The Internet: Not Just for Porn. Politics Too!
Nov 3, 2008
Win or lose, 2008 will be remembered in American history as a watershed moment in politics because of Barack Obama.
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At Issue } essential reading
Can Obama Save The Media?
Nov 17, 2008
How the president-elect has reinvigorated newspaper and magazine sales.
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TiVo, Domino's Offer Pizza Delivery Service for DVR Subscribers
Nov 17, 2008
TiVo Inc., the pioneer of digital video recorders, will let subscribers order deliveries from Domino's Pizza Inc.
Online Video Chips Away at TV
Nov 17, 2008
After polling 2,800 people in six countries, IBM says 76% have viewed video online and 45% do so regularly. Of those who have watched online video, 15% say that as a result they watch "slightly less" TV, while 36% said they watch "significantly less" TV.
Murdoch to Media: You Dug Yourself a Huge Hole
Nov 17, 2008
With newspapers cutting back and predictions of even worse times ahead, Rupert Murdoch said the profession may still have a bright future if it can shake free of reporters and editors who he said have forfeited the trust and loyalty of their readers.
AOL Gets Out Of User Generated Video Business
Nov 17, 2008
AOL is on a product-cutting spree. In addition to the shuttering of XDrive, AOL Pictures, MyMobile And Bluestring, the company will also be shutting down the AOL Video Uploads service starting this week.
The End of Instant Messaging (As We Know It)
Nov 17, 2008
Those pop-up chat boxes are giving way to a new raft of tools that help Web surfers communicate in real time.
Twitter Moms Sink Motrin Ad
Nov 17, 2008
Johnson & Johnson's legendary marketing machine just had a rare mess up.
Bloggers, Journalists and Sarah Palin's Ignorance
Nov 17, 2008
Last week, you heard the rumor, from an anonymous McCain campaign source: Sarah Palin is so dumb, she didn't know that Africa was a continent! And on Monday, you may have heard David Shuster announce on MSNBC that the source of that rumor and others had come forward: It was Martin Eisenstadt of the Harding Institute for Freedom and Democracy. There's just one little problem with that part of the story: Martin Eisenstadt doesn't exist.
Obama And The 'Facebook Effect'
Nov 17, 2008
Obama, in a word, enjoyed a groundswell of support among the Facebook generation. He indeed will be the first occupant of the White House to have won a presidential election on the Web.
TV Talent Doubling as Pitchmen
Nov 17, 2008
As digital-video recorders like TiVo threaten the ad-supported TV model, those areas pave the way toward seemingly inevitable scenarios where talent doubles as pitchman -- product-placement injected with zap-proof steroids.
Newspaper Industry in 'Crisis,' Needs Outside Help
Nov 17, 2008
The newspaper industry is reaching "full-blown crisis" stage and will probably not be able to halt the slide without outside help, concluded the American Press Institute during a closed-door "summit" conference held on Thursday.
McClatchy Stock 'Could Be Worthless,' Analyst Says
Nov 17, 2008
The Morningstar report traces McClatchy’s woes to the 2006 blockbuster acquisition of Knight Ridder for $4.6 billion, which it called a “bold bet on the future of print journalism.”
Obama Appoints YouTube (Google) as Secretary of Video
Nov 17, 2008
Obama has chosen to upload the video of his Saturday address to Google's YouTube, by far the most dominant video-sharing service, and embed the video on his Change.gov transition site.
Mercedes Expands Web Presence
Nov 17, 2008
Mercedes-Benz USA, six months after launching a new password-protected Web site for interacting with Generation Y consumers, is planning a second site next year to reach an older group of Mercedes owners.
Aiming for Gen Xers, Tic Tac Refreshes Its Packaging
Nov 17, 2008
Reacting to some innovations in the adult mint category, Tic Tac is shaking things up with a sugar-free extension called Chill that sports a sliding front panel.
Why Yahoo Still Matters for You
Nov 17, 2008
Yahoo is a lot more valuable in the eyes of Madison Avenue than it is in the eyes of Wall Street, thanks to an important but oft-forgotten point in the debate over how old and stodgy the traditional portal model might be: Size still matters.
Death of Detroit Would Wallop Ad World
Nov 17, 2008
The world's top four agency companies -- Omnicom Group, WPP Group, Interpublic Group of Cos. and Publicis Groupe -- count on Detroit's Big Three for as much as 6% of revenue.
Extinction Threatens Yellow-Pages Publishers
Nov 17, 2008
The yellow-pages industry is running out of lifelines.
For One Production Company, It’s All About the Power of Storytelling
Nov 17, 2008
“Tell to sell,” once a mantra on Madison Avenue, is making a comeback as marketers seek to engage consumers with compelling stories rather than peddle products in hit-and-run fashion with interruptive advertising like 30-second commercials.
WPP Execs Offer Tips on Weathering the Recession
Nov 14, 2008
Brand advocacy, 'significant' digital spending and improved loyalty programs are part of mix.
Digital Family Trees 2008
Nov 14, 2008
The interactive ventures of top media, web portal and agency companies.
The Death Of Packaged Software
Nov 14, 2008
The days of buying packaged software loaded onto CDs are numbered. Yesterday, Microsoft quietly drove another nail into the coffin of packaged software by launching the Microsoft Store on the Web.
Lawmaker Plans Bill on Web Neutrality
Nov 14, 2008
A senior U.S. lawmaker plans to introduce a bill in January that would bar Internet providers like AT&T Inc from blocking Web content, setting up a renewed battle over so-called network neutrality.
Steve Jobs for President. Of GM?
