Paper review: News Ltd ‘uncomfortable’ with tweeting hacks; was Best Job robbed of the titanium?; Free papers might count as paid; Two more leave Naked
Today’s media and marketing review will be along in a minute, but in the meantime, can I just say this to Campbell Reid:
Dude, what are you thinking?
In case you’ve missed it, Reid is the group editorial director of News Ltd. And he tells The Australian’s Media section this morning that the company is “very uncomfortable” with its journalists using Twitter rather than telling people the news “through the vehicles they are employed to supply material to”.
It’s the kind of foolish comment a less scrupulous person might later try to claim they hadn’t said, if they hadn’t been quoted in their own newspaper.
Fortunately for News Ltd, many of the journalists he employs understand the benefits. Lots of them tweet. Personally, the main thing that takes me on to News Ltd sites all day, every day, is following News Ltd journalists who tweet links to the things they and their colleagues have written.
I’m not going too fast for you, am I Mr Reid?
Anyway, back to the rest of the newspaper review…
The Cannes aftermath is well and truly underway, with the feelgood factor of Cummins Nitro’s three grand prix for Tourism Queensland’s best Job. And the campaign is already translating into bookings, says the Australian.
Meanwhile, in an intriguing development, B&T Today suggests that Cummins Nitro was robbed of a Titanium win because the jurors watched the wrong entry video.
Back with The Oz, newspaper publishers have come up with a new plan, says that paper. The Audit Bureau of Circulation rules will be changed so that newspapers given away free – sorry, “bundled” – with other products can count as paid sales.
And still with the press, the paper returns to the subject of reforms of the Australian Press Council, which it describes as being “in disarray”. The publishers who fund it want to cut its remit – and the $82,000 a year they pay to chairman Ken McKinnon. Prof McKinnon wants to expand the remit to other media.
And another industry body will be looking at its budgets after Google withdrew from top tier involvement in the Interactive Advertising Bureau, which will leave a $100,000 hole, says the paper.
Telly’s industry body has been chatting too. Free TV has pulled back from calls to stop announcing revenue figures, says the Oz.
There’s also a biggish people move reported in the paper, with the revolving doors turning again at Naked Communications. Two of the agency’s biggest personalities – events boss John Du Vernet and ideas director Jonathan Pease are both joining media agency Ikon’s digital arm New Dialogue.
And in other news in The Oz, women-focused site network Flossie has announced Procter & Gamble as its foundation advertiser.
There’s also a good column for media agency OMD’s Mark Coad, who warns:
“If you’re a client and don’t know exactly what you are paying your agency, or where the commission is going (because if you’re not getting it, it’s going somewhere) find out. Then, appoint some agency partners with a grown-up remuneration model.”
Meanwhile, it’s deathly quiet in the Australian Finacial Review’s Marketing section. To summarise the status quo:
- PBL says that it’s still going ahead with building its own print centre;
- Photon still isn’t commenting on rumours that it might float its internet and e-commerce division
- The outdoor industry still hasn’t said when it will release its data for its Move measurement system, but may soon.
- Last week’s radio ratings had “few suprises”
- Foxtel is still planning to launch new channerls in July or August.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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I think you will find that “bundled sales” will be reported as a “break-out” of paid sales. That is, while they are included in the gross paid sales, any “bundled sales” must be also separately reported. As long as there is a “cost to consumer” involved – whether it is 1 cent or the full cover-price then it is technically a sale. Obviously, selling at 1 cent is unsustainable in the long-term and this tactic will be used to try to promote trial and future sales, with the media agencies knowing exactly how much bundling has been happening.
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