The News About The News

Newsworthy Tweets

Thursday, December 3, 2009

By Tessa Leone

CNN.com is a well respected, reliable source to receive the latest breaking news from. They have live video clips and striking photographs, sections for world news, health news, politics, and now they even have a section for 'Tweets of the Week'.

They showcase the top 10 twitter updates of the week that the CNN editors find most powerful or newsworthy from public figure heads, politicians, and just plain influential people.

There's quotes from ambassadors, senators, even Michael Moore...

"Did President Obama promise 2 have more troops in Afghanistan than the Soviets did durring their occupation? Well, he's topped them now. Sad".

Its good that the news industry is keeping current with the latest forms of media.

Photo Credited to Twitter

Nielsen Ratings Soon to Include Online Views

By Laura Reid

With more viewers tuning into shows online, media companies are now asking that the Nielsen Company start monitoring who is watching on the Web. The Nielsen Company is responsible for national TV ratings.

Nielsen's measurements are very important to TV ratings because they are used to sell around $70 billion dollars in advertisements a year.

This is a very important move to Nielsen. If they are able to track the number of viewers online, those who watch on phones, and other methods that are not just television, this would greatly help the advertising industry. They are constanty trying to find where to place their advertising, and if they can easily track where viewers are going, they could follow them and perhaps help the industry out of its slump.

(photo credit: search-engine-land)

Sports Illustrated Unveils Tablet

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

By Zach Jevne

Sports Illustrated unveiled a prototype of the magazine on a tablet computer. While tablet computers are not yet available, the magazine hopes this will be an important move for the industry.

SI demonstrated what the magazine would look like on a tablet and showed the features and capabilities. Live scores, video and more pictures are all features that the tablet version would offer.

There have been recent discussions about tablet computers and when they might be released by certain companies. Many believe that Apple will release its anticipated tablet sometime in 2010.

The Apple tablet would be like a large iPod Touch or iPhone, with interactive touch-screens. There have been two sizes discussed, a 9.7 inch screen and a 10.6 inch screen.

Sports Illustrated seems ready and willing to make the transition to these progressive devices that will certainly play a factor in the future the magazine and newspaper industry. GQ has already created a version of its magazine for the iPhone which sells for $2.99.

(Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated)

The Decency of Television Broadcasting

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

by: Amy Johnson

Everyone remembers the Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction” at the Super Bowl a few years back. CBS was heavily fined for airing the incident. This led to a major debate as to the decency, or lack thereof, in television broadcasting.

Another recent incident makes Walt Disney, co-owner of ABC, rethink the idea of live shows. During the 2009 American Music Awards, singer Adam Lambert gave a controversial performance that leaves ABC in the same place as CBS. His performance included giving the middle finger to the audience, kissed a man, and simulated oral sex.

Disney/ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney told said that in response to Lambert's risque performance, Disney was reviewing the steps it takes when dealing with live performances by getting assurances from artists that their actual aired show will not include anything too different than their rehearsals and will use contractual obligations to hold them to their word.

ABC went as far to cancel Lambert's scheduled performance during “Good Morning America,” saying that many children watch the show and that they did not want to risk another mishap. The people in public relations for these singers have to be rethinking their jobs.

How can television stations be held responsible for the decisions singers make? It is not that television broadcasting is indecent, it is the lack of morals that artists decide to show. If the contracts that Disney is making its artists sign does not work, perhaps television will have to go to say goodbye to live performances and will have to go to a performance with a short delay.

(Photo Credit: flickr.com - kindofadraag)

Newspapers Up the Cost on Day of Thanks

By Taylor Finch

Everyone is familiar with black Friday, but the newspaper industry created what is now known as "Black Thursday" this past Thanksgiving Day.

What many of the nation's newspaper publishers were thankful for on Thanksgiving was the "bountiful harvest of holiday advertising," for which they all hoped to make more than a few extra bucks off of by increasing the price of the overall newspaper.

The Californian was one of many newspapers that went with the price increase trend on Thanksgiving, raising its price from the usual 75 cents to $1.50. But, as the paper's vice president of content, Olivia Garcia, said: "We feel that the bargain you'll get from the specials inside is definitely worth the extra charge. Happy Thanksgiving."

