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Opinion | Features
Woz not great
In this guest post Tony Prysten argues that the thousand dollar price of seeing out-of-touch Apple co-founder Steve Wozniack on his Australian tour was a waste of money.
This week, for the cost of two iPads (yep, two) I went to the Woz Live conference in Melbourne. I was not impressed.
What the hell is transmedia?
From advertising campaigns to online video series, the term ‘transmedia’ gets quite the work out. But what does it actually mean? Cathie McGinn trawls the media landscape for a definitive definition.
Transmedia, all media and multiplatform are terms often used interchangeably when referencing modern storytelling techniques. Yet, depending who you speak to, there are distinct differences between them.
According to industry experts Encore spoke to, the key elements that define transmedia can be summarised as follows: platform, time, audience, adaptation, and creative collaboration.
Innovation is the remedy for the ailing magazine industry
With magazine circulations plummeting, FHM closing and rumours rife on future ownership of ACP Magazines, Paul Merrill says the only way forward is launching new titles.Eight years ago in the UK, nearly a quarter of all magazine sales came from magazines that were less than four years old. In Australia, the figure was slightly lower, but still significant. Today, the situation is very different. For a start there are so few new magazines. Yes, Masterchef briefly flared, and Top Gear made an initial impact. But Grazia and Alpha fizzled, and now ACP has shelved their plans to launch Elle.
More than a game: broadcasting the Olympics
The 2012 London Olympics will be the biggest televised sporting event of our time. Brooke Hemphill discovers the logistical challenges and technical requirements of producing the event.
From July 27 to August 12, the Australian media will go sport crazy as the Games of the XXX Olympiad, aka the 2012 London Summer Olympics, unfold. The games will be the most televised sporting event of our time as broadcasters look to master every manner of technology at their disposal.
The Voice - Australia's best example yet of social TV
In this guest post, Sputnik’s Rodd Messent has a theory on why audiences have taken to The Voice .I am an addict of Channel Nine’s hit show The Voice. Such is the extent of my addiction I seriously think my housemate might kick me out of our apartment for the semi-frenzied yelling and tweeting that ensues in our lounge room each time the show airs.It’s the first time in almost three years that such disagreement has resulted in less than civil behaviour towards one another, and it’s made me think it might be a microcosm of the large volume of online debate about the show and, correspondingly, an explanation for its success as a social TV experience.Why brands are the US Army - and culture jammers are the Viet Cong
In this guest posting, Dave Burgess, who painted ‘No War’ on the Sydney Opera House, claims that ‘amoral’ advertisers have copied his idea.
Culture jamming is a 28-year-old term coined by the San Francisco-based band Negativland, who declared that the ‘Studio for the cultural jammer is the world at large’.
Branded content is dead. Long live branded content
In this guest posting, Anthony Freedman argues why branded content is making a comeback.
A few short years ago, probably concurrent with the advent of the PVR, a new term emerged within the marketing communications industry; branded content. This was really synonymous with advertiser funded TV shows where programming was created by brands and deals struck with networks to broadcast them.
There were varying degrees of success with this model.
Shock advertising: 30 ads that would give Australia's ad watchdog a coronary
Is shock an underused weapon in Australian advertising, asks Robin HicksToday, Sydney agency The Cabana Boys used an image of a mouth sewn together to shock people with the idea that problem gamblers lie to conceal their habit. Is it the most disturbing image ever? No. Will it get banned by the Advertising Standards Bureau? No. But it did make me wonder why shock is not used more often in Australia – and not just by charities and government bodies. (WARNING: NSFW)
The making of ratings blockbuster The Voice
Jason Mountney goes on the set of Channel Nine’s talent search series, The Voice, to see how the format, based on an international franchise, has come together. What ingredients have gone into making this certified hit that’s rated more than two million viewers on three consecutive nights?
Mike Goldman has one of the toughest jobs on the set of the Nine network’s new talent show, The Voice. He not only has to narrate the show, but also keep the audience from losing their enthusiasm as they realise shooting TV programs takes a lot longer than the one-hour bursts they see in their lounge rooms. A lot longer.
