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Opinion | Features
Got a book in you?
From journos to ad execs and PRs, these days everyone seems to have a book in them. But what does it take to get published and will you actually make any money? In a feature that first appeared in Encore, Brooke Hemphill finds out.Attention wannabe authors. Forget big fat advance cheques and living off royalties. The reality of having a book published today is another story altogether. There are only two reasons you should even consider sitting down at your computer to bash out a manuscript – passion or profile.
Savage counsel
In an article that first appeared in Encore, Chris Savage tackles your career and agency dilemmas in his weekly advice column.Hi Chris,
My clients seem to be demanding more and more from us. At the same time, it seems many of the younger people in our industry simply don’t have the client servicing skills my generation grew up with. How do we instill in our executives some of the good old-fashioned behaviours that would keep a client happy and loyal?
Fake it til' you make it... as an ad agency receptionist
From dressing the part to playing the gatekeeper, Leo Burnett Sydney’s Susie Henry tells us how to make it as the face of adland in a piece that first appeared in Encore.What does a receptionist in an ad agency actually do?
Well, there’s the frantic every-day, all-day stuff of deliveries, courier bookings, doing expenses for directors – always challenging – plus arranging all the travel. But one of my main jobs is counselling the account service people. I also keep up with all sports information to discuss with our sports-loving clients – because who wants to be bored while they’re waiting? And I know how they like their coffee. You need to know everyone – from accounting to HR. I’m also the go-to for all catering and sending flowers.
Whose views skew the news? Media chiefs ready to vote out Labor, while reporters lean left
Most journalists lean left-of-centre, says Folker Hanusch of the University of the Sunshine Coast, in a post first published on The Conversation.Most Australian journalists describe themselves as left-wing, yet amongst those who wield the real power in the country’s newsrooms, the Coalition holds a winning lead.
But while the media’s political leanings will no doubt be debated in the lead-up to September’s federal election, our study has also found other largely unscrutinised biases remain – particularly whose views disproportionately shape the news.
It's time for a new New Wave in the film world
Government funding bodies are lazy and decadent, says industry veteran Michael Thornhill but in a piece that first appeared in Encore, Ed Gibbs begs to differ.I vividly remember the time I first saw Animal Kingdom, David Michod’s breathtaking labour-of-love feature debut. The press screening was half empty, despite the film winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance just months earlier, in 2010. Yet its superb performances, stylistic flourishes and overall polish left me speechless. Could this really be a feature debut, an Australian one at that, I wondered, almost out loud? It seemed too good to be true.
Going cold turkey on an agency addiction
Life is sweet for freelance writer Max Kitchen, but in a feature that first appeared in Encore, he admits his struggle against returning to the agency fold.I’ve never taken heroin. But I suspect if I had, the temptation to try it again would not be too dissimilar to the lure of returning to agency life.
Can sport save Ten?
First there was the Grand Prix. Next came the reported $500m bid for cricket rights, then Ten secured the 2014 winter Olympics. So, can sport save the ailing network? In a feature that first appeared in Encore, Nic Christensen investigates.The television sports rights bidding process is a bit like a game of poker.
Check, fold or bet. Those were the options for the Ten Network last week when it had to finalise its bid for the cricket rights.
Andy Lark: good for the marketing of marketing
I can still remember the first story I wrote about Andy Lark, when it emerged that he was to be the new chief marketing officer of CommBank.
It was immediately clear that Australia was about to meet an interesting marketer, one who blogged and tweeted and thanks to his time at Dell in the US was digitally savvy. Even two years ago, that was a big deal. The fact that he also had a stint in public relations gave him an absolutely intriguing background before he even arrived.
Storming the media barricades - advice for young journalists
This week Mumbrella’s Nic Christensen, who began his career four years ago, gave the keynote address to would-be journalists at the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance’s Student Day. This is an edited version of his speech.Good afternoon, I can remember distinctly the last time I was in this room.
