The Guardian has created a new post, editor of the Electronic Guardian. Ian Katz, formerly the paper’s New York correspondent, has been appointed to the position. Katz will be responsible for editing The Guardian’s on-line publications.Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian, said: “The conventional thing has been to appoint an anorak. The Guardian felt the… Continue reading New Editor At The Guardian
The EP Environment Committee has debated a draft opinion on the Green Paper on Commercial Communications (GPCC), which supports the liberalising trend set out in the Green Paper, and endorses the Commission’s approach to policy and the regulation of advertising.The Culture Committee of the European Parliament has also given its draft opinion on the Green… Continue reading EU: EP Committee Opinions On GPCC
The Commission held a hearing on the protection of minors and human dignity in information and audiovisual services on 4 February in Brussels. This followed the publication last year of its Green Paper on the same subject and its Communication on illegal and harmful content on the internet. The main issues for discussion included the… Continue reading EU: Protection Of Minors And Human Dignity
On 29 January a French civil court found the US tobacco manufacturer guilty of violating laws prohibiting the advertising of tobacco products. The case was brought by the National Committee against Tobacco Use and the European Union of Non-Smokers; both groups had sought damages of FF3 million, about $550,000, but to their embarassment the court… Continue reading FR: Philip Morris And Seita In Court
Bacardi-Martini has aborted a major advertising campaign in Australia to promote a new product called Bacardi Limon, a lemon-flavoured alcoholic drink. The campaign, which was due to kick off in February, featured “aroma dispensers”, placed in bus and tram shelters in four major cities – Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The idea of the dispensers… Continue reading AUS: Ad Campaign Pressured Out
Following the EP Legal Affairs Committee’s vote on the ISDN proposals in December, the Medina report was adopted by the Parliament on 16 January 1997 with 11 amendments. The Commission has been asked to write an opinion on these amendments, some of which are very unhelpful to the direct marketing industry. For example, the text… Continue reading Eu: Isdn Directive
The announcement on Friday that BSkyB was joining forces with Granada and Carlton to launch a digital television service has been given a cautious welcome from the weekend’s broadsheets. The extra choice for viewers has been universally praised though concerns about the quality of programming and especially Rupert Murdoch’s intentions have been raised.The plans would… Continue reading Digital Plans Given Cautious Welcome
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) has complained to the UK government about TV advertising costs and the role of the BBC, the state-funded broadcaster. The IPA says that it filed a report in January with the Department of National Heritage – which has overall responsibility for broadcasting – arguing that advertising costs on… Continue reading UK: IPA Criticises Ad Inflation
On 5 February the European Commission proposed rules to ensure that major sporting events will not be shown exclusively to restricted audiences (pay-per-view). The proposed regulations – to be incorporated in a revised version of the TV Without Frontiers Directive – will allow Member States to guarantee free televised access to major sporting events. Pay-per-view… Continue reading EU: Oreja Seeks To Protect Public Access
A new report, published by Keynote, has found that men’s interest, health and fitness and new age consumer magazine markets will show the biggest growth over the next 18 months. The success of science-fiction TV programmes is seen as being responsible for the increase in new-age titles.The research also predicts that there will be an… Continue reading Fitness Title Boom Forecast
