Friday 1 February 2008

News International invests in online boutique

News International has invested millions of pounds in a joint venture with online French fashion company BrandAlley, which sells high-end men's and women's clothing, MediaGuardian reported Friday.

The parent company of the Times and News of the World, among others, will support BrandAlley UK with marketing, including advertisements in the Sunday Times' Style magazine and the Times.

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Rudd: Australia's government does not support Keelty's media blackout

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced the federal government does not support Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty's call for a media blackout during terrorism cases, ABC News reported Friday.

Keelty announced in a speech Tuesday that the media should not be allowed to report on terrorism cases until they are finalised in court.

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Google 4Q profit misses target

Google's fourth-quarter profit failed to meet analyst expectations, which reflected the recessing U.S. economy's dent on the online search leader's business.

Google announced Thursday that it earned US$1.21 billion, or $3.79 per share, during the last quarter of 2007.

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Microsoft bids US$44.6 billion for Yahoo

To boost its odds in the online services market, Microsoft Corp. announced Friday it will offer US$44.6 billion in cash and stock for search engine operator Yahoo Inc.

The unexpected announcement shows Microsoft’s ambition in seeking new ways to vie more effectively against the search and online advertising powerhouse Google Inc.

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Gannett hurt by advertising drop

A downturn in advertising revenue and severance charges led to a fourth quarter 30.6 percent drop in net income for Gannett Co. Inc., the Business Courier of Cincinnati reported Friday.

The McLean, Va.-based publishing company earned US$245 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, compared to $345 million the same period in 2006. Revenue for the fourth quarter was $1.9 billion, a 12 percent decrease from $2.2 billion the fourth quarter the year prior.

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Tribune to buy US$175 million in real estate

The Tribune Co. announced Thursday it will buy US$175 in real estate it currently leases from a partnership controlled by the Chandler family of California, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The properties include real estate used by Newsday, the Los Angeles Times, Hartford Courant and Baltimore Sun.

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Printworks expansion protects 100 jobs

A printworks expansion project costing Newsquest and its Herald publishers four million pounds is expected to protect more than 100 jobs, AllmediaScotland reported Friday.

The investment in the Cambuslang, Scotland plant will go to two new tower print units and revamping a third tower, which enables the plant to produce full-colour, 128-page tabloid-sized newspapers for Newsquest rival Associated Newspapers. Associated recently signed an agreement stating it will continue printing its Scottish Daily Mail and Scottish Mail on Sunday at the Cambuslang plant until 2022.

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