Nov 14, 2008
The old joke went something like this: If auto manufacturers improved their products as much and as fast as American designers and makers of microelectronics have theirs, a car today would be capable of speeds in excess of 1,000 miles an hour, go 650 miles on a gallon of gas, and be the size of a postage stamp.
Huff Post Up 448% in October
Nov 14, 2008
The site grew its uniques year-over-year by a whopping 448% to 8.1 million, and jumped to #18 on the list of top news sites from #20 last month. It had 7.4 million uniques in September.
Murdoch Emphasises Newspaper Innovation
Nov 14, 2008
Newspapers present one of the great opportunities for innovation in the modern media industry, James Murdoch said yesterday, as he accused the industry of failing to attend to customers' changing wishes.
Google Is Taking Questions (Spoken, via iPhone)
Nov 14, 2008
Pushing ahead in the decades-long effort to get computers to understand human speech, Google researchers have added sophisticated voice recognition technology to the company’s search software for the Apple iPhone.
A Bailout Plan For U.S. Newspapers
Nov 14, 2008
Tongue & Cheek Lobbying Innovations LLC Greets the Obama Administration with a call for financial aid on behalf of endangered newspapers . /DECK
Tribulations at Tribune
Nov 14, 2008
Tribune Co. has rewritten the rulebook for its newspapers, but where are all the new readers? (Not to mention the ad revenue.)
In Rare Move, Luxury-Goods Makers Trim Their Prices in U.S.
Nov 14, 2008
For the first time in recent memory, luxury-goods makers are cutting prices on designer apparel, shoes and handbags in the U.S. market.
A Record Decline in October’s Retail Sales
Nov 14, 2008
Dragged down by plummeting automobile sales, retail sales fell by a record amount in October, the Commerce Department reported on Friday.
Video Game Sales Soar in October
Nov 14, 2008
Despite a slowing economy, sales of U.S. video games and hardware soared 18 percent from the same month a year ago, according to data released Thursday by market researcher NPD Group.
Euro Zone Officially Is in Recession
Nov 14, 2008
The economy of the euro zone slipped into recession for the first time during the third quarter, the European Union’s statistics agency confirmed Friday, as the financial crisis continued to depress manufacturing activity and consumer demand.
The Number One Secret of the Great Blogs
Nov 14, 2008
The function of the blog is to be a standard bearer, the north star that tribe members can point to as a place to meet or for ideas to circle around. The blog isn't about the writer, it's about the readers.
Businesses Warming Up to the iPhone
Nov 14, 2008
The iPhone is making a guerrilla attack on the business world, brought into the corporate world by influential executives, CIOs rethinking their approach to deploying technology, and younger workers who move seamlessly between their personal and business lives.
Can Time's Person of the Year Be Anyone Other Than Obama?
Nov 14, 2008
Time Magazine's annual "Person of the Year" debate revolved around the expected subject: the nation's -- and arguably the world's -- most decisively prominent story of the last 10 months.
Marketing Execs Want More Creative Risk
Nov 13, 2008
According to a study from The Creative Group, 65% of marketing executives and 45% of ad execs think their firms don't take enough creative risks when developing marketing and advertising projects.
Smartphones Could Fuel Surge in Video Gaming
Nov 13, 2008
The video-gaming and mobile industries have been on a collision course for years, but Apple's iPhone 3G and its video-game-laden AppStore has pushed mobile video gaming to the edge of a possible mainstream breakout, much like what has happened in casual video gaming over the past few years.
Where in the World Is Yahoo’s Board?
Nov 13, 2008
If there is anyone to cast stones at in the ongoing crisis at Yahoo, BoomTown would have to toss a large boulder in the direction of the company’s incredibly shrinking board.
Moms Shape New Culture by Cutting Back
Nov 13, 2008
Moms are looking for ways to rein in their household finances, with 65% of moms surveyed eliminating purchases that are not absolutely necessary, and 52% cutting back in general.
Cable News Takes Cues From Obama to Keep Viewers After Election
Nov 13, 2008
Cable news channels, aiming to hold on to the ratings spoils of a lengthy presidential campaign, are taking cues from the victor, President-elect Barack Obama.
Time Warner's Books Full of Bias, Full of Bull: Jonathan Weil
Nov 13, 2008
The company that used to broadcast the Goodwill Games is playing fast and loose again with a different kind of goodwill.
TRL Had to Die
Nov 13, 2008
The lid slammed shut on "TRL's" claim to hipness with the Internet explosion.
FCC's Martin to Push Against Clock, Cable During Final Months
Nov 13, 2008
After roiling Comcast Corp. and other cable operators for almost four years, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin shows no sign of relenting as his term nears its likely end.
Microsoft's New Windows Live Aims to be Hub for Web
Nov 13, 2008
Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday its next release of Windows Live online services will integrate e-mail, instant messaging, photos and Web applications from other companies into a single platform.
Google Declines Below $300 for First Time Since 2005
Nov 13, 2008
Google Inc. fell below $300 for the first time since October 2005 after Citigroup Inc. said online advertising growth will slow and cut its profit estimates for the owner of the most-popular Internet search engine.
Citi Delivers More Bad Ad News
Nov 13, 2008
U.S. advertising spending will decline 1.8 percent this year and 3.6 percent next year, and not even the Internet will be safe, Citi Investment Research predicted Tuesday.
As Water Sales Dry Up, Nestlé Pans Soda
Nov 13, 2008
Concerns that bottled water is a bad choice for the environment have cooled sales of the hot-selling product. But Nestlé, the world's biggest bottled-water producer, is trying to persuade consumers they should worry more about another drink: soda.
