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Opinion
The keyboard warrior of Twitter
In this guest post, NBN staffer Scott Rhodie writes an unofficial, personal view on his experience with a hostile Twitter critic.Last night I had a strange incident. While on Twitter I noticed someone saying that Australia’s NBN is already outdated. I wrote a small note back explaining they were incorrect.
And their response? The lovely gentleman (whose Twitter profile says: ‘Father of 5 kids, Loving Grandfather of 10 Grandchildren,and 2 Great Granddaughters. love to give heaps to Pollies and Poofters’) said to me: “Go and lick Gillards C*** out U commie Prick”
What's in a name?
In this guest post, Moensie Rossier wonders about the power of names for brands and marketers.
Brands have been having a bit of fun with names lately, not to mention a fair bit of success. Interbrand just named a headhunting firm Cloak & Dagger. And ‘Share a Coke’ showed how much power there is in a name.
The Coke campaign effectively short-circuited the usual mechanics of communication. It undoubtedly stroked people’s egos. But, I believe, its success stems from the fact that it directly and automatically affected people’s behaviour, rather than doing so indirectly by shaping attitudes.
Best ads from Super Bowl 2012
The Super Bowl is all done and a team from North America won. But as well as some sort of sporting event, it’s the world’s biggest advertising showcase. See the best of them right here… and please tell us what you think.
How to debunk media myths
In this post, UWS’s Ullrich Ecker, John Cook and Stephen Lewandowsky argue that cognitive science can help PRs form strategies in managing media misreporting.
A growing cohort of commentators has bemoaned the descent of contemporary political “debate” into a largely fact-free zone.
How about simply focusing on what consumers want?
In this guest post, Peter Mountford argues that brands should think more about what is really going on for consumers
Who here is hoping their favourite brand of toilet paper is going to be organizing a flash mob on their way home from work today?
What the Optus web copyright victory means
In this analysis first published on The Conversation, RMIT’s Marita Shelly examines the implications of Telstra’s defeat over the online rights to the AFL broadcast deal
This week’s Federal Court ruling that Optus customers are able to view sporting matches minutes after they are streamed live without breaching copyright is a landmark decision that alters our understanding of copyright law, and has significant implications for the AFL’s broadcasting rights deal.
Does Gina Rinehart’s bite of a chunk of Fairfax make her an oligarch?
In an article that first appeared in The Conversation, Mark Rolfe wonders whether the mining magnate’s move could turn Fairfax into something resembling America’s Fox network.
Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart has moved to increase her stake in Fairfax Media, owner of The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and a number of radio stations. Rinehart has already shown her desire to play a role in public life, campaigning against former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s aborted mining tax. She has also demonstrated a willingness to make media investments to ensure her pro-business worldview is promulgated.
What does this latest move by Rinehart mean?
Gillard's Australia Day crisis
PM Julia Gillard’s media adviser Tony Hodges has been forced to resign over the Australia Day tent embassy debacle.
It came after it emerged he had revealed opposition leader Tony Abbott’s whereabouts, leading to both politicians being rescued by police in ugly scenes.
Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes and advertising practitioner Jane Caro debate the topic on Weekend Sunrise’s masters of Spin segment:
The biggest cock-up I made in business
In this guest post, Chris Savage urges agency staff to live the brand.I still shudder when I think about how incredibly stupid I was when I made the biggest stuff up of my career. And then, 18 years later, I did it again. Do not make this mistake with your clients. Ever.
Hey Groupon. Thanks for fucking up email
In this guest post, Daniel Monheit warns that group deal overload is devaluing email marketingEmail marketing used to be fabulous. Back in the heady days of 2010, brands would work hard to build up well qualified databases, upon which they’d bestow carefully crafted correspondence filled with information, offers and incentives. The recipients, of course would be delighted: “Oh look! An email! From one of my favourite brands! And it’s 40 cents off at Woolies this week!”.
The staggering sway of Harold Mitchell
The Power Index today names Aegis Media chairman Harold Mitchell as the most powerful person in Melbourne. Andrew Crook profiles him.
Harold Mitchell takes pride in dispensing with the niceties. When The Power Index visited his South Melbourne private office before Christmas, fresh remains were scattered all over the boardroom table.
Assumptions kill creativity
In this guest post, Gual Barwell disagrees that the sales success of the Old Spice social media campaign was overstated.Yesterday’s post from Cathie McGinn suggested the Old Spice campaign failed to connect with consumers. Based on the facts and figures, I disagree.
What Old Spice and Wieden + Kennedy has done and done phenomenally well is to create a franchise.
The SMH's readers (are wrong) editor
We are now about five months into the reign of Australia’s first readers’ editor. And I don’t think it is working.
