http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/matthew-norman/matthew-norman-media-diary-866793.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/matthew-norman/matthew-norman-media-diary-866793.html <p> Even for the most dedicated students of the press, is there any greater delight than the vision of stern tabloid moralists sharing their thoughts on sexual morality? </p> Matthew Norman Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/stephen-glover/stephen-glover-on-the-press-866794.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/stephen-glover/stephen-glover-on-the-press-866794.html <p>Many of us are familiar with the giveaway newspapers and magazines produced by many councils that flutter unsolicited on to our doormats from time to time. Though they are largely composed of Soviet-style propaganda &ndash; recycling rates have risen to new heights; a new park warden has been appointed &ndash; they do contain some unspun local news, and occasionally useful local advertising.</p> Stephen Glover Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/claire-beale-on-advertising-866801.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/claire-beale-on-advertising-866801.html <p>Smell something? Take a good sniff and you might just be subjected to a new marketing craze. Because marketers have their eye on your olfactory senses and the nose is becoming a new battleground in the fight for your conspicuous consumption.</p> Claire Beale Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/beales-best-in-show-virgin-media-rainey-kelly-campbell-roalfeyr-866804.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/beales-best-in-show-virgin-media-rainey-kelly-campbell-roalfeyr-866804.html <p>It used to be so easy being a couch potato; four TV channels, everything in a neat time slot, no interaction necessary (or possible).</p> Claire Beale Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/claire-beale-on-advertising-861089.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/claire-beale-on-advertising-861089.html <p> I am my mom. I am my sister. I am my best friend Mike who I've known since school. Basically, I am all the girls I've ever kissed, all the ones I will, my teachers at school, the people I like, the people I don't. I am a mobile phone company. I am the new ad for Orange.</p> Claire Beale Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/beales-best-in-show-oasis-mother-861090.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/beales-best-in-show-oasis-mother-861090.html <p>Flush from the success of Somers Town at the Edinburgh Film Festival, Mother spent the last week reminding us that it's rather good at the bread and butter stuff too.</p> Claire Beale Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/stephen-glover/stephen-glover-on-the-press-861091.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/stephen-glover/stephen-glover-on-the-press-861091.html <p> If the stock market is turning markedly bearish, newspapers occupy a sphere all of their own, where hope and reason have departed, and confidence long since vanished. Last week was the worst for newspaper shares that anyone can remember. The crisis began when Trinity Mirror warned that its profits would be 10 per cent lower than expected. Its shares crashed by a quarter, and then some. On Monday morning they had stood at 141.75p. By Friday morning they were 94p.</p> Stephen Glover Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/matthew-norman/matthew-normans-media-diary-861098.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/matthew-norman/matthew-normans-media-diary-861098.html <p>Is there any societal ill beyond the range of Noel Edmonds? There is so much more to the man than doling out Christmas presents to sick children without a passing thought for the personal publicity, and in the last few days alone the Isaiah Berlin of the Gotcha has shone the halogen lamp of his intellect at two contentious issues. Especially inspiring is his clarion call to the public to help him correct serious social problems, among which he identifies not merely teenage knife crime but speed cameras and the London congestion charge. "Whether we call it broken Britain or toxic Britain," writes Nolly, "we have to accept that something in our society has happened and someone needs to do something about it." </p> Matthew Norman Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/raymond-snoddy-on-broadcasting-861099.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/raymond-snoddy-on-broadcasting-861099.html <p> Once upon a time, media researchers were strictly backroom operatives. No longer. The current chaos in the media, and demands for greater accountability by advertisers, means that suddenly everyone wants to get their hands on trusted research.</p> Comment Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/matthew-norman/matthew-normans-media-diary-856835.