Carnival Cruise Lines Names First CMO
Nov 13, 2008
Carnival Cruise Lines has named Jim Berra senior VP-chief marketing officer, effective yesterday.
Macy's Loses As Consumers, Retailers Play 'Chicken'
Nov 13, 2008
Macy's has posted a $44 million loss for the third quarter, and slashed its expansion plans nearly in half, as industry observers brace themselves for a new wave of downbeat reports from other retailers.
Caught In Web: Magazines Cut Digital Staffs
Nov 13, 2008
Digital media, it seems, is just as vulnerable as print in the current economic downturn. After years of swearing by digital media, magazine publishers have cut their digital staffs over the last few weeks. The reason is the bottom line: Digital operations weren't making enough money.
Holiday Campaigns Bring on the Humor to Reassure Consumers
Nov 13, 2008
Sears and J.C. Penney are joining a lengthening list of retailers whose holiday advertising will reflect the cautious mood among consumers as data indicate spending is slowing and store revenue is falling.
YouTube to Sell Ads on Search Pages
Nov 13, 2008
Google announced on Wednesday that it would begin selling space on YouTube search-results pages to advertisers, part of its effort to turn its expensive acquisition into a major revenue producer.
Yank Tech Is on Deck
Nov 12, 2008
Instant replays and a variety of camera angles will soon be accessible via cellphone, and fans may even be able to dial up hot dogs and beer, team officials announced yesterday.
Disney, Verizon to Turn the Cellphone into a Theme-Park Visitor's Tool
Nov 12, 2008
Walt Disney Co. has struck a deal with Verizon Wireless that will allow it to remain in wireless contact with its theme park visitors -- even when they step outside the turnstiles in Anaheim and Orlando, Fla.
After Banning YouTube, Military Launches TroopTube
Nov 12, 2008
The U.S. military, with help from Seattle startup Delve Networks, has launched a video-sharing Web site for troops, their families and supporters, a year and a half after restricting access to YouTube and other video sites.
Google's Gmail Gets Free Video Chat
Nov 12, 2008
On Tuesday, Google plans to launch a Web browser plug-in that will allow Gmail users to conduct video and voice chat sessions with other suitably equipped members of the Gmail tribe.
Twitter Shuns Venture-Capital Money as Startup Values Plunge
Nov 12, 2008
To make money, Twitter will explore ways of charging companies to reach its users. Twitter could also charge companies that want to use the site to gather feedback on their products, or display ads on its search engine.
Obama-Google Connection Scares Competitors
Nov 12, 2008
Google CEO Eric Schmidt didn’t say anything as he flanked President-elect Barack Obama during his first post-election press conference. He didn’t have to. The image alone of Schmidt standing elbow-to-elbow with Obama’s top economic thinkers was enough to send shivers up the spine of Google’s competitors.
Shhhhhh! Media, Tech Moguls Meeting Today. Don’t Tell Anyone!
Nov 12, 2008
Maybe John Chambers, Steve Ballmer and Brian Roberts will indeed say something important today and tomorrow at Quadrangle’s Foursquare conference. Chrysler’s Robert Nardelli is speaking too. He might have something newsworthy to say. But you are unlikely to read about it.
Job Cuts Hit Condé Nast in Digital Arm
Nov 12, 2008
CondéNet enacted widespread layoffs across its editorial, business, production, technology departments that work on the company’s destination sites like Concierge.com and Style.com.
Restoring the Republican Brand
Nov 12, 2008
Republicans, you will have NO future unless you renounce Reaganism and the religious right and look to Lincoln for the inspiration to regain your heritage and to redeem your future.
My Five (Early) Predictions for 2009
Nov 12, 2008
While the economy is still in flux, with a number of issues still facing the average consumer, I think we may see some stability, not growth, in the coming year.
You Call It Nontraditional Advertising, but I Call It Art
Nov 12, 2008
A look at some of the mind-blowing work from the London International Awards.
Sensible Brand Research Has Only One Formula
Nov 12, 2008
Any company that relies exclusively on either qual or quant data will eventually fail. The secret is to combine them.
Blogging Company Six Apart Lays Off 8 Percent
Nov 12, 2008
Blogging may have been invented during the last recession, but that doesn’t mean it’s immune from tough economic times. Six Apart, the San Francisco startup that offers Movable Type blogging software and TypePad blogging services, just announced it’s laying off 8 percent of its staff.
People Want to Connect with People... Not Companies
Nov 12, 2008
How many times have you heard that "people want to have relationships with companies/brands"'? I say that's complete BS.
TV News Needs Newspapers To Survive
Nov 12, 2008
The diminishing existence of newspapers and the diminished inclination or inability of local newscasts to gather and report news should be causing a nationwide fright - except to bad guys who can expect to operate with fewer questions asked, less to fear.
Times Executive Resigns to Lead NPR
Nov 12, 2008
Vivian Schiller, who heads the online operations of The New York Times, will leave the paper to become the president and chief executive of National Public Radio, the network announced on Tuesday.
G.M., Once a Powerhouse, Pleads for Bailout
Nov 12, 2008
Just two months after celebrating its 100th birthday, General Motors is facing the grim prognosis that it may not survive to see another year unless it is rescued by a bailout from the federal government.
A Hulu for Cable Networks? Not Any Time Soon
Nov 12, 2008
Now that Hulu is an out-of-the-box success story for broadcast TV, when will cable get its one-stop online video site? If two panels at the Cable Telecommunications Association of Marketing Summit in Boston on Tuesday are any indication, not any time soon.