It was 2009 and I was sitting where you are. I’d come to this event, a friend and myself — from memory we sat up the back — and I can remember at the time wondering if I’d ever get a job as a journalist.
It was only four years ago and then as now getting a job was ultra competitive but I’m not sure there was quite as much media ‘doom and gloom’ as there is now…
Paywalls will help fund campaigning journalism
In this guest post, News Limited’s group editorial director Campbell Reid responds to the views of ninemsn’s Hal Crawford that the company’s push into metered paywalls is about data rather than dollars.Hal Crawford is both right and wrong in his article which argued that our digital subscription plans are all about the data.
Fake it 'til you make it... as a features editor
Cosmo’s Kate Leaver tells us how to bluff it in her job in a feature that first appeared in Encore.What do you do, as a features editor?
Really, play with words and ideas all day. At any one time, we’re working across three issues of the mag – getting one on its way to the printers, pooling all the words together for another, and planning the issue after that. It’s busy but it’s a pretty magnificent process.
Savage counsel - JFDI
Hi Chris,I run a medium-sized agency that is doing pretty well. As the leader, I am finding my workload just seems to go up and up. I am struggling to stay motivated and particularly to tackle the bigger and tougher challenges I have to face every day. How do I keep up the energy when there just seems so much to do? How do you do it?
Productive, successful executives are those able to consistently tackle difficult and big challenges. It’s a constant struggle for me so I know how you feel. How do the successful leaders do it?
Q&A with Brett Clegg
Brett Clegg, group director – business media, Fairfax Media, in a Q&A that first appeared in Encore, on the journo who refuses to work with him – his wife.Who is the most powerful person in Australian media and why?
Hard to go past Rupert Murdoch. He controls the single largest and most diverse portfolio and is intent on leveraging its scale (and, of course, influence). He’s an innovator and his will to win is obvious to all.
The experiential experience
Anyone can throw up a tent in a high-traffic area and harass the general public, but what does it take to pull off an effective experiential event? In a piece that first appeared in Encore, Matt Smith investigates.A television commercial can easily be muted and ignored, but try ignoring a purring, squirming cat in your arms. That was the experience awaiting passers by in Sydney’s Martin Place in October last year when Mars Petcare built Whiskas Kitten Palace.
The News Limited paywall isn't about revenue. It's about data
In this guest post, ninemsn’s editor in chief Hal Crawford argues Fairfax Media and News Limited’s new paywalls won’t draw much revenue, but will generate data. And they’re late to the data party.When I first learned that ninemsn’s major digital competitors Fairfax and News Ltd were going to introduce paywalls across their mainstream properties, I was excited.
Every obstacle thrown in the way of their audiences is an opportunity. People hate friction and anything that makes life difficult on a rival site is a chance to get them on yours.
ACP to close FHM
After weeks of speculation, FHM magazine is to close, ACP has announced.
Redundancies are likely as a result.
The May issue will be its last, and the website will also be shut on the day the title is taken off the shelves.
The news comes just a month after the title saw its circulation drop by a half in the last round of ABCs.
A statement from the publisher read:
ACP Magazines today announced it will produce the final print edition of Australian men’s monthly magazine, FHM.
The May cover-date issue will be the last print edition while the website fhm.com.au will close when that issue goes off-sale on May 13th.
ACP Magazines is endeavouring to redeploy employees, however some redundancies are expected.
“The decision to close a title is never an easy one and FHM is certainly no exception,” said Matt Stanton, CEO, ACP Magazines. “FHM is a terrific brand but, given the current market conditions, it has been difficult for ACP to make it a commercially viable proposition.”
Launched in Australia by EMAP in 1998, FHM was at the forefront of the ‘lads monthlies’ phenomenon that first exploded in the United Kingdom. Its main rival in Australia was RALPH, launched by ACP Magazines in 1997.
