Marketers are giving QR codes a second look this year, adding them to packaging, retail displays and out-of-home ads. Adoption and use of QR codes has increased amid the pandemic, according to marketers and agency execs — restaurants and bars were early adopters of the QR code last year, opting for digital menus rather than using a high-touch physical menu — as consumers sought touchless experiences. And as consumers are more comfortable with using QR codes, so are marketers who are planning to add them to packaging and ads. Read more below.

• Direct-to-consumer brands are among the marketers exploring using the QR code more frequently on packaging, in advertising or both now that consumer adoption has increased.
• For Digiday+ members, media companies’ diversity shortcomings pervade their organizations, but lack of diversity among their executive and management ranks is particularly problematic.
• iProspect's global president Amanda Morrissey expects to complete Denstu-owned performance agency's restructure with Vizeum by the end of March.
• Agency execs say elements of the pitch process may have changed forever — the amount of time and financial investment devoted to chasing new business, for example.
• PopSugar hired Jennifer Fields as deputy editor of fitness to broaden fitness content to include mental health and wellness.