The Institute Of Practitioners In Advertising (IPA) has come together with the Marketing Communication Consultants Association (MCCA) and the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) to form a unified trade organisation to represent the communications industry.The Communications Agency Federation (CAF) will comprise the presidents and chief executives of the three federations and will meet quarterly to… Continue reading Agency Associations Unite To Form Federation

The Marketing and Sales Standards Setting Body (MSSSB) has announced details of its first project, which aims to create national standards in marketing education and greater clarity in the field.The MSSSB was set up in September in conjunction with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) with the aim of providing greater accountability and clarity… Continue reading New Marketing Body To Set National Standards

Audiences from minority ethnic groups have complained about negative stereotypes and over-simplified portrayals of their communities on television, in a new report published by broadcasting regulators.However, programmes such as Ali G, Goodness Gracious Me and Coronation Street were praised for taking steps in the right direction.The report, Multicultural Broadcasting: Concept and Reality, has been released… Continue reading Ethnic Minorities Criticise TV And Radio Stereotypes

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) is to restructure in response to the changing needs of the industry.The move will see the DMA realign its internal and external operations, dividing its membership into different interest groups to represent industry sectors, supported by elected councils.The DMA has identified 3 key areas which it will concentrate on: protection,… Continue reading DMA Restructures In Response To Changing Industry

The ASA has upheld complaints against a national press ad for Unison on the grounds that they were “unfairly denigratory”.The ad featured a photograph of a toilet divided in to two, with one clean-half labelled public toilet, while the other filthy half was labelled private toilet. Underneath the ad was the statement: “Since hospitals cleaning… Continue reading ASA Censures Unison For Being “Unfairly Denigratory”

The Email Marketing Association (EMMA) and the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) are to merge in a bid to strengthen their work in email marketing.The newly merged body will be called the DMA Email Marketing Council and hopes to provide greater influence through consolidation.Ten members from the former EMMA have been elected to the DMA Email… Continue reading DMA And Email Marketing Association To Merge

Advertisers have always used celebrities to market their products. However, the rich and famous are becoming increasingly keen to protect their image, meaning that brands must tread carefully to avoid expensive legal complications. Marina Palomba, legal director of the IPA, explains…The unauthorised use of celebrities has become a big issue in advertising over the past… Continue reading NewsLine Column: Celebrities – Are they Worth It?

MediaTel Group’s ladies football team experienced the sweet taste of success again on Sunday when they won the NABS/MediaWeek 5-a-side tournament. Having won the competition the last time they entered two years ago expectations for a repeat performance were high.All the training paid off when the ladies team conceded just two goals during the day… Continue reading MediaTel Ladies Football Team Tastes Success

Quality is key in regional programming, according to new research from the ITC into public attitudes to regional services on the BBC and ITV1.The Pride of Place report, published today by the ITC and BSC reports on the findings of two citizens’ juries and a citizens’ forum as well as a survey. The results show… Continue reading Quality Is Priority In Regional TV Programming

Liberty Media has disclosed that it is to extend an offer to acquire bonds of the UK cable operator, Telewest after a group of bondholders filed a lawsuit claiming that the offer was illegal. Telewest, which is £5.3 billion in debt, announced last week that it was to begin refinancing negotiations (see Telewest Agrees To… Continue reading Liberty Extends Telewest Tender