Nine problems stopping The Global Mail from getting an audience
While it’s a shame The Global Mail has failed to make an impact on the media landscape, the signs have been there for some time.I love the concept of a well resourced, philanthropically-funded independent news site. Anywhere in the world, that’s a rare and wonderful thing. In Australia even more so. So I hope that Grame Wood gets to see his investment make a difference.
And I have no inside info on whether Monica Attard’s sudden departure is linked to the site’s failure to find an audience so far.
Regardless, here are nine areas they can easily start to address:
Journalism’s new model?
Does the launch of philanthropically funded news site The Global Mail signal a new era for journalism or is the model destined to be a passing fad, asks Cathie McGinn in this article first published in Encore magazine.With little fanfare, philanthropically funded news site The Global Mail launched in February this year.
The online-only title received a generous five-year funding commitment from businessman Graeme Wood, founder of accommodation website wotif.com, who donated $15million.
Five things that make a great suit
In this guest posting, Gareth Collins argues that the role of a great account manager is to make the work betterI’m surprised at how many suits I meet who don’t know their role in the advertising business. The question ‘what does an advertising account manager or director do?’ is frequently met with answers such as project manager, relationship manager, plate spinner or go between … and those are the nice ones.
Success is judged on the ability to manage a process, be strong administratively and get stuff done. And while a good suit needs to do all of these things brilliantly, if these are the traits that define a great suit, then I’m in the wrong job.
What the hell is transmedia?
From advertising campaigns to online video series, the term ‘transmedia’ gets quite the work out. But what does it actually mean? Cathie McGinn trawls the media landscape for a definitive definition.
Transmedia, all media and multiplatform are terms often used interchangeably when referencing modern storytelling techniques. Yet, depending who you speak to, there are distinct differences between them.
The top seven...most patronising pieces of communication
Sometimes brands have big ideas. Sometimes marketers get so caught up with a grandiose idea that instead of finding engaging ways to sell breakfast cereal, they start to believe their own rhetoric. And sometimes it’s just lazy marketing. Here are my top seven inadvertently patronising pieces of communication…
1) Last night thousands of women gathered in Sydney’s Centennial Park to take part in She Runs the Night, an event created by Nike.
TV audience measurement – why big isn’t always beautiful
In this guest post, Chris Walton argues that the media industry needs to take a new approach to TV tradingThere has been a significant amount of coverage recently about how successful The Voice has been. Indeed, audience figures of 2.6m+ people are very impressive these days. Based on reports, this is apparently double the size of audience that Nine was hoping for in the lead up to the programme launching.
Dicko to host ‘shit stirring’ Can Of Worms for Ten
Network Ten has commissioned Andrew Denton’s Zapruder’s Other Films to produce Can of Worms, a “shit-stirring piece of television” chat show hosted by Ian “Dicko” Dickson.
The weekly panel show aims to offer “insight into what Australia really thinks once the barriers of political correctness are removed”.
Along with ZOF, the show is a co-production with Watercooler Media.
Denton said: “When Dicko came to us earlier in the year with the germ of an idea about a good, old-fashioned, shiny-floor, shit-stirring piece of television, we knew he was onto something. He is very passionate about Can Of Worms and we are excited to be working with him on it. However, if you’re offended by honesty this may not be the show for you”.
Zapruder, which is run by Denton and business partner Anita Jacoby, is also behind some of The ABC’s most popular shows including The Gruen Transfer, Enough Rope and Hungry Beast.
The Can Of Worms commission is not the first time the production house has worked with Ten on a talk show. In 2006, it was also behind David Tench Tonight, which featured a computer generated host. Ten’s programming director David Mott chose not to recommission a second series of David Tench.
Mott said: “Andrew Denton and Anita Jacoby have made compelling television for years and we are thrilled to be working together on what I consider will be one of the most talked about and debated shows of 2011.