The two titles enjoyed impressive circulation and readership for several years until the arrival of new category entries – most notably the launch of Zoo as a weekly in 2006 which, along with cross-category men’s magazines such as Top Gear and Men’s Health, steadily eroded both FHM and RALPH’s share of the category.
After acquiring the licence to publish FHM through the acquisition of EMAP Australia in 2008, ACP Magazines refined and repositioned the title as a more upmarket offering – and with great success, as the title enjoyed record advertising revenue in its October and November issues that same year.
The shifting tastes of young male readers, and the global economic downturn, forced the closure ofRALPH in June 2010, and while FHM has battled on, it has struggled to hold its circulation.
Matt Stanton paid tribute to the FHM team for its ongoing commitment to the brand.
“The editorial and advertising teams have done a remarkable job putting out a product that is as good, if not better, than the issues produced during FHM’s glory days,” he said. “What’s more, they have done so in much tougher economic times and in the face of constant media speculation over the magazine’s future. They can all hold their heads high, in spite of their obvious and understandable disappointment.”
FHM – now owned by German company, Bauer Media Group – is published in 21 territories, including China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Latvia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Romania and the United Kingdom.
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Comments
15 Mar 12
6:39 pm
Sad news but expected, wish all the team there all the best in finding new roles.
15 Mar 12
6:44 pm
Men’s Health? Top Gear? The #1 reason FHM saw such a massive circ decline, particularly in the last 9 months, is because of MAXIM. It’s the only direct comptetitor FHM has and actually shoots local celebrities (Ricki-Lee, Ruby Rose, Sophie Monk, Jennifer Hawkins, etc) and deals with local modelling agencies. That’s what Australian men want.
15 Mar 12
6:54 pm
… Having said that, it’s never good to see a mag close. Some great, talented guys work on FHM.
15 Mar 12
7:07 pm
You only have to look at intelligent publications like ‘smith journal’ to realise that we (men) are no longer only responsive to tits and ass but instead ideas that stimulate creative thinking/reading and doing.
15 Mar 12
7:14 pm
Let’s play spot the Maxim sales rep…
15 Mar 12
7:46 pm
Michael, that comment of yours is short sighted and shows you lack knowledge of the men’s mag market. How many audited copies does Maxim actually sell ? Not many I am sure and it will never get near Top Gears audit let alone what FHM sold in the glory years……the clients in maxim are few and far between too.
The problem with men’s mags is a global one and FHM closing confirms that Australia is on the same path as the UK. Lads mags are a thing of the past and consumers of these titles have moved on to other methods of entertainment…,.maxim will be next to shut as FHM closing will hurt it a lot.
15 Mar 12
8:13 pm
Porn can be found online; soft as you like.
Gadgets can be found on Cnet
Jokes; everybody has heard them and shares them socially online.
Not a surprise at all(.)
Good luck to the team finding new roles!!
15 Mar 12
8:19 pm
Porn is free on the internet all day everyday. No surprise is it really?
15 Mar 12
8:34 pm
Not sure whether it was MAXIM either Michael. Pretty sure aussie guys found a more convenient way to get their fix of titillating images…
15 Mar 12
9:16 pm
Booooo!
15 Mar 12
9:30 pm
Wouldn’t have happened in my day!
15 Mar 12
10:24 pm
For someone who hacked away on it for seven-odd years, very sad to see the old dame slip under the waves. But probably best to be euthanised save for people keep saying nasty things about you.
Ultimately, the blame needs be laid squarely on these accursed young people with their i-thingys. They simply don’t appreciate how cool monthly print magazines are and ‘lad’ ‘umour that hasn’t progressed much past Loaded circa 1994.
Anyways, my best wishes to the incumbent staff. And enjoy the wake (just don’t invite me. I get all blubbery at those sorts of things after a few.)
Vale (do you say that after a magazine closes? I’d have no idea.)
