Opinion | Features

• How we forecast future technologies

  In this cross-posting from The Conversation the University of Adelaide's Matthew Sorrell looks at how to predict future technology trends.  Although I’m a futurist, I have absolutely no idea what information and communications technology will look like in 50 years time. I do know that some of it will be familiar because once we find a usable form, we tend to stick with it – glowing rectangles will probably remain popular. But I also know that we will see technology and applications which have not yet been imagined. This technology space is growing in complexity and capability at a much, much faster rate than any other, and the implications for society are profound.

• Bamboozled wins Tropfest by turning gay sex into dumb joke

  The decision to give comedy Bamboozled the top award at Tropfest on Sunday has sparked claims it is homophobic. In this cross-posting from The Conversation film lecturer Greg Dolgopolov explains why it matters. It would have been hard to avoid the news that the best-picture award at Sunday’s Tropfest short-film festival in Sydney was given to filmmaker Matt Hardie for Bamboozled – and even harder to ignore the huge online response to the film’s perceived homophobia.

• The blame game

  After recent pitches marketer Jason Stidworthy realised clients need to take a long hard look at how they act towards agencies. During a recent conversation with a good mate, he highlighted his frustrations with the real estate agency selling his house because the promotional material artwork was riddled with mistakes including the show-stopping incorrect suburb listing. Seriously, how could they!

• Would you like an app with that?

  After a post listing five trends to let go in 2014 Hugh Stephens adds his own pet peeve to the list.   On the subject of 2013 trends that really shouldn’t continue into 2014, I can’t help but raise apps. If I had a dollar for every time I heard “we’re thinking of developing an app…” I’d probably retire comfortably to a private island.

• Top five trends to let go in 2014

  As everyone eyes move to what we can expect in 2014 Bernadine Brewer shares the five trends and buzzwords she hopes are left in 2013. It’s that time of year again. The time when suddenly our e-newsletters, our favourite blogs, our Twitter timelines fill with predictions of the future. Although I’m not averse to speculation and even idle rumour (after all, it’s nice to have a little daydream about what we might work on next year), I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I loathe trends articles. As in cartoon-level steam-out-of-the-ears loathe. So this year, I’m doing exactly the opposite. I’m calling it Reverse Trends, the stuff I dearly hope we’ll stop hearing come January. I’m talking about them one last time, so you don’t have to.

• Stop blaming price competition

  The claim people buy on price is a myth, and in the latest in a series about  consumer psychology Ashton Bishop and Gary Wilkinson look at how retailers can make the most of this. Consumers don’t make rational decisions based on price and marketers need to stop pretending they do. There is a common refrain amongst marketers in some categories that consumers buy on price. What nonsense. Price by itself is meaningless, and please slap the next marketer who trots out that excuse for why they are losing in their category.

• Its critics are determined to make the ABC the news

  Amid the media storm around the public broadcaster Michelle Grattan, in this crosspost from the Conversation argues the ABC's critics are on a crusade. 
  The ABC and its managing director Mark Scott are caught in a perfect storm.

• Reviews are important, but how do you boost them in search?

  With a burgeoning number of review sites and astroturfing appearing online, Miki Clarke looks at how brands can make sure genuine reviewers get cut-through in search. As children we’re told if we don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. But in this social media world in which we now live, the opposite seems to apply. We have witnessed exponential growth in search terms with review suffixes, not only in Australia but in the US and UK as well. This is not surprising in the land of electronics, travel accommodation and restaurants, but it is also happening for online dating sites and even dog food.

• Journalism in the dock: The first month of the hacking trial

  It has been a month since the News of the World phone hacking trial started in London and in this cross-posting from The Conversation UK director of undergraduate studies for journalism at Cardiff University John Jewell looks at what has come out so far.   When Justice John Saunders opened what has been called the “trial of the century” he told the jury: “In a way, not only are the defendants on trial, but British justice is on trial.” To say the defendants in the case are prominent in the world of journalism would be an understatement of gigantic proportions.

• Branded content on blogs is dead

  
  As more brands look to storytelling and content channels like blogs to get their messages across Lorraine Murphy says they should look to work with bloggers for the best results. “Sponsorship” suggests whacking a logo on some content (be that an event, a TV show or a blog post) and that’s the extent of the relationship between the owner of the content and the brand in question. The days of brands badging a logo and call-to-action on a blog post are gone. The space has moved on and successful content now calls for a co-creation approach with bloggers.

• New beats: where do redundant journalists go?

  Amid the masses of journalism redundancies La Trobe University associate professor  Lawrie Zion, looks at the question of what happens to those who take redundancy. You’ve probably heard the news: the Australian media is experiencing the most serious contraction in its history.

• Savage counsel - stepping down gracefully

  Dear Chris, Our agency recently lost a client or two and I was given the difficult choice of taking a demotion or leaving the agency. I opted for the former but am struggling to adjust to my lesser position. Any tips on how to take the step down gracefully?

• The failure of the Encore weekly tablet app (and what we’ve learned from it)

  For the last year, we've been publishing a weekly tablet app. Mumbrella and Encore content director Tim Burrowes explains why today's will be the last. The thing about failure is that people don’t usually like talking about it. Indeed, I’m feeling somewhat rueful writing this. But having shared the story of our journey with Encore so far, you’re entitled to hear about the bits that don’t work too.

• You thought Rupert was right wing? You've seen nothing yet

  

  With today's news the Mail Online is set to launch an Australian arm, Alex Hayes looks at what it means for the local media scene.

  We could be about to see one of the most exciting periods for Australian journalism there has ever been. But, first, I have one question for you. How much is your house worth?

• Aussie TV formats make it big abroad

  With a string of Aussie TV formats being remade overseas, Brooke Hemphill finds out how local production companies can get in on the act and whether there’s actually any money to be made in a feature that first appeared in Encore.  When Joe Connor and Renegade Films began shopping the concept for a quirky TV series about a talking dog around Australian networks, they were met with blank stares. Based on a short made for the Tropfest film competition titled Wilfred, the idea failed to generate much support. Connor says: “Everyone said it would never be anything more than a short film.”