Out of Home associations across the world join to fight the virus and plot a course for the return to normality.

The World Out of Home Organization’s global conference call initiative for national associations took place this week with reports on the expected harrowing descriptions of the effect the Covid-19 virus is having on societies across the world and business - plus welcome news of inspiring social initiatives from various members and, maybe, some insight into a light at the end of the tunnel.

Different countries are at different stages with the containment of the virus but, across the board, there has been welcome support from governments for companies and employees although, inevitably, Out of Home has to fight its corner. Support will vary country by country: Dave Roberts of South Africa's Primedia observed that his hard-pressed government was unlikely to be able to help significantly.

OAAA: We've Got Your Back

Today’s crisis — with restrictions on mobility for the sake of public health that also choke the economy — raises a classic (legit) question about trade associations: does somebody have my back? OAAA has your back. Together, we can face challenging times ahead and come out on the other side of “stay at home” orders, cancellations, and health risks.

Outdoor Media Association: COVID-19 an opportunity to rethink branding

Charmaine Moldrich, CEO of the Outdoor Media Association (OMA), the peak body for the out of home (OOH) advertising in Australia, released this statement: Having dedicated the last 10 years of my life to the business of out of home advertising, it seems somewhat counterproductive to recommend that people stay home.

Covid-19 News - General Media Response

One of the worst things brands can do right now is go dark: Havas Media

Industries around the world have been forced to pause advertising amid the COVID-19 outbreak, risking huge loss of brand equity. But marketers should be using this time to double down on its consumer relationship, experts have stressed. "The uncertainty among citizens and consumers will put pressure on businesses across the US and around the globe," Jason Kanefsky, chief investment officer at Havas Media told his network in an email offering snapshots at how the virus will impact media spend.

Weathering the Storm: The Importance of Advertising Through an Economic Downturn

Almost everyone has been in a crisis situation at some point in their life, and how we respond is largely governed by who we are – our own personal idiosyncrasies, fears, skills, experiences and abilities. Much of our natural tendencies come from our animal brain – the fight or flight instinct that often overrules our logical brains. But one piece of advice that experts in any field offer is always the same: stay calm. To weather any crisis, it’s most important not to panic.

Media effectiveness during Covid-19

Like most industries, advertising faces an uncertain time during the Covid-19 pandemic. There are a few scenarios we are observing: Some advertisers are busily shifting their media budgets between channels, while others are postponing campaigns or, in certain categories, cancelling planned activity altogether. As Nigel Hollis said in his recent blog, marketers must understand what help consumers might need, and how they might expect the brand to respond. And advertisers need to consider carefully whether they should advertise, and how.

United Nations issues global call to creatives to help spread the word on the coronavirus

With the coronavirus spreading to all corners of the world, the United Nations is enlisting the help of creatives around the world in areas not yet overrun by the disease to avoid or minimize the outbreak. The United Nations, in its ‘Global Call to Creatives: An Open Brief from the United Nations’, states that it needs help “translating critical public health messages into different languages, different cultures, communities and platforms, reaching everyone, everywhere”.

Out of Home Health Messages about Coronavirus

As the Coronavirus wrecks havoc on the world, the Outdoor advertising Industry is postering its support to fight the virus. Countries around the world are telling citizens to stay at home in quarantine.

From Coca-Cola to Ocean Outdoor: brands try to battle the virus

Coca-Cola is doing its bit to promote social distancing with some tweaks to its sacred logo in Times Square, via McCann Argentina. McDonald’s is separating its arches on some social media. Burger King, inevitably, is doing its bit too. Good to see in some cases Out of Home the medium of choice – it’s struggling of course as people stay at home. Not that they will for ever.

How DOOH is Helping Handle the COVID-19 Pandemic

As the modern world continues to move into unprecedented territory with the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and strives to find ways of coping with the evolving pandemic, the Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) and digital signage industries have unique roles to play.

Frontline heroes celebrated across Ocean screens

This weekend, Ocean Outdoor’s Our Local Heroes campaign broke across 12 of Ocean’s cities and appears on Landsec’s Piccadilly Lights in London this week. Our Local Heroes focuses on all the professions that are on the front line, keeping our cities going. The campaign is supported by a series of straplines which reference each city in which it is being played out, providing contextual relevance to those individuals and their communities.

Coke goes big with COVID social distancing in Times Square

The message is clear: Coca-Cola wants you to respect social distancing. The CPG giant is using its iconic billboard in Times Square, New York City, to spread health advice amid COVID-19. (Limited) people who walk into the heart of Manhattan will see Coke’s name with extended spaces between letters in a satisfying play of autology.

Ooh Media and Junkee address panic buying and random acts of kindness in OOH campaign

Ooh Media is attempting to spread kindness and compassion through positive messages and news stories from around the world of people living in isolation. A focus of the campaign, placed in out-of-home locations across retail, street and rail networks, is the treatment of employees and behaviour in supermarkets.

A large format Out of Home appeal for solidarity to residents

20th March, 2020 in Amsterdam. The Corona virus is gripping the country, along with the rest of the world on a huge scale. Dotted corona maps and charts show an increasing risk of contamination every day. However, Dutch companies say it’s time for something positive. blowUP media Benelux, Natwerk, BIG Impact and Maxtension have joined forces through a large format Out of Home campaign, offered to The Red Cross Netherlands (Rode Kruis Nederland).

HSE Rolls Out Nationwide Covid-19 Campaign Via OOH

As the HSE steps up it Covid-19 awareness campaign, it has rolled out a hugely important nationwide public health message via Digital OOH. Planned by Spark Foundry and PML, the screen displays incorporate both staged motion messages with supporting icons by Core Creative and static posters from TBWA\Dublin.

Mobile billboard company replaces ads for coronavirus PSAs to put drivers on the road

One mobile advertising company in the Las Vegas valley is putting its workforce to display prominent social distancing and COVID-19 health messages. Kre8 Media Outdoor Advertising has partnered with the Nevada Governor’s Office to provide digital mobile billboards at no charge to the state.

World OOH News March 27th 2020