It struck me at the time of Judy Prisk’s appointment to the Sydney Morning Herald that the fact that her boss was editor-in-chief Peter Fray was not going to be ideal if she was going to be the independent voice of the reader.
The emperor's new fragrance: Old Spice’s campaign failure
In this guest post, Cathie McGinn slays a sacred cow of 21st century marketing – the highly awarded Old Spice campaign.One of the biggest myths of recent times (by which I mean a story of great heroism and triumph we’d all like to believe but deep down know to be untrue) is the Old Spice social media campaign. It’s been much lauded and awarded as an example of outstanding content, a creative and collaborative way of connecting with consumers and driving a record increase in sales.
How reliable are radio ratings?
In this guest posting, Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis wonders how accurate radio ratings can be, since the data is collated from handwritten diaries.
So, the radio ratings season gets underway tomorrow. After a well-earned break, Australia’s commercial radio stations will renew their obsession with figures to see how many of us are listening. Are they winning or losing the ratings war?
The much feared radio survey is the only way to measure the success or failure of a station’s playlist, talent, promotions or even good old Black Thunder crosses. With six-figure salaries riding on the make-or-break nature of ratings, just how accurate are Australia’s radio survey results?
Jeremy Philips to leave Photon
Jeremy Philips, the CEO who brought Photon Group back from the brink is to leave the company. Read more »
Vizual Jazz to help create Sunshine Coast site
Queensland tourism body tourism body Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd has appointed Renee Deguara as digital marketing manager and Vizual Jazz as its digital agency. Read more »
News Limited COO Peter Macourt to step down
The changing of the guard in News Limited’s senior ranks has continued with the departure announced today of chief operating officer Peter Macourt. Read more »
Pure Blonde repackaged for summer
New and old packages
Carlton United has repackaged lager Pure Blonde in a summer push to coincide with a new outdoor campaign and the festival season.
The new packaging, created by Cowan, aims to reinforce the beer’s credentials as a premium lager and includes an embossed Pure Blonde crest in the glass.
Glen Crawforth, Cowan’s creative director, said: “The emphasis of ‘pure’ in the brand lock-up and the strong use of white truly refreshes the brand, reaffirming the core message of Pure Blonde – purity. Read more »
Sarah Wilson ends Sunday Life column
Journalist Sarah Wilson’s column in Fairfax Media’s Sunday Life will halt at the end of this year, Mumbrella can reveal.
Wilson will concentrate her output on ebooks, her own website and TV projects. It comes as the magazine – inserted with Fairfax’s Sunday papers in Sydney and Melbourne – goes through upheavals including the departure of editor Sarah Oakes to front an online project, and speculation that fellow columnist Mia Freedman may also be about to move on.
Wilson, a former editor of Cosmopolitan, launched her TV career hosting the first series of Masterchef before becoming one of the faces of subscription TV channel Lifestyle You. Read more »
ARN opts for local over national drive shows
Rob Duckworth
The Australian Radio Network has announced new local hosts in Sydney and Melbourne to fill the holes left by the end of MCM Media’s nationally syndicated Jono & Dano Show.
Rob Duckworth, former Sydney Triple M stalwart, will present Sydney’s WSFM 101.7 drive slot. Duckworth was axed from Triple M in 2008 and has most recently been presenting a breakfast show in Dubai.
Gavin Miller, who spent seven years hosting Drive at Perth’s 96FM and over the last twelve months has had ongoing casual work with both Triple M and ARN, will host Melbourne’s Gold 104.3. Read more »
Brendon Dangar appointed content director at Mix 101.1
Brendon Dangar has been appointed the new content director at the Australian Radio Network’s Mix 101.1 in Melbourne.
Dangar will commence at Mix 101.1 on January 23 and replaces Owen Ryan who moves to the UK’s Hallam FM and Magic AM as program director.
Paul Gilbert to lead OMD’s social media offering
OMD has appointed a boss for its social media offering OMD Word.
Paul Gilbert was previously running a social media agency he founded called We Manage Social. The agency appears to now be defunct, with its website no longer online. Read more »
McCann Sydney appoints Oliver Maisey as CD
Mescall, left, and Maisey
McCann Worldgroup has brought New Zealand creative director Oliver Maisey to Sydney where he will work on Australian clients while also remaining CD of McCann NZ.
The move is the latest since the agency acquired Smart whose management have taken the helm at McCann.
According to the announcement, Maisey’s appointment is “part of the continued reinvention of McCann as a more progressive and less traditional agency”. Read more »
STW buys Bullseye
Digital agency Bullseye has been bought by STW Group, which has also announced the acquisition of Indochina marketing agency Edge Marketing and the opening of a Singapore office of its digital business Alpha Salmon.
