The opening and the closing scenes of George Clooney's masterpiece, Good Night, And Good Luck show Edward R. Murrow (deftly played by David Strathairn) delivering a landmark speech to the Radio-Television News Directors Association in Chicago on October 15, 1958. What the legendary newsman had to say on this occasion could not be more timely for media professionals working today. It's a longish speech. I've selected …
You Could Be The Next “Creative Idol”
The New York Times today reports that Steven Spielberg will join forces with Mark Burnett to find the "American Idol" of unknown movie directors. According to Burnett, the FOX reality TV show, “In the Lot,” will “take advantage of the enormous number of self-made video and film shorts all over the Internet.” Here’s an idea. We—and by “we” I mean Wieden + Kennedy—should do the same for the ad biz. They’ve already got …
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Rich Indians Act Like Rich Americans
There are now about 1.6 million Indian households that spend an average of $9,000 a year on luxury goods, Time Asia reports. Jimmy Choo and Gucci are just the latest makers of luxury goods to target India as the next hot growth market, joining Hermès, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Piaget, Tiffany, Moschino and others. Last October, Chanel launched its brand by organizing an exhibition and haute couture …
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Antiquated Systems Beget Asinine Assumptions
Most businesses (and their trade groups) want deperately to befriend any and all customers. They spend countless dollars and time thinking up new ways to win customer loyalty. But the recording industry doesn't play by those rules. They have their own draconian world view, and it gets stranger by the day. Check out this Consumerist piece, where the RIAA tells one file sharer to quit school in order to pay their …
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What’s Podcasting?
With marketers and agencies scrambling to deliver content, not just advertising, many are increasingly turning to podcasting. Giving consumers control over when they choose to listen neatly fits the concept that the customer, not the brand, is in control. Personally, I think it's an interesting medium, one that we've barely scratched the surface of. However, the following research does cast a somewhat sobering light …
Rev Your Engine With NASCAR Fashion
According to USA TODAY, NASCAR wants to become a lifestyle brand that appeals directly to women, who comprise 40% of NASCAR's fan base. NASCAR is nudging its female fans to slip into something a little more comfortable — and fashionable. NASCAR bikinis are coming this summer. NASCAR high heels and cowgirl boots are on tap. And NASCAR women's leather jackets are showing up in fashion circles far from NASCAR winner's …
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Wildcats Soccer Scores Own Network
North America’s top women's soccer team, the New Jersey Wildcats, is launching its own global broadcast network starting in May. From Online Spin: This summer every Wildcats game will be available on demand by anyone in the world who has a broadband connection by simply going to www.NJWildcats.com or Google Video. Within hours of the game finishing, a 35-minute version complete with pre-game show, first half …
Who Would Win: NYT or GOOG?
In this week’s New York Magazine, James J. Cramer proposes that the New York Times disband as we know it and go online to challenge Google. There’s one way out of this mess for the Times. It is a bold, gutsy, and, some would say, foolish way, at least initially: The Times—here’s the irony—should go all-digital. That’s right. It should abandon newsprint and force everyone to the Web. It should make a stand against …
