Tuesday 24 June 2008

Publicis to launch digital network in Australia

Global advertising group Publicis Groupe will launch its digital agency network Digitas in Australia in 2009, the France-based group's global chairman and chief executive announced, The Australian reported Tuesday.

Kenny confirmed the Australian launch in an interview at the International Advertising Festival at Cannes.

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Detroit dailies to offer buyouts to seven percent of staff

Two major dailies in Detroit are offering buyouts to employees and shared business staffs, which totalled at least 150 positions, or seven percent of staff.

The downsizing moves at the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press are due to financial difficulties in the newspaper industry and a statewide economic downturn in Michigan, the Associated Press reported.

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Mecom axes 30 staffers at German paper

European publishing group Mecom cut 30 journalists at German title Berliner Zeitung, Media Guardian reported Tuesday.

The cuts accounted for about a quarter of the overall editorial department at the newspaper, which was acquired by Mecom in 2005.

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Newspaper Society: BBC video network endangers local press

The BBC's plan that would have 65 Web sites across the United Kingdom provide on-demand news and sports video puts local press in danger, and will have a negative effect on commercial competition, announced The Newspaper Society, which represents local UK media companies, Media Guardian reported Tuesday.

The BBC plans to spend £68 million on the sites, which will give the corporation “free rein to trample over commercial rivals,” who are already providing local online content, the Newspaper Society stated.

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Experts disagree on whether social media forces ad spending up or down

Social media marketing could lead to smaller media budgets, as it “just doesn't cost that much money to make social media advertising effective,” MAGNA Global's senior vice president told the OMMA Social conference in New York Monday, Media Post reported.

“That's the whole point. The brand that is Google spent how much on advertising to build their brand?” Brian Weiser said.

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Google to reveal new AdPlanner tool

Once again, Google may have developed a product that could challenge traditional media buyer business models. The online giant is expected to announce its latest product, a new tool called Ad Planner, later this afternoon at an Advertising Research Foundation session in New York, MediaPost Publications reported Monday.

AdPlanner will expand on Google’s algorithms by providing media buyers with more detailed information on their target audiences and their media habits.

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