16 Mar 12
7:52 am
Michael, your comment doesn’t even make sense when there’s an Aussie celebrity on the cover of the magazine in this story above, and the mag doing the rounds on the newspaper websites today has Sophie Monk on the cover.
Maxim? Please. I’d rather spend $36 a month on buying UK GQ and Esquire.. Two magazines well above anything we produce locally.
16 Mar 12
8:13 am
John, ha! I worked on it too and am also sad to see it go. Chins up, FHMers, ya done good.
16 Mar 12
9:05 am
http://blogs.theaustralian.new.....im_leaked/
Coincidental self promotion?
16 Mar 12
10:16 am
JB, I’m with ya, good times hacking away with you in the Emap days. Re Maxim, many of their staff are ex Ralph or FHM. Its ad count suggests it probably didn’t damage FHM as much as ‘the times’, the interwebs and maybe FHM’s little bro (being cheaper and a weekly) in Zoo..
16 Mar 12
10:26 am
As an ex- advertiser in FHM I believe EMAP did a great job with the content – let’s put aside the tits and arse for a second because it’s tuff for a print mag to compete with online these days (in that capacity). That being said, FHM actually used to be quite a funny and entertaining read (oh that old chestnut) no, seriously, it was.
Then along came ACP who took the helm, not necessarily a bad thing but a change of publisher saw FHM die a slow and painful death because they homogenised it to within an inch of its life –it lost personality – they mind-numingly dullerised it. To rephrase Matt Stanton’s quote “…. it WAS a terrific brand.”
I gifted my man an FHM sub this year and after an issue or two, I swapped titles (at his request) because it was so painfully awful. FHM became what is Victoria to our Australia – the nanny state.
16 Mar 12
10:46 am
I suppose modern man . . the ones who need titillation that is . . don’t even need to see a real women anymore anywayz. The universal boiled-down simulacrum made up of red lipstick, lacy undies and super high heels should do it.
I hope all the misplaced find other work though.
16 Mar 12
10:49 am
ACP’s Matt Stanton says in his press release: “The editorial and advertising teams have done a remarkable job…”
No they haven’t. Ever since ACP inherited FHM they’ve stuffed it up, botched the marketing, the advertising, the editorial direction…. Which is proven by advertisers leaving it in droves and the circulation plummeting over 80%. And it now being dead.
Mr Stanton would do well to examine the facts. Perhaps write a book titled “How to destroy a world leading brand” even.
16 Mar 12
11:53 am
Kinda sad to see a part of Emap go… Well done for everyone who worked on FHM – provided some fun times for us Ex Emap Workers
16 Mar 12
12:08 pm
Having worked on the brand and its brother publication ZOO Weekly in the heady EMAP days: tis a sad day indeed for what was a fantastic publication and it goes to show you what mass publishers, more focused on the bottom line than the brand itself can do to any magazine, no matter its strength and following.
The online component should have been built, pushed and paired from the start of ACP’s reign, not sold and marketed as separate entities.
16 Mar 12
1:28 pm
ACP reportedly (B&T) paid $94m for EMAP when it’s turnover was $66m and Profit $2m. Why did they pay so much except out of stupidity? They were going to turn Zoo Weekly from a loss to a “huge” profit as the monthly men’s mags were dying around the globe. Re Maxim….Felix Dennis launched Maxim in US and UK and was sensible enough to sell out years ago.
16 Mar 12
2:34 pm
Hello Michael Downs and MAXIM – seems like you have gone a bit quiet. Any confirmation yet on when MAXIM will be audited?
hello……….?
16 Mar 12
6:10 pm
I’m sad to see it go. Working in the magazine industry I know how much tougher the market has become in the last 5 years. I always thought FHM was a brilliantly designed magazine but I can see why perfect bound ‘Lad’s Mags’ are slowly disappearing from our shelves…
17 Mar 12
9:31 am
Ah yes … hard to believe it’s been a decade since those epic battles with Ralph! Good to see some old colleagues on the post. Fun times.