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Opinion | Features
Q&A with Adshel's Rob Atkinson
Online trading is the next big thing says Rob Atkinson in a piece that first appeared in Encore. Who is the most powerful person in Australian media and why?
Harold Mitchell because of his influence and the footprint he has left. He’s built a huge brand in Mitchells, offloaded it into Aegis, Aegis has obviously done extremely well to be then sold on to Dentsu. So if you think about it, he is very much a father figure of the industry.
Making it overseas
Is the best way of being successful in Australia not be here at all? In a feature that first appeared in Encore, Lee Zachariah speaks to Aussies making it big abroad.I always wanted to work in New York,” says Julian Cole. “I thought it was the number one place to work in advertising; a lot of the best campaigns were coming out of there. So I moved over and was lucky enough to have a couple of interviews in the first couple of weeks.”
Cole’s story is indicative of the somewhat contentious idea that the best way to be successful in Australia is to not be in Australia any more.
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.
Ten sales boss O’Brien: We need just one hit to turn it around
The head of sales for embattled Network Ten says the broadcaster needs just one hit to turn around its fortunes.
This week sees the network launch a tranche of new shows including Everybody Dance Now, Puberty Blues and Class Of. It is also about to launch the second series of Can of Worms with new host Chrissie Swan, and talent quest I Will Survive.
Barry O’Brien, Ten’s newly arrived chief sales officer, said that he followed the mantra of David Leckie, the man who turned around Seven’s fortunes.
He said: “I remember sitting with David Leckie when the network was not in great shape. All he said was ‘You need one.’ That’s where we’re aiming. If we got two, got three, absolute bonus.”
In the video interview with Mumbrella’s Tim Burrowes, O’Brien said that the network was focusing on delivering audience in the 18-49 demographic rather than in absolute numbers.
The interview was shot last week, before Everybody Dance Now aired to poor ratings.
Tonight sees the network’s best hope of a hit, Puberty Blues, go to air. Produced by Southern Star, previews of the nostalgic drama have been positive. Also airing tonight is Class Of, which is based on a European format and sees a group of struggling students get help from education specialists. Class Of has been on Ten’s slate for two years since it was announced alongside The Renovators, which tanked, and Don’t Stop Believing which never made it to air.
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Comments
15 Aug 12
1:30 pm
They don’t need a hit, they need a slap. In the head. Seriously, who is making these terrible decisions? Advertorials on the breakfast show, launching early to compete with the Olympics, killing the Masterchef brand with overexposure…it’s just a joke-a-thon.
15 Aug 12
1:32 pm
Just a heads up in case Channel 10 are wondering.
Can of Worms will tank (Ben Elton numbers)
Class Of will do modestly but not enough to justify its timeslot and be moved to 6.30pm Sundays (an SBS tailored program on Channel 10?)
I Will Survive will hover around 800,000 before steadily dropping numbers over the weeks
Everybody Dance Now is obviously a disaster and will be dropped unless the costs of paying out the judges’ contracts outweighs the loss in ad revenue (which i think is probably the case)
Puberty Blues will be a success but not a smash hit (only thing Channel 10 has produced that looks exciting)
15 Aug 12
1:59 pm
Here’s some free advice – less reality TV!
15 Aug 12
2:03 pm
So sad that a Ten executive would say only one hit is needed when the place is a shambles. Perhaps it is time for Ten to put a few people on the Board with deep television experience, define a future direction and then keep its nose out of particular program commissioning. If programs recommended by management continue not to perform then it is finally time for some senior managers to be moved on. Ten in chasing a fickle youth demographic with no major sports deals is the hardest of the networks to turn around. In the absence of sport and the acquistion of any standout entertainment formats the best bet would be to commission much more and diverse Australian drama. It is back to the 80s for Ten!
15 Aug 12
2:09 pm
dunno – but he doesn’t really seem to instill a huge amount of confidence. if he was leading my sales efforts I’d be a little worried. (maybe a lot worried).
when talking about his plan and commitment for the role – has signed on for a couple of years and will ‘see how it goes’.
that, and the headline quote that we just need 1 hit to turn it around is the same as a sales person saying that ‘yes, this month was a disaster and i’m sure that things will get better’.
time to engage a search specialist to find a replacement. glad i’m not a shareholder
15 Aug 12
2:20 pm
… but where’s the CEO?
15 Aug 12
2:23 pm
Very appealing interview !
Don’t call us we will call you.
15 Aug 12
2:23 pm
Give the guy a break – 7 weeks in … at least he is honest.
Don’t judge Ten on what they’ve already done (which has been a fail) … judge them on how they invest this cap raise and liquid funds received from Eye offload. They are either going to invest in sport OR will go the US and bid aggressively for the big studio deals (which helped turn 7 around in the early 00′s through Lost/Desperate Housewives etc)
15 Aug 12
2:40 pm
Promote ‘Wilfred’ properly and it will be a hit! A US show with an Australian actor, so successful that Robin Williams, Elijah Wood, Chris Klein etc want to be in it; and Eleven puts it to air on with barely a wimper.