Many readers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Kansas City Star more than likely also felt some shock when learning that their newspapers were priced at $2 on Thanksgiving, and even more so in Dallas where newspapers were peaking at $3.

Some may have felt that newspapers were being over zealous in their efforts to make extra money on their advertising, especially on Thanksgiving, but over charging for advertising is more than likely not the answer to the recent downfall of the newspaper industry.

(Photo Credit: farm3.static.flickr.com)

Yahoo vs. Google Round One Ding Ding...

By: Meghan Vosberg

What? Google has fallen into second place to Yahoo? Is there a new factor in what people look for in a search engine in today's society?

Actually Yahoo has taken a step up due to it's international affairs. Yahoo Japan dominates the websearch market with 56.5 percent of use compared to Google's 33.7 percent.

Since Google can't take this lying down, it wasted no time in updating its splashpage for Japan giving it links to gmail, youtube, and other services found on the internet in attempt to win back their patrons.

Google has also stepped into trying for the first time adding publicity stunts to attempt to win over customers. One stunt in particular allowed passersby to sail and float around Mountainview, Calif. with the help of 2,500 balloons.

Photo Credit: National Chiao Tung University College of Management

Monday, November 30, 2009

By: Chris Mars

I've been reading a book titled "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi. Its a guide to building quality relationships in the corporate world and focuses on setting and achieving goals.

In one portion of the book it talks about the "networking jerk", we all know the guy who talks to everyone and pretends he/she is your best friend. This person never really makes any connections or offer any valuable information to help others. Ferrazzi gives a few tips to ensure your not the networking jerk, one of which is "don't come to the party empty-handed."

In this section he refers to bloggers as "stars of the internet world." He talks of how the world of a blogger is a loop, offering and receiving information. This has really changed my outlook on how blogging works and how to handle yourself in social network settings.

It's all about connecting to others because your only as good as what you give away. My advice for the day is to go buy Ferrazzi's book and see how building real connections will put you ahead in the future. You won't be disappointed.

Photo credit: amazon.com

Magazines following the Internet trend?

Sunday, November 29, 2009

By Michelle Zimmerman

Magazines have been one of the last to find interest in publishing material over the Internet but it seems as though the time might have come.

It is not official that magazines will go online but it is rumored that soon the magazine industry will makes its mark on the Internet. The plan seems similar to the newspaper industry only all magazines would be available for purchase from a website. It has been compared to an "Itunes for magazines".

Magazine publishers will group together and create Web sites available for consumers to purchase different magazines.

People will be able to purchase the magazines on the Web site and get them in different forms. The prints would be viewable on the Internet or cell phones.

Magazines are not the only group from media interested in this type of partnership. Many television shows partner with online television shows as well as music labels and online music Web sites.

Free

By: Mallory Tandy

Two western journalists who were kidnapped in August 2008 were set free in Somalia, Sudan on Wednesday after fifteen months of being held captive.

The captives were Nigel Brennan, who is an Australian photographer, and Amanda Lindhout, a Canadian freelance reporter. Lindhout talked about her memories of being beaten and tortured, setting a horrific and terrifying scene.

Usually captives do not get held for so long, but they think greed was behind it, the kidnappers asked for $1 million since the kidnapping. It is still a mystery who the kidnappers are, they have not been able to find them.

The kidnappers would let Lindhout call her family and ask for ransom but her family did not hav that kind of money, but the kidnappers thought everyone from Canada were rich. Lindhout was beaten on a regular basis.

Mr. Brennan said they were kept in chains and pistol-whipped for ten months after they had tried to escape.

The two journalists were handed over to government soldiers on the outskirts of Mogadishu.

This is crazy, I feel so horrible that this happens all the time around the world and sometimes not much light is shed on these kinds of stories, people would rather know what Britney Spears is doing, and it's sad.

