The Missing Middle

How Global Agencies Can Transform Emerging Media Ecosystems and Unlock Long‑Term Economic Growth
By Guy Turner 2025

Overview

This whitepaper makes the case that no news ecosystem has scaled to maturity without robust enabling organisations. In emerging markets, this intermediary “agency layer” is largely absent, leaving publishers reliant on donor funding and ad hoc direct sales. Guy Turner argues that global agency conglomerates — Publicis, WPP, Omnicom, IPG, and GroupM — are uniquely positioned to provide the infrastructure, expertise, and market-shaping power needed to strengthen media ecosystems and drive sustainable economic growth.

Key Takeaways

Agencies are the economic spine of healthy media ecosystems, turning fragmented transactions into scalable, predictable revenue.
Emerging markets lack this layer, leaving publishers sub‑scale and local advertisers unable to compete with global brands.
Global agency networks hold the tools and influence to build these systems in emerging markets, creating win‑win outcomes for brands, publishers, and economies.
Philanthropic and donor strategies should invest in agency infrastructure, not just content production, to create long-term viability.
Policy, training, and co‑ownership models are critical for building local capability and attracting sustained private‑sector investment.




Suggested Reads

                                     From Print to Pixels: Twenty Years That Changed NewsMedia in Australia

About the Author
Guy Turner is the co-founder of Turner & Co along with his wife Tasch, specialising in psychology-driven marketing and sustainable media strategies. With over two decades in agency, commercial media, and media development, Guy brings a unique perspective on how intermediary infrastructure can strengthen both media viability and economic growth.

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