Will Circuit City Repel or Attract Holiday Shoppers?
Nov 12, 2008
Circuit City's bankruptcy could cause skittish consumers to steer clear of the ailing retailer this holiday season.
Yes, Virginia, There Is a Recession
Nov 11, 2008
With tight budgets and job jitters, kids are more apt to find tube socks than an Xbox under the tree.
Looking for Mr. Goodtweet: How to Pick Up Followers on Twitter
Nov 11, 2008
The question, “How do I get more followers on Twitter?” is unspoken because admitting that you want more followers is to acknowledge that you don’t have many. Thus, you probably don’t need this advice, but you may “have a friend” who will find it useful.
Go Steal Some Customers
Nov 11, 2008
Sprint needs to go steal some customers from the companies that have been poaching them.
Promotional Swag More Effective Than Ads
Nov 11, 2008
As marketers continue their debate over the next great advertising medium, a new study released today by the Advertising Specialty Institute found it's not TV, print or radio that gets consumers' attention, but good old promotional swag.
iPhone Overtakes Razr In Third Quarter
Nov 11, 2008
It marks the first time that a smartphone has become the top-selling consumer phone, and the first time in three years that the Razr has been bumped from the No. 1 slot.
Army to Use Webcasts From Iraq for Recruiting
Nov 11, 2008
For the last two years, the Army has presented itself to potential recruits as the way to become “Army strong.” Beginning on Tuesday, Veterans Day, the Army will seek to make its pitch stronger by making the campaign more relevant to the desired audience of Americans ages 17 to 24.
Sirius XM Posts $4.88 Billion Loss
Nov 11, 2008
Satellite-radio operator faces nearly $1 billion in debt coming due, as subscriber growth is hampered by slowing economy.
Online Retailers Tightening Belts, Too
Nov 11, 2008
With the economy sending bricks-and-mortar sales into a tailspin, web retailers are no longer immune to slowing sales or shrinking marketing budgets.
YouTube Pales Next to Hulu’s Spiffy Multiplex
Nov 11, 2008
After a year, Hulu.com, the joint venture between NBC and Fox, has become the most prominent site for mainstream TV shows and, increasingly, movies.
Tough Times Complicate the Case for Buying Super Bowl Ads
Nov 11, 2008
With advertising rates for the Super Bowl running as high as $3 million for a 30-second spot, some marketers are wondering whether during these tough economic times they can afford the big game.
Heavy Debt, Fewer Ads Put Radio Firms in a Squeeze
Nov 11, 2008
Mounting debt and a sharp drop in advertising at many of the nation's radio broadcasters have led to a slashing of their valuations to fire-sale levels and intense competition with other media for ad dollars.
Facebook Tries to Woo Marketers
Nov 11, 2008
Facebook is rolling out a new ad format called "engagement ads" that further blurs the line between marketing and social networking.
Crying Wolf About the 'Big One' Hasn't Worked, So Let's Party
Nov 11, 2008
Geologists use a bit of marketing and a pinch of cool to sign up millions for an earthquake drill in L.A.
Booksellers and Publishers Nervous as Holiday Season Approaches
Nov 11, 2008
Most everyone in publishing is bracing for a difficult holiday season while trying to remain optimistic about the enduring allure of books.
McDonald’s Reports Big Sales Growth for October
Nov 11, 2008
Consumers worldwide who are watching their spending bought more burgers and chicken breakfast biscuits at McDonald’s in October, leading to a big rise in sales at established locations for the fast-food leader.
Time Inc. Seeks Volunteers for Job Cuts at Magazines
Nov 11, 2008
Editors on Monday asked for about 100 volunteers to give up editorial staff jobs at Time, People, Sports Illustrated and a few other Time Inc. magazines, and the company announced the elimination of a similar number of jobs in its business operations.
IBM Reshapes Its Sales Meetings
Nov 11, 2008
Lee Green, head designer at IBM, is applying the same design method for creating PCs to guide the tech company's sales pitches.
Peacock Network Fails to Take Off, Again
Nov 10, 2008
Observers say that one of NBC's biggest problems has been its inability to find an identity, a feat its peers have all been able to pull off.
Innovation Is The New Management Consultancy. Design Is The New Advertising Agency.
Nov 10, 2008
Innovation doesn’t exist in design or business strategy, but the intersections of both as well as other disciplines including social sciences, technology, human factors and service design etc.
Big Media Ready for a Big Makeover
Nov 10, 2008
For America's media conglomerates, it's getting Darwinian out there - and the next stage of their evolution could come quickly.
Financial Times Set to Unveil Significant Online Overhaul
Nov 10, 2008
The Financial Times will roll out a revamped version of FT.com tomorrow, marking the first major overhaul of its website in more than six years.
Oh, Grow Up
Nov 10, 2008
Blogging has entered the mainstream, which—as with every new medium in history—looks to its pioneers suspiciously like death.
Ordering Pizza Hut From Your Facebook Page? It's on the Way
Nov 10, 2008
A number of fast-food chains are reaching across the digital divide to get young consumers to order via Facebook or their iPhones. And they're building valuable databases of their customers in the process.
Is Oprah's Era Coming to an End?
Nov 10, 2008
The chief executive of Discovery Communications, Winfrey's 50-50 partner in the Oprah Winfrey Network, which is set to launch next year, told Wall Street analysts Winfrey was poised to shutter her Chicago-based internationally syndicated show in 2011 after 25 seasons.
Obama Launches Web site to Reach Public
Nov 10, 2008
Barack Obama had a formidable online presence during his quest for the White House, and he is once again turning to the Internet to communicate with the American public as president-elect.