Wal-Mart Was Black Friday's Hot Spot

By Keri Waterhouse

Many shoppers went to Wal-Mart, which is the nation's greatest retailer, on Black Friday in hopes of securing some of the early deals of the holiday shopping season. Items such as the large plasma and HDTV's, $3 slow cookers, and the laptops that were under $200 were the highly wanted items this year.

Unlike past years when shoppers got ready the night before in order to be the first ones in the store, Wal-Mart said it would offer extended hours at their non-24 hour locations to accommodate the post-Thanksgiving shoppers.

The move was also viewed as a response to the tragedy that happened last year at the Wal-Mart in Valley Stream New York. When an employee was trampled to death by thousands of eager shoppers that went rushing in the doors when they opened.

Obama's Job Summit-Google & Disney

By Keri Waterhouse

The executives from Google and Walt Disney are going to join other company chiefs, academics, labor leaders and mayors at President Obama's jobs summit this week.

Google CEO, Eric Schmidt and Disney chief Bob Iger are going to be among about 130 people that will be attending the meeting that is this Thursday.

The 130 experts from unions, government, academia and other companies will be seeking ways to jumpstart job creation.

By Tessa Leone

The media was ruled by adds publicizing the Black Friday sales this weed. You couldn't escape them. The radio started playing the Christmas melodies and the Christmas commercials, the network channels were bombarded by Christmas deals and door buster sale notifications, mailboxes were stuffed full of coupons and sale adds.

Merchants were ecstatic when they saw more shoppers than previous years combined push through their doors at 12:01 on Friday morning, but their relief was short lived.

Shoppers were in for deals, and thats all. Reports showed an increase in headcount and a disturbing drop in spending per person.

Many stores lost money with all of the advertisments they created compared to how much merchandise was actuall purchased.

This appears to be one side effect of the recession; a bargain hunter. Is America becoming smarter or just poorer? And what will this mean for the advertising industry and their relations with print and televised media?

Photo Credited to www.behindthecounter.org

LA Times transsexual sportswriter found dead

By Zach Jevne

Los Angeles Times sportswriter Mike Penner, also known as Christine Daniels, was found dead last week. While cause of death remains unknown, suicide is suspected.

In an essay published in the Times sports section in April 2007, Penner announced that he was a transsexual sportswriter. The long-time columnist made headlines when he shocked colleagues and readers that he would be transitioning to become Christine Daniels.

He wrote in the essay how difficult his decision was to reveal this to the public. In a very personal account, he explained what being a transsexual is and how it affects one's life. Also, about the perception in society and how difficult a transition it would be.

His essay was one of the most-viewed stories of the year and featured over 1,000 responses online the day it was published. The LA Times ran a story about Penner recently after his essay about the beginning of his transition.

After the essay, Penner began writing for the Times Web site as Christine Daniels. He also wrote about his transformation in a blog entitled "Woman in Transition." In October 2008, LAT announced that Mike Penner would be returning to the paper and return to using Mike Penner in the byline.

Penner began working at the Times Orange County edition in 1983, covering high school sports. Over 25 years he's covered the Olympics, tennis, soccer, the Angels and sports media. He also spent time writing an NFL column.

Criticizes Towards CBS

By Brianna Carlson

Adam Lambert kissed another man at the American Music Awards last Sunday. This has caused an outburst of opinions.

Lambert was on "The Early Show" this past Wednesday. CBS decided to rebroadcast a clip from the previous incident.

CBS blurred the scene in which Lambert kissed the man, but on a previous show they did not blur a scene of Madonna and Brittany Spears kissing at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2003.

Some people don't think this is fair because gay and lesbians are not being treated the same as other people.

(Photo Credit: Picasa Web Albums)

Shows Online, Brought to You by ...

Friday, November 27, 2009

By Laura Reid

Advertising companies are starting to find their way around the Web, and so are shows that are now seen online. Webisodes, what these shows are called as part of branded entertainment, are becoming more and more popular with media corporations as they find new places to capture viewers' eyes as they focus more on the internet. Companies like Clorox are financing webisodes for sites like nascar.com and disney.com.

Even smaller companies can compete in this market. American Family sponsors "In Gayle We Trust," a ten-episode Web series that is apparently getting great viewership, although prime-time Webisodes are far in the future.

