Opinion
- 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 marketing
  
  Email 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.
- Share a Coke with… the moronic masses
  
  The most-read story on Mumbrella last year, with not far off 100,000 page views, was a fairly humdrum yarn about the launch of Coca-Cola’s name-on-a-bottle campaign.
  
  The headline, “Coca-Cola puts people’s names on bottles in ‘Share a Coke’ campaign”, though hated by any self-respecting sub-editor, was loved by Google. And in rushed what can be politely described as the public.
- 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.
  
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- 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.
  
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  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?

Triple J names new breakfast team

Triple J has promoted Tom Ballard and Alex Dyson to present its flagship breakfast programme, making them what is believed to be the youngest breakfast team in the country.

Triple J names new breakfast team Triple J 144x150 They will move from their weekend breakfast slot to take on the 6-9am weekday shift from January 11 next year.

They will replace Robbie, Marieke and the Doctor. Robbie will be moving over the the ABC’s 702, though it is not known at this stage where the other two presenters will be going.

Triple J is also yet to confirm who will replace 19-year-old Ballard and and 21-year-old Dyson on their weekend breakfast shift.

Ballard was named Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year and he has regularly gigs at comedy venues nationally with guest spots on The 7pm Project and Good News Week.

November 23rd, 2009 at 10:19 am

Comments

Georgia
23 Nov 09
11:18 am

Kudos, Triple J!

PS. They’re not the only young team in brekky – here at SYN in Melbourne we rotate hosts every 12 weeks and always have hosts aged 12-25 (most regularly they’re aged 18-21).

Andrew
23 Nov 09
11:19 am

what’s happening to Marieke???

Camille Alarcon
23 Nov 09
12:07 pm

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for your interest. I spoke to Triple J and they would only confirm Robbie’s move. News of Marieke and the Doctor are yet to be revealed.

Cheers,
Camille – Mumbrella

Tom
23 Nov 09
12:10 pm

Finally… For a youth radio station they have way to many oldies on the air

Relieved
23 Nov 09
12:45 pm

Good news. I was afraid they’d bring Mikey and Helen back!

Dave B
23 Nov 09
1:12 pm

T&A are good fellas, but the whole young people/youth angle is a massive furphy that the J’s only really have themselves to blame for. It’s utter bollocks that only young people can have real enthusiasm for indie/collegerock/rap/whatever, or that they are more appropriate – or, certainly, talented – than older announcers; the enthusiasm of a late 20′s Zan Rowe, or the largely late 30′s or older presenters of pretty much every specialist programme on Triple J is undiminished from when each was a young presenter (mostly, in fact, on Triple R in Melbourne, which provides ace radio for serious music lovers and largely inquisitive/left -leaning ears without this ridiculous argument ever coming up). It’s an attitude, and kudos to Buck for simply admitting that his has changed.

Linda Reynolds
23 Nov 09
2:42 pm

I’m still coming to terms with no Myf in the afternoon!

Spunky1972
23 Nov 09
3:33 pm

I wont be sorry to lose Marieke and and the Doctor, they’d become far too wrapped up in their smug in-jokes.

I welcome a fresh perspective on breakfast

old_wireless_gentleman_1944
23 Nov 09
3:42 pm

they seem way too young for me. i’ll be tuning out.

i want older, smug, patronising hosts on a youth station.

Josh
23 Nov 09
4:35 pm

As part of the ‘youth’ market, I very much enjoy Robbie, Marieke & the Doctor. But change is welcome, and Triple J are always very good at it. Hopefully I can change my mind about Tom Ballard when he comes to breakfast because I am currently not a big fan. Farewell RM&D you’ve done well.

Long time listener, first time caller
23 Nov 09
5:46 pm

Oh dear… Did anyone actually listen to the fortnight of breakfast that Alex and Tom presented back in Sept/Oct? Weekend trashtalk is a bit of fun, but Monday to Friday is above their comedic genious. We’re not witnessing the birth of a Chaser, Merrick and Rosso or Hamish and Andy here, just the exodus of Triple J loyalists.

Full marks to the boys, but I think that after about 15 years of listening to Triple J, I will be heading to 702 to listen to Adam Spencer instead of interview’s with parents of the hosts…

Johnny
23 Nov 09
6:11 pm

@Long time listener, first time caller, maybe it’s time for you to move to 702. Seriously. JJJ is a youth network, for young people. You’re probably in your late 20s, early 30s, so maybe it’s time to move on.

Also, you don’t know where these two will end up. Maybe they’ll crash, but good on JJJ for trying.

That said, there should be a lot more of it. JJJ will remain static and part of a bygone era unless they change.

I’d like to see changes from management down. Marketing, music, programming, presenting, producing: time for a refresh.

So JJJ, just like your father Gough Whitlam, it’s time. It’s time for a change.

Kevin
23 Nov 09
9:47 pm

Why people think Triple J is a youth station is beyond me. I’ve been listening to all types of for a long time and I like most of the stuff that is played. Just like the rest of the listeners.

I’ll miss Marieke and the Doctor – real wit and intelligence. I too doubt Tom and Alex’s ability to host the show 5 days a week. I hope they get a really good producer.

I’ll stick with the Js though. Regardless of the presenters the music will still be (generally) good.

OldPhart
24 Nov 09
7:54 am

“Triple j is for young Australians. We’re not so interested in the rest.”

That’s fair enough – I don’t mind being outside the stated demographic. BUT JJJ should also be aware that there are a significant many listeners that are officially old (i.e. over 24).

I grew up listening to the J’s, and haven’t moved on – why should I? I’ll just sit in the corner and not say much…I promise.

jx
24 Nov 09
9:53 am

I nearly died when tom and alex took over the breakfast show for that week. I thought they were going to get fired on the spot. It was awkward and embarrassing to listen to. Robbie Marieke and the Doctor made my morning 1 hour trip to work bareable. Two immature teenage boys? I can’t stand teenage boys!, no-one can! I am reconsidering this station its already borderline commercial.

Emma
24 Nov 09
1:46 pm

STOKED!!! I was hoping Tom & Alex would get the brekky gig. Great move Triple J! I totally agree with Spunky 1972′s comment. I will not miss MH’s sarcasm … the lowest form of wit … or should that be twit.