Tag The World—One Tweet, Yelp, and Flickr At A Time
Nov 10, 2008
We all know how tagging makes the Web a richer place (by tapping into people’s desire to categorize things and share those categories, ad-hoc though they may be, with the everyone else). Now it is time to start tagging the world. The real world.
Price: Friend and Foe of Brands
Nov 10, 2008
The challenge for any marketer is to expedite a transformation and take a commodity, like water, and turn it into a brand, like Evian. This process is called 'brand building' and involves associating a product with values and meanings that the target audience aspire to. Many marketers do not appreciate that this process can also be reversed.
Meet First Couple of Cool
Nov 10, 2008
Much has been made of the racial barrier Obama broke when he was elected as the 44th president of the United States, but he has shattered a generational - and a hipness - barrier as well.
Chrysler Relieved After GM Backs Out
Nov 10, 2008
Much as Chrysler needs a saviour, few are disappointed that the Detroit carmaker’s rescuer will not be General Motors.
Obama Family Favorites Likely to Get Brand Boost
Nov 10, 2008
With Ronald Reagan, it was jelly beans. Jimmy Carter munched peanuts. And George W. Bush is a pretzel lover. The election of Obama will bring a new cadre of often-upscale brand names to the White House.
Brand Integrity and Public Relations
Nov 10, 2008
How important is brand integrity when it comes to marketing or PR?
Nielsen Out-Of-Home Goes Out-Of-Business, First Research Casualty Of Faltering Economy
Nov 10, 2008
In a sign that weakening economic conditions are beginning to impact the media research business, Nielsen Co. and IMMI Friday shut down their recently launched out-of-home TV viewing measurement service.
Step 2.0: Profits
Nov 10, 2008
t's a dilemma that even a whiz kid like Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg might not be able to figure out: How can a Web site make money as online display advertising growth slows?
Mintel Sees Organic Food Market Wilting
Nov 10, 2008
Brand consultancy Mintel of Chicago sees the specialty market for pesticide-free, un-radiated and generally untainted food items suffering as much as the market for glowing apples and preternaturally well-preserved lettuce.
Advertise on NYTimes.com MGM to Post Full Films on YouTube
Nov 10, 2008
The initial lineup may not be all that compelling, but for YouTube, which is owned by Google, the relationship with MGM is a crucial step in an essential reinvention.
Goodbye Seduction, Hello Coupons
Nov 10, 2008
As the economy rapidly deteriorates from flourishing to floundering, marketers are scrambling to remake their advertising so products seem affordable and sensible rather than indulgent and fabulous.
Levi's Review Asks Shops to Reveal Sensitive Price Data for Other Clients
Nov 10, 2008
Agencies are used to bending over backward for new business, especially in these tight times. But Levi Strauss & Co.'s recent $50 million contest for media planning and buying on Levi's and Dockers asked them to bend too far: It sought invoices from agencies that could conceivably be used to determine what their other clients were paying for media.
Broadcast Blues Hit Media Firms
Nov 10, 2008
Earnings from big media companies this past week showed cable channels are comfortably surviving the economic slowdown. Broadcasters? Not so much.
Obama Promises Change; Is It Bad for Marketers?
Nov 10, 2008
The election of President Barack Obama will bring with it a Democrat-controlled Congress and a revised set of priorities for the various federal agencies that regulate media and advertising.
Twitter: Making Money Through Corporate Accounts?
Nov 7, 2008
In a panel at the Web 2.0 Summit, Twitter co-founder and CEO Evan Williams wouldn't concretely answer one of Silicon Valley's biggest unanswered questions: how the company plans to make money. But he gave some strong indications. Hint: it's not advertising.
Obama Appoints Advisers Including Buffett
Nov 7, 2008
US President-elect Barack Obama has appointed a team of high-level advisers including billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Google chief executive Eric Schmidt to guide his thoughts on the economy ahead of taking office on January 20.
Building a Better Twitter
Nov 7, 2008
A host of rival sites allow users to share short messages like Twitter, but offer unique features such as picture-sharing or private groups.
Obama's Online Ad Spend Approached $8 Million
Nov 7, 2008
If a recent online political ad revenue prediction is correct, President-elect Barack Obama's campaign could account for at least half of all 2008 online political ad spending.
Microsoft's Ballmer Rules Out Reviving Yahoo Acquisition Offer
Nov 7, 2008
Microsoft Corp. said it has no interest in acquiring Yahoo! Inc., after Yahoo Chief Executive Officer Jerry Yang said the Internet company is willing to sell.
Survey: Americans Cutting Back on Gifts, but Not for Pets
Nov 7, 2008
Among those who plan to spend less on gifts this year, only 23 percent are doing so on their pets, according to a survey released Thursday by Consumer Reports.
Just 3 ‘Superbanks’ Now Dominate Industry
Nov 7, 2008
The financial crisis that has been sweeping the globe has reshaped nearly every corner of the economy, but no industry has been altered more radically than banking.
Animal Planet Branches Out With New Series, Ad Deals
Nov 7, 2008
As the programming becomes younger and more diverse, veering away from its standard pet tricks and pet owners' fare, so do the advertisers.
Interactive Ad Spending Will Top Out in 2009: Report
Nov 7, 2008
Next year will be the first year since the start of the century in which some components of interactive advertising will show little or no growth, according to a 2009 outlook report from Borrell Associates.
All Bets Are Off
Nov 7, 2008
SAP and BMW have recently announced that they can't forecast what'll happen to their sales or earnings in the last two months of 2008, rendering 2009 as nothing more than a blank cell on their spreadsheets. What they're effectively saying is that nothing they have ever said about the power of their brands is true.
