Welcome to the lighter side of local media and marketing! Our cartoon collection is designed to give media managers, account executives, and ad agency pros a fresh, humorous way to connect with clients and colleagues. Whether you're breaking the ice, following up on a proposal, a clever way to say “I get it", or need a way to collect, these cartoons offer a memorable twist on the everyday challenges of selling, planning, creating or collecting. Think of them as conversation starters with a wink—and a nudge toward smarter, more relatable selling, collecting.

The U.S. Latino economy now produces roughly $3.6 trillion in annual GDP, making it one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets. Within that growth, Latinas (Hispanic women) contribute about $1.3 trillion in economic output and drive most household purchasing decisions. Younger cohorts—Gen Z and Gen Alpha—are highly bilingual, racially mixed, and expect brands to demonstrate authenticity and cultural relevance. Hispanic households show wide diversity in country of origin, language use, and multigenerational structure, demanding more nuanced marketing than one-size-fits-all campaigns. For local media sales teams and ad agencies, tailoring content and ad packages to these demographic, cultural, and technological shifts is critical to capturing a rapidly expanding share of consumer spending.

The podcast industry has evolved from a niche medium to a serious revenue generator, with ad loads increasing from 7.9% to 10.9% of runtime since 2021 and per-hour advertising rates tripling to 6 cents per listener hour in 2024, creating both competitive pressure and significant expansion opportunities for local media. While podcasts compete for advertiser attention, established local media companies possess crucial advantages including existing advertiser relationships, community market knowledge, and content creation infrastructure that position them to capitalize on podcast monetization rather than lose market share. Smart local media operators are launching complementary podcast offerings that create premium advertising packages, extend audience engagement, and generate new revenue streams while leveraging their trusted local brand positioning. The key opportunity lies in integrating podcast strategies into existing business models to offer advertisers multi-platform campaigns that command higher rates than traditional single-format advertising.

AM/FM radio remains the top media platform in America, reaching 9 in 10 adults weekly and dominating ad-supported audio listening across all age groups. Its evolution from traditional broadcast to digital streaming has expanded its accessibility across smartphones, smart speakers, and connected devices. Case studies show radio’s effectiveness in driving local event attendance, service calls, and tourism engagement through emotionally resonant and timely messaging. Media buyers praise radio’s trustworthiness and personal connection, especially through local hosts and curated content. When integrated with digital strategies like SEO, social media, and retargeting, radio becomes a powerful cross-platform tool for local advertisers and agencies.

Nearly half (49%) of Gen Z consumers are significantly more likely to pay attention to advertisements that incorporate humor or music they enjoy, presenting a major opportunity for local media sales teams and advertising agencies. Local advertisers have unique advantages in this space because they can tap into hyperlocal references, community inside jokes, and regional musical preferences that create authentic connections with Gen Z audiences. The key to success lies in creating "snackable, scroll-stopping creative" that feels genuine rather than trying too hard, while leveraging local radio stations' music expertise and community knowledge to craft memorable campaigns. With Gen Z's top concern being the economy, local businesses can address these worries through entertaining, music-forward campaigns that position them as accessible solutions while building long-term brand relationships.

Rare Beauty launched a groundbreaking scratch-and-sniff billboard campaign in New York City to promote its first fragrance, blending traditional out-of-home advertising with geogated mobile sampling via Shopify’s Shop app. This innovative approach allows passersby to experience the scent and request a free sample by scanning a QR code, turning static media into an interactive, trackable experience. The campaign highlights how sensory engagement and digital integration can drive product trials and social sharing, especially among Gen Z consumers. Local media sellers and ad agencies can draw inspiration from this strategy to create tactile, tech-enabled campaigns that connect physical presence with digital action. Ultimately, Rare Beauty’s activation demonstrates how out-of-home media can evolve into immersive brand experiences that deliver measurable results.

These events below provide excellent opportunities for

• Ad agencies to build campaigns and promotions
• Local media sales professionals to sell advertising to retailers

These events attract large audiences and offer high visibility for brands. By aligning advertising campaigns with these events, retailers can effectively reach and engage their target customers.

Radio remains one of the most trusted and emotionally connected media platforms, reaching nearly 60% of adults 18+ each day for over two hours, according to The Media Audit. In a down economy, radio’s presence in consumers’ daily routines—especially while driving to shop—makes it a powerful, real-time influence on purchase decisions. Stations that highlight their local impact, personal connections, and advertiser success stories will be best positioned to retain and grow revenue even as budgets tighten.

Americans lead media-driven lives, and technology is always changing how businesses can communicate with consumers. Not so very long ago, advertisers were limited to static media like billboards, newspapers, direct mail, and the Yellow Pages; radio, television, and cable followed. Social media and the internet are the newest tools in the box. With all these options, it can be hard to choose what to...

Television remains the most popular choice for national and international news, despite the growth of online news sources. There has been continued expansion of news time on local television, setting a record high in 2010. During that time advertising on local news programs contributed 46.8% of the average station’s revenue, according to a survey of news directors.  Although TV viewership has increased overall, both local morning and late night time slots experienced the most growth in 2011.

Weather forecasting has been around since the 1700s, when the nation’s livelihood literally depended on the weather. Benjamin Franklin published his own weather reports, as did Robert B. Thomas, whose Farmer’s Almanac is still published to this day. As technology supported new media like radio, television, and the Internet, weather was always a staple of any news broadcast—though today’s

A number of industries and potential advertisers can benefit from grant money. Nonprofit organizations usually rely heavily on grants to finance operations and special projects, but the media can also benefit from these funds. Partnering with a nonprofit organization to apply for grant money gives your station a chance to help the group reach its goals, while generating revenue for your station.

Today’s Media Map is as complex and dynamic as the map of the Earth – the winds of change erode the high points, the fastest-flowing channels can be reduced to a trickle or disappear entirely and unpredictable forces can suddenly and dramatically alter the landscape.

The Founding Fathers were quite progressive for their time when they declared that all “men (and women) are created equal.” Living in the 18th century, it’s not surprising that they didn’t take the next step and realize that although all are equal, all are also different. Since then, especially during the late 20th century and the first decade and a half of the 21st century, people have come to understand that inclusiveness, or societal diversity, is a strength.

When the history of the last 50 years is studied and analyzed hundreds of year from now, it is likely to be recognized as the first epoch of equality. Seemingly every day, stereotypes and biases about gender, age, race and sexual orientation are being rejected and being replaced by genuine efforts to treat everyone equally. Often, lost among all these seismic changes is the major transformation of the role of men.