“Can of Worms is the perfect vehicle to see the return of Dicko to our screens. We have had a long and successful relationship and are genuinely pleased to be working together again on such a fantastic project.”
“When Andrew, Anita and the guys from Watercooler Media came in to pitch the program to us, it was an immediate yes. It is fresh, bold and certainly addresses the elephant in the room. We love it!”
November 29th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
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Comments
29 Nov 10
4:57 pm
Sounds shit.
29 Nov 10
5:36 pm
If Denton wasn’t involved, I’d agree with you, Marshy. If you’d described the gruen transfer beforehand I’d have said that too. particularly as it was Will Anderson. So let’s give this a chance
29 Nov 10
5:53 pm
I’ll call Fail. Can we start a book on this?
30 Nov 10
8:17 am
“once the barriers of political correctness are removed”.
The term “political correctness” was originally used by the “new left” in the late 1960′s and into the 1970′s to refer to adhering to an agreed political party line or platform.
In the 1990′s it was adopted and re-constructed by right-wing political propagandists in the United States as a term of abuse to denigrate political/social ideas and movements that sought to reform or correct imbalances in power structures in society. It was intended to convince the mass of people that the extension of human rights and more equalisation of the share of power (and wealth) in society were only for the benefit of minorities.
It was intended that a large section of society would be led to believe that they were “victims” of “political correctness” so diverting discontent away from the wealthy elites to much less powerful targets – women, indigenous and ethnic minorities, homosexuals, asylum seekers etc. What is denigrated as “political correctness” could be termed as common decency.
Words have power, which is why right-wing power elites through their various mouthpieces in the media continue to denigrate common decency and the use of language to address inequalities as “political correctness”.
So do Denton and Dickson really mean that they will remove the barrier of common decency?
Wake up Australia. Every time you hear some corporatist tool of the ruling elite say “political correctness” you should know you are being got at and taken for a dupe.
30 Nov 10
10:15 am
Corporatist Tool of the ruling elite? Its a talk show, mate. get off your bloody soap box…
30 Nov 10
11:04 am
If political correctness = common decency as Michael puts it then call me Humpty Dumpty. Society and the media these days has people so scared of being not politically correct that we now have almost no common sense. Just yesterday they announced in WA that the police cannot describe someone by their race (asian, arabic, meditteranean, etc) because it was deemed racist. How ridiculous is that? Now that is political correctness gone mad…
30 Nov 10
11:19 am
O.K. Evan, you are Humpty Dumpty.
One can see how easy it is for wealth, power and privilege to be concentrated in the hands of a few.
Describing some one as “Asian”, “Arabic”, “Meditteranean” etc. is pointless.
There is just too much variation in human beings for these broad categories
to have any use except to perpetuate meaningless stereotypes and to lead
to unjustified profiling on supposed “racial” characteristics.
But you have fallen for the classic ruling class diversion as you seem to believe that justice, fairness and common decency might only be for the “other” that you don’t consider yourself to be one of.
30 Nov 10
11:24 am
Thomas – if you doubt the power and influence of “talk shows” have a read of “Jonestown”, the biography of Alan Jones.
30 Nov 10
12:02 pm
Michael, I have a Che Guevara shirt for sale if you’re interested in buying it, just let me know.
30 Nov 10
12:43 pm
Steve says to Dave “so yeah I have been seeing this girl for a while now, she’s lovely!” “Oh yeah that’s great, I’m happy for you so what does she look like?” replies Dave. “Well she’s short, has long back hair, petitie and has slightly slanted eyes; she’s gorgeous!” ” So she’s Asian then?” “Yep” states Steve “but I can’t say that as my friend Michael Rogers says “There is just too much variation in human beings for these broad categories to have any use except to perpetuate meaningless stereotypes and to lead to unjustified profiling on supposed ‘racial’ characteristics”.
Keep smokin’ the peace pipe Michael
30 Nov 10
1:24 pm
The show aims to offer “insight into what Australia really thinks once the barriers of political correctness are removed” – so they get a bloody pom to host!