Oh, Dear, Here Come the 'Facebook to Buy Twitter' Rumors
Nov 7, 2008
John Battelle, CEO of Federated Media, decided to have a little bit of speculative fun onstage Thursday with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg at the Web 2.0 Summit. It's the sort of "speculative fun" that could give tech bloggers a gossip-overload headache for weeks to come: Battelle decided to throw some fuel on the "Facebook might buy Twitter" fire.
Obama Victory Is Record News on the Web
Nov 7, 2008
The hour beginning 11 p.m. Tuesday — when Senator Barack Obama was widely projected to have won the presidency — was the biggest for news Web sites since measuring began three years ago.
Client Cutbacks Bring Agency Layoffs
Nov 7, 2008
As consumers suddenly cut back spending on everything from cars to clothing to cold cuts, companies are reducing their ad budgets or shifting to lower-cost alternatives like e-mail marketing and public relations. That means layoffs at agencies, which since the dot-com bust have been carefully counting heads whenever clients start counting pennies.
Obama Win Fits CNN to a 'T'
Nov 7, 2008
In the 24 hours since CNN.com published its story calling the election for Obama, the site sold nearly 5,000 T-shirts emblazoned with "Obama inspires historic victory." Under the headline is "I just saw it on CNN.com" and the time and date 11:04 p.m., 11-4-08.
Youth Is Not An Age
Nov 7, 2008
According to the "Golden Age of Youth" study from Viacom Brand Solutions International, marketers should target consumers based upon their engagement and participation in youth culture rather than on their chronological age.
The Day After, Election-Flavored Ads
Nov 7, 2008
On Madison Avenue, the 2008 presidential race is ending as it began: with a wave of advertising campaigns that adopt the themes and language of the political campaigns.
Craigslist Agrees to Curb Sex Ads
Nov 7, 2008
The online classifieds company Craigslist said Thursday that it had reached an agreement with 40 state attorneys general and agreed to tame its notoriously unruly “erotic services” listings.
'Conspicuous Consumption is Less Fashionable' This Season
Nov 6, 2008
Luxury retailers may suffer the industry's biggest reversal of fortune during the holidays as the global financial crisis dents the wealth of the richest Americans.
The Vote: A Victory for Social Media, Too
Nov 6, 2008
The '08 election was a triumph for the likes of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr as voters chronicled their experiences in words, photos, and video.
News Corp Walloped on Outlook
Nov 6, 2008
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has admitted the economic downturn has started to eat into earnings at his $US61 billion ($89 billion) global media empire, warning operating profit will be down in the "low to mid-teen'' percentage range in 2008/09.
Tech Companies Greet Obama With Cautious Optimism
Nov 6, 2008
Barack Obama's presidency could spell major changes for the technology industry after years of limited White House attention.
Departing Chief Says NBC Has Become Fully Digital
Nov 6, 2008
George Kliavkoff, the chief digital officer at NBC Universal, announced he would leave NBC at the end of the year to start, run or invest in digital media companies. Digital media is now a part of every unit of NBC and there is no longer a need for a distinct digital media head.
Jack of All Trades or Master of One
Nov 6, 2008
Which strategy works the best--a narrow, specialized positioning where a product focuses on one feature or an all-in-one solution where products offer a range of features?
When A Brand Path Departure Makes Sense
Nov 6, 2008
The profits made from non-Porsche Porsche drivers like me will allow the company to invest in the next generation of brand-consistent sports cars. While the Cayenne appears, at first sight, to be a brand aberration, the long-term perspective will reveal it to be part of the very brand-consistent path to profit.
Cisco Feels Sting of Economic Downturn
Nov 6, 2008
Technology bellwether Cisco Systems gave a glum outlook Wednesday as the company sharply felt the effects of the financial crisis and weakening economy during its first fiscal quarter 2009.
At the Supermarket Checkout, Frugality Trumps Brand Loyalty
Nov 6, 2008
Many Americans are changing their everyday purchases and abandoning brand loyalty, prompted by the persistent financial pressure of rising food, gasoline and electricity prices.
Obama Win Could Spur Holiday Sales
Nov 6, 2008
In a survey by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs, 8% of respondents said they are likely to increase holiday spending, thanks to the historic election of Sen. Obama to the White House.
Starbucks Focuses on Community with (RED)
Nov 6, 2008
Starbucks says it is expanding its social responsibility platform and reinforcing its commitment to the communities that produce its coffee through its partnership with (RED) that was announced last week.
Another Election Result: Twitter Comes Through
Nov 6, 2008
As Barack Obama made history, Twitter sustained record-breaking activity on its microblogging service as voters across the globe tweeted their election night reactions.
Disney, by Design
Nov 6, 2008
Disney still peddles all those things. But now the company also sells $3,900 designer wedding gowns — no characters in sight — and women’s cashmere sweaters “inspired by Tinker Bell.” Interior design offerings include $2,800 leather club chairs and $6,000 chandeliers patterned after the Art Deco décor in Mr. Disney’s former office. One of the company’s new products: couture soap. Welcome to Disney, the “lifestyle brand.”
Patagonia Struggles with Recycled Products Program
Nov 6, 2008
The goal of Patagonia's Common Threads program is to sell only recycled and recyclable products by 2010. It's becoming a difficult challenge.
Failure to Communicate
Nov 6, 2008
What started as a simple financial transaction between two interested parties--I give you money, you give me product or service--evolved into "matched monologues." Brand: This is what I am. Customer: This is what I want.
