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2014 Annual: The 10 most read stories

There was no shortage of news which piqued the interest of Mumbrella readers in 2014. But what were the stories which captured the interest more than most? Steve Jones provides a run down of the most read tales of the year.

1. AFR editor apologises to WA readers for World is Fukt front page

fuktThe Australian Financial Review apologised after its Western Australian edition contained the front page headline: ‘World is Fukt’. The blunder occurred when an early version of the front page was accidentally sent to the printers.

A mortified AFR editor Michael Stutchbury described it as the “result of a simple error that got through normal quality control and then ended up with an extremely bad result”.

2. PR stunt for video game Watch Dogs sees bomb squad called to Ninemsn offices

The safe after police had forced it open

The safe after police had forced it open

The bomb squad was called to Ninemsn’s Australia Square offices after one of its reporters received a black safe with a letter telling the journalist to “check your voicemail”.

The box turned out to be a PR stunt for a new video game. Gaming company Ubisoft later apologised for the stunt which left Ninemsn editor Hal Crawford unamused. “This is definitely the other side of the line in terms of what it’s safe for a PR company to send anonymously to a newsroom,” he said. “The thing was black, heavy and slightly creepy.”

3. AAMI answers Rhonda’s Trent or Ketut dilemma in latest Safe Driver Rewards ad

Australian viewers finally got to see who Rhonda, the ‘star’ of AAMI’s Safe Driver Rewards campaign, chose between her two suitors, Trent or Ketut. She chose Ketut – but it wasn’t all bad news for Trent Toogood who swept up Rhonda’s friend in his arms.

4. Seven evacuates Martin Place newsroom as networks move to rolling news and global media races to cover Sydney siege 

Networks dropped scheduled programming and switched to rolling news as a lone gunman held people at gunpoint in a Martin Place cafe. The incident, which turned to tragedy 17 hours later when two hostages were killed,

5. Graphic burger buns ad banned for degrading women

Screen Shot 2014-12-22 at 9.57.42 AMThe Advertising Standards Board banned an advert for a burger joint which promoted its product by sandwiching a patty between a women’s buttocks. The strapline “The freshest fun between the buns” sparked a number of complaints that it degraded women – and the ASB agreed.

The Board said the “portrayal of her bottom as a burger likened the woman to a piece of meat or object for consumption and objectified women”.

6. Kyle and Jackie O in at number one in FM for Kiis as 2DayFM audience halves

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O’s new Kiis 1065 breakfast show tied with Jonesy and Amanda’s WSFM for the number one spot among FM commercial stations in Sydney, with the Australian Radio Network’s gamble on rebranding the struggling Mix station in Sydney appearing to have paid off.

7. Thirteen staff depart Mediacom after overcharging of clients

The reasons behind a sudden exodus of staff at Mediacom became clear after it emerged the agency had overcharged Foxtel and KFC by submitting inflated claims on the TV audiences. Foxtel soon shifted its account but KFC stood by Mediacom, as did IAG, which was also affected by the irregularities. A report by auditors Ernst and Young is due next month.

8. AMI’s longer lasting sex ad returns to Sydney despite ban 

Screen Shot 2014-12-22 at 10.10.57 AMThe Advanced Medical Institute, a serial offender for the Ad Standards Board for its failure to treat sex with sensitivity, returned to the streets of Sydney via a car fleet promising “longer lasting sex”.

The message had been banned on a direct mail leaflet in 2009 and as an outdoor ad in 2008.

9. Kmart refreshes campaigns with new song, ‘Bom Bom’ replaced with ‘The Clapping Song’

Kmart continued its use of catchy songs in its campaigns with the retailer moving on from ‘Bom Bom’ by Sam and the Womp to a revitalised version of Shirley Ellis’ ‘The Clapping Song’.

The ads featured dancing models, but switched its focus from value to fashion.

10. Foxtel slashes prices and puts more premium content in basic package in bid to tackle threat of streaming rivals

In a move to combat the rising threat of streaming rivals, Foxtel announced it was halving the cost of its basic package to $25 for new subscribers and reworking its offerings for existing customers.

Chief executive Richard Freudenstein made the announcement at the ASTRA Conference and told delegates he was “absolutely confident” the new pricing structure would drive a subscriber growth. Foxtel later launched a major marketing drive to promote the cut price packages.

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