30 Nov 10
1:44 pm
Agree with you in one sense Michael. “Politically correct” screams to me mid-90s when it was used by people who wanted to villify but couldn’t as it was no longer acceptable in decent society. It’s a dated buzz word.
As for “Society and the media these days has people so scared of being not politically correct that we now have almost no common sense”, really don’t think this applies to a TV landscape where we have a show like Family Guy basically propping up a whole digital channel.
Despite the crap wording, willing to give Dicko/Denton the benefit of the doubt on this one.
30 Nov 10
1:50 pm
You know Evan – it’s funny you should say that. My friend asked me to collect an acquaintance from the airport from the USA and spent ages describing her (5’6, brown eyes, black hair)…she entirely (out of political correctness) neglected to mention the woman was black…I could have found her at Sydney airport a whole lot sooner if I had that vital missing piece of information…that is political correctness gone mad!
30 Nov 10
2:01 pm
Do you remember Dickson was the person who gave an honest assessment of Paulini in that gold dress? It inspired a national debate and I’d imagine that’s what they mean by being politically incorrect. Yes it was great for ratings but provocative and a completely relevant statement, as much as many didn’t like hearing the words spoken. If this show explores those taboo topics, I’d give it a chance. Denton’s not one to make “shit” TV in my opinion, in fact he’s made some of the better programming on Australian TV in recent years. He’s also about the only person who has had anything intelligent about the bloody Logies apart from some memorable takes from Catherine Deveny and Marieke Hardy. To be dismissive of what sounds like a good idea seems a bit stupid…
30 Nov 10
2:27 pm
This will be a ratings bonanza. Any time the ratings slip just throw in something controversial, like why in an age of obesity are we not allowed to give fat people a hard time…
Denton, can I do the advertising / promo’s for this? I’ll give you a very good, round figure.
30 Nov 10
2:28 pm
Michael Rogers, you are a douche.
30 Nov 10
2:30 pm
“…fallen for the classic ruling class diversion.”
What the…?
1 Dec 10
8:34 pm
bring it on.. I think it will be funny watching people get emotional about a bunch of crap and no doubt easy target topics… i may stop watching downloads for a minute or so.. may.
1 Dec 10
9:49 pm
@Lloyd I agree; having a Pom hosting the show is not really giving the minorities a chance!
Admittedly I can spot a Pom from a mile off:
Pasty, white socks and trainers with shorts, red sun burnt neck…
The surfer pom:
Walks down to beach with ‘mini mal’ under arm, wearing thongs, with a towel and wetsuit… (your feet with never get tough if you wear your flippy flops!)
Am I being PI?
The funny thing is most Pom’s I know seem to LOVE being referred to as Pom’s. – Why is that?
2 Dec 10
11:13 am
Hahah evan, hilarious.
2 Dec 10
1:38 pm
Let’s hope they can hold up the promise of being politically incorrect. That, or they could just put Ronnie Johns half hour on?
3 Dec 10
12:48 pm
As long as it isnt just goading politicians…..I would thoroughly enjoy having the OPPORTUNITY to hear weird and wonderful “unacceptable” ideas.
The worst thing about Pauline Hanson wasn’t what she said. Many Aussies thought that too. It was how she was gagged by the PC brigade.
If someone DOES talk piffle there is no need to FEAR it so blatantly.
3 Dec 10
7:34 pm
Dicko has already had more than enough rope.
4 Dec 10
2:35 pm
“There is just too much variation in human beings for these broad categories
to have any use except to perpetuate meaningless stereotypes and to lead
to unjustified profiling on supposed “racial” characteristics.”
Honestly, are you kidding me? Wake up.
Thoroughly agree with talkingboonie. I’m up for it, sounds like it could be entertaining television.
4 Dec 10
10:35 pm
Now with Ben Elton living down under; I would love to see Andrew, Anita and Mr Elton get together to create a masterpiece.