In Rodale Layoffs, A Glint Of Hope For Magazines
Nov 6, 2008
Men's Health publisher Rodale is the most recent high-profile magazine company to lay off staff in anticipation of a rocky 2009. It sent 111 packing Monday afternoon. But amid the gloom, there may be reason for hope.
'USA Weekend' Alters Logo for 'Twilight' Movie Cover
Nov 6, 2008
USA Weekend, the weekly companion to USA Today, has announced that its Nov. 16 issue will feature a special cover for the premiere of the much-anticipated "Twilight" movie. The cover will represent only the second time in a decade that USA Weekend has changed its blue-and-white logo.
NYC Looks To Bolster Media Industry
Nov 6, 2008
New York has long prided itself on being the country’s media capital, home to the publishing and magazine heavies, the television networks and two national newspapers. But the long-term future for The New York Times and just about every other printed product looks grim, spurring questions of whether the city’s media dominance could soon wane.
An Obama Presidency: Good, Bad News for Technology
Nov 5, 2008
When Barack Obama becomes president in January with a strongly Democratic Congress, he'll have the chance to push a technology policy that relies more on government subsidy and regulation than that of his immediate predecessor.
Forget The Magic Wall. CNN Has Holograms
Nov 5, 2008
CNN is cool. In addition to the huge touchscreen “Magic Wall” (which was originally military technology), Wolf Blitzer got to play with Holograms last night during CNN's coverage of the presidential elections.
Like a Billboard, but, Oh, So Sleek
Nov 5, 2008
Luxury brands have dabbled in outdoor advertising, but often this has been for entry-level or spinoff lines, rather than the main, high-end labels. But like other marketers, makers of luxury goods are getting more adventurous in their choice of media.
F.C.C. Nods to New Use of Airwaves
Nov 5, 2008
Over the objections of television broadcasters and other groups, federal regulators set aside a disputed slice of radio spectrum for public use on Tuesday, hoping it would lead to low-cost, high-speed Internet access and new wireless devices.
Google Pulls Out of Yahoo Advertising Partnership
Nov 5, 2008
Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. have scrapped their Internet advertising partnership, abandoning attempts to overcome the objections of antitrust regulators and customers who believed the alliance would give Google too much power over online commerce.
U.S. News & World Report To Shift Operations to Web
Nov 5, 2008
The financially struggling magazine, which cut back to biweekly publication earlier this year, now plans to reinvent itself on the Web.
New Domain Names Put Name Brands in a Bind
Nov 5, 2008
Worried about having to shell out millions of dollars to protect their brands, several major companies are protesting the launch of a slew of new top-level domains -- the suffixes like ".com" that appear at the end of Web-site names.
Viacom Net Drops 37% as Ad Sales Slip Further
Nov 5, 2008
Viacom Inc. reported a 37% drop in third-quarter net income, dragged down by lower theatrical-film revenue and shrinking U.S. cable-television advertising sales.
Media Outlets Say Goodbye to Their Best Story
Nov 5, 2008
After a nearly two-year campaign fraught with race, gender and generational conflict, those in the media reporting and commenting on the road to the White House were rewarded with record viewers and web traffic. Now media outlets are scrambling to figure out what comes after -- particularly those who rose to fame thanks to being in the right place at the right time.
Kenya Poised for Post-Election Brand Explosion
Nov 5, 2008
Quite naturally, Obama-mania is in full swing in the East African nation, and leaders there can't be blamed for seeing big tourism opportunities during an Obama administration.
Obama, McCain: Political Brand Analysis Results
Nov 4, 2008
By comparing the most compelling benefits to the perception of each presidential candidate we are able to determine who is best positioned to be elected president.
Follow The Election News On Twitter And Skip The Babbling Pundits
Nov 4, 2008
Twitter is a great tool for following breaking news stories when you're just looking for the latest information and don't want to wade through an endless torrent of bull from pundits, analysts, commentators, and bloggers.
Perspctv Turns Its Election Monitor Mashup Over to Marketers
Nov 4, 2008
As the election concludes, Perspctv is transitioning into a new-media dashboard for marketers.
Dueling Brands Pick Up Where Politicians Leave Off
Nov 4, 2008
Election Day will bring an end to the negative political advertising that has inundated the country. But it will not mean an end to negative advertising.
Dell Bets Splashy Design Will Sell Its New Laptops Its New Laptops
Nov 4, 2008
Dell Design Chief Ed Boyd is transforming those once-stodgy PCs with art and color. Can made-to-order laptops revitalize the computer maker?
Retrospective of Health Posters Shows Influence of Advertising
Nov 4, 2008
Titled “An Iconography of Contagion,” the exhibition features work from public health groups, which took cues from advertising in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and began to rely on mass communication, with pamphlets, posters and, later, films and radio spots.
Fairness Doctrine Stirs Angst Among the Right
Nov 4, 2008
Could Democrats be planning to bring back the Fairness Doctrine, a rule that requires broadcasters to air both sides of controversial issues? Conservatives believe so and have been taking to radio shows and blogs to denounce the idea.
TV's News Stars, Gizmos Align for Election Night
Nov 4, 2008
Tuesday will see holograms and virtual reality, a "magic wall" and a "launchpad," and two New York City landmarks — Rockefeller Center and Times Square — turned into TV studios.
Can 'Traditional' Trump Digital Marketing?
Nov 4, 2008
It could be the way we are looking at, tracking and investing in traditional marketing--particularly event marketing--that needs to change.