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/matthew-norman/matthew-normans-media-diary-856835.html <p>The most influential armchair soldier in the Western world is back in his metaphorical fatigues. Yes, it's Field Marshal David Aaronovitch, who championed the invasion of Iraq with more vigour than any fellow officer in Her Majesty's First Light Pundits. There have been times in recent years when David seemed to be taking the weeniest backward baby-steps towards admitting that, on Iraq, he may perhaps have dropped the tiniest of bollocks. However, these faint flickerings of the reverse lights on the tank have been quickly extinguished by defiant challenges to opponents, on the exquisitely subtle lines of: "Do you want Saddam back, is that what you want?" And now, far from succumbing to self-doubt, the Field Marshal wishes to invade Zimbabwe and oust Mugabe, which he believes would be another military piece of cake. "How many South African or British soldiers would it take to unseat the junta and disperse the Zanu-PF veterans?" </p> Matthew Norman Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/stephen-glover/stephen-glover-on-the-press-856837.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/stephen-glover/stephen-glover-on-the-press-856837.html <p>My conscience has been nagging me this past week after I suggested that, at 35, James Murdoch may be a little young to be running Britain's largest newspaper group. How old was Alexander the Great when he conquered Persia? Or Attila when he started laying waste to Europe? The more I thought about it, the more unfair it seemed to make an issue of young Mr Murdoch's age.</p> Stephen Glover Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/claire-beale-on-advertising-856844.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/claire-beale-on-advertising-856844.html <p>Oh what a week it's been for advertisers losing their balls. First Heinz: the nation's culinary accompaniment of choice and now target of ire for the gay community. Heinz, Heinz, Heinz, how did you manage to get yourselves in such a stew?</p> Claire Beale Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/beales-best-in-show-cocacola-santo-856845.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/beales-best-in-show-cocacola-santo-856845.html <p>The most famous creative in British advertising is an Argentine (flay yourself if you've never heard of Fallon's Juan Cabral, the only man to bring back a Cannes Grand Prix to these shores last week).</p> Claire Beale Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/peter-york-on-ads-856427.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/peter-york-on-ads-856427.html <p>I'm going to have to talk about something unpleasant &ndash; downright offensive for some &ndash; brands and branding. </p> Comment Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/matthew-norman/matthew-normans-media-diary-852620.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/matthew-norman/matthew-normans-media-diary-852620.html <p> Much like coppers and villains, there has never been that much to choose between hacks and politicians. They speak the same language, drink in the same bars, get up to the same mischief (or would if the old expenses culture persisted in newspapers), so it's no surprise that they sometimes switch between trades. Yet where disgraced ministers like David Blunkett take fortunes from their chums to write bad columns (we'll come to Rebekah Wade below), and while journalists are frequently tempted by politics (we'll come to Kelvin MacKenzie below), the embryonic career move embarked on last week by Andy Burnham is a novelty. </p> Matthew Norman Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:56 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/claire-beale-on-advertising-852200.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/claire-beale-on-advertising-852200.html <p> RIP Stella Artois's sponsorship of the annual Queen's Club tennis tournament. Earlier this year Stella announced it was pulling out of the event after 30 years, marking the end of an era.</p> Claire Beale Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/beales-best-in-show-orange-poke-852201.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/claire-beale/beales-best-in-show-orange-poke-852201.html <p> In Cannes last week Lord Puttnam, one-time Sixties adman now chairman of the digital agency Profero, hit out at advertisers for being obsessed with &quot;trendy&quot; websites like Facebook. </p> Claire Beale Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/conor-dignam/conor-dignam-on-broadcasting-852204.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/conor-dignam/conor-dignam-on-broadcasting-852204.html <p> The launch of the new Freesat joint venture between the BBC and ITV last month, was so low key that most people won't have noticed its arrival.</p> Conor Dignam Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/stephen-glover/stephen-glover-on-the-press-852206.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/comment/stephen-glover/stephen-glover-on-the-press-852206.html <p> For as long as I can remember newspapers have been chasing after elusive younger readers. Even at The Daily Telegraph in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which was as close to being a gerontocracy as is possible in journalism, one or two sharp-suited executives talked about chasing after the young. In those days, the paper sold between 1.2 and 1.3 million copies a day. After 25 years of coveting younger readers, admittedly with varying degrees of enthusiasm, it is selling fewer than 900,000 copies.</p> Stephen Glover Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100