I think for advertisers this is a great way to start earning money. Advertisers need to be aware that it will probably be impossible to reach some of their greatest heights of profit margins that they hit many years ago, but a method like this can surely lay out a way to recover from losing money. Advertisers are beginning to understand that they need to follow the viewers.

(Photo Credit: Fernando Johann)

Magazine Rivals Lay Down Their Arms and Join Forces

Thursday, November 26, 2009

By: Chris Mars

Rival publishers have been planning to open an on-line store similar to the itunes store to generate new digital media. This new store would make up one of the biggest alliances among rival publishers ever and would include magazines like The New Yourker, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and Sports Illustrated.

John Squires, an executive vice president at Time Inc., has been heading up the new project and would leave his current position to get the new store up and running. Each different publisher would be responsible for creating a digital version of their content but would hopefully benefit from producing larger revenue.

This is a step towards saving the magazine industry and adapting to new media. Squires says its very important to remind readers that the magazine experience is worth the cost.

Dangers of Facebook

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

by: Amy Johnson

Social networking sites – a source for good or evil?

Sites like Facebook and Twitter have quickly become the new way of keeping up with family members and friends all over the world. Especially with Facebook, people can keep up in many different ways; writing on walls, composing a private message, and being able to create events to let people know what's occurring are a few of the options.

A current event called “Kick A Ginger” day, referring to redheads, was held on Nov. 30 of this year. Many jokes have been told about gingers thanks to an episode of “South Park,” and the event was more than likely meant to be the same – a joke.

A few kids from a California middle school took it literal. A 12-year-old boy was beaten up by a group of classmates in two separate incidents; the Facebook event is linked to the case. The annual “Kick A Ginger” day caused the same kind of results last year.

People need to be able to distinguish between the difference between a joke or a real event. Perhaps Facebook should take a precautionary measure for events that have more than 500 guests; if Facebook sees an event such as “Kick A Ginger” day, they would be able to delete it before more and more people get involved.

(Photo Credit: Flickr.com)

No more Oprah

Sunday, November 22, 2009

By: Mallory Tandy

Oprah has decided to leave "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and focus all her time and energy on her cable network "Oprah Winfrey Network". Her show will sadly end on Sept. 9, 2011. This means a great loss for CBS, they will lose millions.

Larry Gerbrandt, who is an analyst for the firm Media Valuation Partners says that any new show they are going to replace it with will not draw as many viewers as Oprah did. It is a huge blow to the fortunes of broadcast television.

Will Oprah's new show do as well as her hit show she has now?

I think Oprah's viewers are so dedicated to her and love her they will watch anything she is on.

Media luck is starting to change but jobs are still at loss

By Michelle Zimmerman

Although it has been seen in the past few months that the media has begun to take a new, bright direction in their industry, people all around are still losing jobs.

AOL announced last Thursday that they would again be cutting another 2500 jobs. The industry explains job cuts similar to AOL's are because most jobs are no longer needed.

Over the year there have been multiple job cuts all over the media industry which at first did not effect much of the production of companies. As the year continued along with more job cuts, it is expected that many companies are now cutting to a save costs but can possibly suffer from the lack of employees.

The media industry is thought to have an increase earnings because of the precautions companies are now taking to consider lower costs. Sadly it is not because of an increase of revenue.

Making Driving Safer One Less Cellphone at a Time

By Meghan Vosberg

We have all been told; wear your seatbelt, look both ways before you cross the street, and don't talk on your cell phone while driving. But since most people insist that they and their cellular devices are attached at the hip, they look to hands free voice technology.

Ford and Microsoft are selling devices that are powered by voice commands to dial phones, but studies have shown that even this way of trying to keep drivers safe still can prove dangerous. Therefore more technology is made to solve the problem cause by technology that was created to solve the problem of a different set of technology.

Zoomsafer is the new handsfree technology. It's a free service that uses your phone's GPS sensors and determines if the speed you're driving is safe. If it deems your speed dangerous it will turn off your cell phone until the car is stopped.

Photo Credit: wikipedia

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