queer History: How Local Media Helped Maine’s LGBTQ+ Community Find Connection, Safety, and Pride
Discover how queer newspapers helped shape Maine’s LGBTQ+ history—from grassroots organizing to resistance and celebration. In this Pride Month conversation, Benn and Megan Mac Gregor reflect on the power of local media, the importance of preserving our stories, and how we can honor that legacy today.