Subsets Of A Digital Age
Nov 4, 2008
The study confirms that there are marked differences between age groups not only in the usage of media, but also their acceptance of and attitudes towards each type and using multiple forms of media concurrently. And, consumer profiles and habits are changing… sometimes dramatically.
Dunkin' Donuts Goes Twitter
Nov 4, 2008
Dunkin' Donuts recently became one of the latest consumer brands to have an official page on Twitter.
Why ROE Should Be Your New ROI
Nov 4, 2008
ROI was about the effective deployment of internal resources, but ROE offers a more customer-centric, outwardly focused approach. It's about reaching out to, and interacting with, consumers.
Marketers Take a Softer Tack to Reach Uneasy Consumers
Nov 4, 2008
The roller-coaster stock market and plunging housing prices have left many consumers afraid. In response, marketers are adopting a softer approach to peddling their wares, playing up comforting images in their ads and focusing on family and the warmth and safety of home.
Pepsi to Invest $1 Billion In China
Nov 4, 2008
PepsiCo Inc. plans to spend $1 billion in China over the next four years, extending its investment in one of its fastest-growing markets as the troubled economy cuts into sales and profit in the U.S.
Starbucks to Give Free Coffee to Voters
Nov 4, 2008
Starbucks is giving away free coffee on Election Day to anyone who says they voted.
Interpublic, WPP Win J&J Pharmaceutical Business
Nov 4, 2008
Interpublic Group of Cos. and WPP Group have emerged the winners of a holding-company pitch for Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical business.
Wal-Mart Among Best 'Value' Brands, AIG Among Worst
Nov 4, 2008
Budget brands like Wal-Mart and Old Navy were ranked the highest in brand value by consumers, while more upscale brands and financial services firms ranked the lowest, reflecting the loss of consumer confidence in those brands.
The Squeeze Is On as Agencies Cut Budgets
Nov 4, 2008
The news already feels old: The process of agencies crafting their budgets is being complicated by the broader collapse in financial markets. But the ramifications are just beginning to crystallize.
Generation Xers Have Real Jobs and Cash to Buy Stuff
Nov 4, 2008
Marketers have a thing for Generation X. The 25- to 44-year-olds have cash, are web savvy, and like technology. What more could a marketer want? (Besides Generation Y . . . )
Wal-Mart's Media Tack For Tough Times
Nov 3, 2008
Wal-Mart's "Save money. Live better" tagline seems to be translating to its media strategy, as recent buys on national radio and targeted cable networks such as CNBC have helped boost sales for some of the retailer's biggest initiatives.
MySpace, MTVN Pact To Monetize Content
Nov 3, 2008
MySpace and MTV Networks have formed a partnership designed to help both companies monetize MTV’s copyrighted content that users post to MySpace. The scheme uses ad insertion technology created by the startup firm Auditude.
Yahoo News Is Bracing For A Day Of Heavy Traffic
Nov 3, 2008
The festive red, white and blue graphics have been designed. The production rehearsals have been held. The Web servers have been adjusted in preparation for a great influx of traffic. Now Yahoo News is waiting for the election results to start streaming in.
Wired Women An Untapped Goldmine For Package Goods
Nov 3, 2008
Long ago, back in the aftermath of the last online bubble, package-goods marketers largely concluded that women didn't want to spend much time talking about their low-involvement products or buying them online.
Social Networking Sites "Good for Businesses"
Nov 3, 2008
Good news for workers addicted to Facebook, Bebo and MySpace -- a British think-tank says bosses should not stop their staff using social networking sites because they could actually benefit their firms.
Mobile Messages Gain Awareness
Nov 3, 2008
A record 104 million people (or an estimated four in 10 Americans) recalled seeing an ad on their mobile device between July and September.
The Morning After: Washington Post Plans New Post-Election Web Site
Nov 3, 2008
Editors and publishers are already taking a look beyond Election Tuesday. They're thinking about one key thing: How do you keep readers on their Web site? The Washington Post is creating a new blog.
Time Inc.'s Tough Transition
Nov 3, 2008
Reorganization brings titles together but draws criticism for lack of digital focus.
Nielsen: Obama Had Online Ad Surge In September
Nov 3, 2008
Barack Obama's campaign stepped up online advertising in September as the financial crisis emerged as a major issue in the presidential election.
Meet Russert’s Replacement? Not Yet
Nov 3, 2008
NBC is expected to announce its decision sometime between Election Day and the end of the year, when Mr. Brokaw is scheduled to end his tour as interim host. The network has said little publicly about its deliberations, which have been set against the backdrop of the election — with the stock of some potential hosts rising, and others falling.
A Surge on One Channel, a Tight Race on Another
Nov 3, 2008
On any given night, there are two distinctly, even extremely, different views of the presidential campaign offered on two of the three big cable news networks, Fox News Channel and MSNBC, a dual reality that is reflected on the Internet as well.
It’s No Time to Forget About Innovation
Nov 3, 2008
Wild market gyrations, frozen credit markets and an overall sour economy herald a new round of corporate belt-tightening. Foremost on the target list is anything inefficient. That’s bad news for corporate innovation, and it could spell trouble for years to come, even after the economy turns around.
And Now, Conan O'Brien! ... and Younger Viewers
Nov 3, 2008
As the Peacock Network gears up for a very public transition of one of its most profitable programs advertisers and media buyers fully expect "Tonight" to gradually shed its oldest viewers in favor of the young consumers who have fueled the growth of late-night cable shows such as Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report."
MySpace in Viacom Deal on Uploading Videos
Nov 3, 2008
Millions of MySpace US users can now upload MTV Networks videos to their hearts’ content without fear of having them taken down.