STW’s portfolio includes Ikon Communications, Ogilvy, DT Digital, Howorth, JWT, Maxus, Mindshare, Moon, The Conscience Organisation and The White Agency.
STW has taken a 51% stake in Bullseye which employs around 40 people in its Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane offices. It also has a digital production operation in Bali where 60 people work, and a Jakarta office.
Bullseye’s clients include Austrade, Blackmores, Lend Lease, Goodman Fielder, Westpac, Bupa and Roche. The agency was founded by Jim McKerlie and Jason Davey in 2000.
AFR launches ‘revolution’ campaign and tells readers: We weren’t good enough
The Australian Financial Review today carries a message to readers from publisher Brett Clegg and editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury acknowledging that the newspaper needed to raise its game.
The letter, part of the Fairfax Media title’s first ever wraparound, tells readers:
“There are plenty of news sources competing for your time. We have to earn your loyalty. We have to deliver around the clock and we have to meet your information needs.
“We don’t just report on business and the market – we are a business too and we are responsive to our market – you. There is no standing still for any of us.
“And we know we have had to step up our performance.” Read more »
Nine’s Gary Burns to lead Fox Sports
Nine’s head of live events Gary Burns has been named as the new director of the Fox Sports channels. Read more »
Tim Worner named CEO of Seven Network
Tim Worner has been named as CEO of the Seven Network in a move that has been anticipated since the departure of commercial boss James Warburton to lead Ten.
However, the network’s driving force David Leckie will remain as CEO of parent company Seven West Media.
Worner – who has been studying for an MBA in preparation for the role – was previously the network’s director of programming and production. Read more »
Kyle Sandilands issues open letter to the media and apologises for comments
Today Network presenter Kyle Sandilands has issued an apology to News Limited journalist Alison Stephenson more than a fortnight after launching an outspoken personal attack on her.
Sandilands’ apology – in the form of an open letter to the media – came after a growing number of brands said they would not support the Kyle & Jackie O Show with advertising when it returns next year. There was growing speculation – fiercely denied – that Southern Cross Austereo was considering firing him.
In his attack Sandilands had made personal comments about Stephenson’s appearance and described her as a “piece of shit”.
In today’s comments Sandilands signalled that he regretted the abuse which had fallen upon the radio network’s staff as a result of public outrage over his remarks.
Sandilands wrote today:
“I have been in radio for more than ten years, my show is based on controversy, I give as good as I get and I have never been shy in expressing my opinion.
“In the heat of the moment I reacted badly to criticism of my television program. I took my remarks too far and for that – and the offence caused to Alison Stephenson and those exposed to my comments – I sincerely apologise.
“Our radio show can be polarising. I regret the impact this has had on our clients and our hard-working staff, who have had to weather a storm of criticism in the media and on social networks. I regret that so many had to bear the brunt of my actions.
“I am looking forward to the Kyle and Jackie O Show returning in 2012 with a fresh and positive outlook on breakfast radio.” Read more »
Chris Smith’s asylum seeker quiz breaches radio code
Australia’s media watchdog has found that 2GB breached the Commercial Radio Code of Practice after presenter Chris Smith held a talk back quiz inviting listeners to guess how many asylum seekers were killed in the Christmas Island boat disaster.
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The broadcast was first highlighted by the ABC’s Media Watch in February.
According to today’s report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority, Macquarie Radio Network acknowledged the quiz was “offensive, in very bad taste, and that it should not have been broadcast”.
The competition, “Smithy’s Mystery” offered the winner a Rick Stein DVD, movie tickets and books. Read more »
Mystery buyer makes an offer for Hyro
Struggling digital agency Hyro has received an offer from an unnamed buyer to purchase the company.
The company, which has been through tumultuous times including losses, restructures, a capital raising to pay a $2.3m tax bill and this week a new CEO, made the announcement to the ASX today. It said: Read more »
Interbrand makes three redundancies
Interbrand, which has piled on 30 staff this year off the back of big projects such as the rebranding of Telstra, has made three redundancies as a result of a restructure to focus on retail, digital strategy and design.
Four newspaper industry bodies merge into one
Greg Hywood
Four of the newspaper industry’s trade bodies have merged into one.
The Newspaper Works and PANPA, the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers’ Association, have been consolidated under The Newspaper Works name.
Also falling under the one brand is the Publishers’ National Environment Bureau and the Publishers’ Advertising Advisory Bureau.
The body said that the merger would not mean that The Newspaper Works’ awards, The Caxtons, and the PANPA awards would also be folded into one.
The Newspaper Works will continue to be owned by News Limited, Fairfax Media, Seven West Media and APN News & Media – but the plan is to broaden membership to include other publishers and partners.
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