15 Aug 12
3:14 pm
There are some really good concepts out there but no-one seems prepared to say… ‘hey, let’s run with this and give it the support it needs to do well’… it always seems to be a ‘put a toe in the water and not fully back decisions’ plan!
15 Aug 12
3:30 pm
so lets just recap their brilliant programming choices of late:
Being Lara Bingle – crap
The Shire – more crap
The Breakfast Show – crap before it started
Everybody Dance Now – even more crap
Seriously if someone is being paid to come up with this tripe on national tv, that’s the biggest joke of all.
15 Aug 12
4:23 pm
Let’s not forget the Circle: very watchable TV, some great talent, Pam Barnes running it
Then they axe it because it’s not making money. Idiots.
15 Aug 12
4:27 pm
A refreshing bit of honesty in this murky world of egos and hidden agendas. If Barry came out and said all was rosy in the garden he would have been slammed…and rightly so…..ok
15 Aug 12
4:44 pm
“Then they axe it because it’s not making money”
How dare they … if all businesses did this, well imagine what the world would be like.
15 Aug 12
5:06 pm
If the powers at Channel Ten are too scared to tell Lachlan Murdoch that EDN is a lemon and that his talentless wife is a huge part of the problem… I’ll do it!! FOR FREE EVEN!! I’ve already been practising by telling her on Twitter, so I know exactly what to say.
15 Aug 12
5:16 pm
O’Brien might as well be punting on the horses, all he needs is one winner to come in & he’ll break even for the day…
15 Aug 12
5:43 pm
Time to bring back Fredd Bear and Roy Hampson Survive Holiday Island and Dancing With Matlock Police.
16 Aug 12
11:14 am
Puberty Blues did well last night.. long way to go till it becomes a star but promising opening night
16 Aug 12
12:00 pm
Puberty Blues was as slow as a wet week and should have rated much better. For a set up opening episode the verdict has to be “good do better”. And the soundrack is tedious. There was a golden opportunity with this show, as there was with the Milperra Bikie story but both lack any kind of narrative drive. Lazy writing seems to be the problem and it is endemic across the networks with Aussie drama. I suppose it is all the same production companies using all the same people.
16 Aug 12
12:24 pm
“You only need one” reminds me of a desperate pokie player trying to win back their money for dinner.
From the outside looking in Channel Ten seems like it has lost its way and decided to come up with 15 different plans to find it again. The issue is all 15 different plans are being done at once with the resulting terrible execution.
As an example Everybody Dance Now was an interesting concept that was never explained to the viewers, it had two huge stars with viewers spending most of the show trying to work out what was going on. The worst talent there was the host, Sarah Murdoch who was stilted.
I would suggest to Channel Ten that they pick a plan (one) and stick to it until they’re comfortable they’ve achieved what they set out to or feel it isn’t working.
Keep calm and carry on.
16 Aug 12
12:36 pm
They get rid of the shows that are actually working and rating well, and keep the ones that are tanking and aren’t very good quality… so, good luck with finding that hit.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the network is bankrupt by the end of year.
16 Aug 12
12:55 pm
Hey! Come on you guys, I’m liking what I’m seeing!
Fond memories!
BS.
16 Aug 12
2:44 pm
Really does he have any idea what he is doing? Why no mention of all the other content TEN is hoping will work? And this guy is the Chief Sales Officer. 7 weeks in is no excuse…..and as far as ‘Ive signed for a couple of years and will see how it goes’ is hardly a commitment to the channel. Here for a good time & not a long time is the message I got.
I’m gonna spend my money elsewhere.
16 Aug 12
4:44 pm
As Ten go through one of its darkest periods, and their share pirce is languishing around 45c, why have we not heard from their CEO? Ten’s CEO is leaving it for his Lieutenants in his Chief Sales Officer and Chief Programming Officerr to answer all the questions. How long will it be before the 3 wealthy board members will want to see some return on their investment which has dropped some 70% since they bought in. Ten’s performance since January has been horrific, and looks like it will only get worse…….where is JW, or has he already left the building?
I bet I know who’d love to be back at 7 at the moment!
16 Aug 12
6:34 pm
I know little about the internal turmoil that exists at 7, but if the same people that have been green-lighting the programming of recent times are still making the decisions, then there are dark days ahead indeed. The issue of course is reality-TV is so much cheaper to make than quality content, but there comes at point when someone must ask at what cost to the brand. Ten was always the youth focussed challenger, but there was always watchable programming. Will give Puberty Blues the benefit of the doubt, but really it’s slim pickings after that.
BoB is a good guy and probably the best man for the job over there. But he ain’t a magician. The best salesman in the world can’t sell dud product.