American Society of Magazine Editors doesn't like Forbes' new sponsored blogs. Not that that's a problem for anyone outside that esteemed organization. "Advertiser-supplied content, whether in print or online, should not look like editorial content," said society CEO Sid Holt. "This is a bedrock principle, clearly stated in the ASME Guidelines for Editors and Publishers. If the SAP page is a paid ad," he added, "it …
Digital Is Great For Targeting A Niche, But That Niche Needs To Be Sufficiently Large And You Have To “Own It” To Make Money
Poynter Online is running an interesting interview with Rafat Ali, who built and eventually sold paidContent to Guardian Media Group in 2008. Ali says he's bullish on the news business because of the obvious need for scale, and the fact that only a couple of star properties ever achieve the kind of scale necessary to fund a successful media enterprise. For any vertical, B2B or consumer, we have learned [that] for …
VW Takes Film Buffs To Iconic Locations
Volkswagen's "See Film Differently" campaign from DDB/London celebrates iconic film locations by, "turning the camera on locations." Natalie Lamont, Volkswagen Communications Manager, says, "Volkswagen is of course all about cars, but we love film as well. Our 'See Film Differently' platform is about sharing this passion with other fans and enabling them to see films in an unexpected, intelligent and interactive …
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Making Mom Laugh, Helps Mom Make Dinner
With the launch of its latest content play, Kraft Foods is hoping moms will laugh out loud (LOL). Of course, Kraft is no stranger to content. According to Chicago Tribune, the company debuted "Kraft Television Theater" in 1947 to to promote new products including sliced process cheese (1950) and Cheez Whiz (1952). Julie Fleischer, Kraft's director of consumer relationship marketing, content, strategy and …
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Microsoft Office Talks “Ideas” With Mac Users, Because Mac Users Are All Creative And Stuff
Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 presents "Id3a01ogy" -- a three part web documentary series that delves into the creative process. id3a01ogy is directed by Dennis Liu. This is how Liu describes the project: "It basically celebrates 'ideas' and creative thinking. Our subjects range from a Hollywood screenwriter/literary manager, to start-up company owners and educators. The goal was to integrate the new Office 2011 UI, …
Content Is Money, If You Package It Properly And Use It To Sell Ads, Products And Experiences
Business Insider is running an interesting piece on Village Ventures and how they are the one venture capital firm in existence that doesn't run for the hill at the idea of investing in a content company. In fact, content companies form the core of Village Venture's investments. Take a look... According to the article, Village Ventures believes online content can be a great business, as long as content companies are …
Agencies Who Make Magazines (And Other Media) Are Like Painters Who Make Canvas
Content is King. I better you haven't heard that one in a while. It's all Context is King these days. Yet, sometimes content and context meet and form a beautiful union. That could be the case in Delhi. According to Ad Age, Wieden + Kennedy's 3-year-old Delhi office is publishing Motherland, a magazine about India, which sells for $2.20 at newsstands, bookstores, boutiques, art galleries and at the airports of major …
Yes, Money Can Buy Hipster Caché
Several years ago I pitched Camel on the idea of starting a record label. The idea was for the brand to "discover" emerging artists and support them by producing their first album, which would then be distributed via Camel.com and the brand's event series, as well as through traditional merchandising channels. There really ought to be a word for what it feels like to pitch the right idea to the wrong client at the …