Thursday, July 31, 2008

July 31, 2008



CBS

Amex Tests Ad Integration in CBS Markets

CBS Television Stations inked a deal with American Express and its digital agency Digitas to run integrated on-air and online ads in six local TV markets. American Express will integrate its TV ad content with ads on the sites of CBS' local stations. The TV ads will also coordinate with ads on CBS' network of local blogs and community sites.

MTV

Manager of MTV Estonia: new owner of MTV will bring along knowledge

Music channel MTV Estonia manager Karoli Hindriks said the change of owners does not bring along changes, but perhaps knowledge and consistency for operating in the given sector as the new owner knows the international media world well

'Work for Diddy' premieres as Combs' newest series

"The show isn't about just seeing if I could find someone to work for me. It's about people chasing their dreams," he said. "I don't say it in a cocky way, but I take pride in being one of the best at doing what I do," which, of course, encompasses a multi-pronged entertainment empire. Combs sees himself serving as an inspiration, particularly for young African Americans, "to show them that they can do more things than shoot basketball or rap."

VIACOM

Viacom Boss Dauman Looking Forward To Losing Dreamworks

On Tuesday, Philippe Dauman dissed DreamWorks on Viacom's earnings call, saying that if Steven Spielberg and David Geffen leave, there will be substantial savings on marketing and overhead. Well, get ready to start saving, Philippe, because it looks like that DreamWorks-Reliance deal is almost done

AFRICA

20% of SA prisoners are living with Aids: study

The Correctional Services Department says almost 20% of the prison population is living with HIV/Aids. South Africa has an estimated 166 000 inmates in prisons. Correctional Services Director-General Vernie Peterson says the finding is part of a study conducted by the department to determine the prevalence of the disease among prisoners.

Study Finds AIDS Harms Democratic Development in Southern Africa

A new report says HIV/AIDS is hurting political development in southern Africa, in part by the loss of experienced politicians struck down by the disease. The group says southern Africa has only two percent of the world's population, but nearly half of the 38 million people infected with HIV/AIDS. VOA's William Eagle reports from Washington the report by a South African research group will be the focus of a panel discussion and webcast at the upcoming 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.

ASIA

ABU, KFF Align for HIV/AIDS Coverage

“We’re excited to be working with KFF and to be bringing our members to such an important gathering of global health experts,” said Francyne Harrigan, the ABU Development Projects manager. “ABU and our members recognize the powerful role our industry plays in informing audiences on health issues and welcome the opportunity to cover the critical issue of HIV/AIDS.”

Beijing moves to stop vice industry staining Games

But such crackdowns give rise to other problems, said Dr. Bernhard Schwartlander, China country representative for the Joint United Nations on HIV/AIDS. "If you drive it underground everything gets much more out of control. The likelihood of promoting condom use is reduced or there may be violence against women, which makes them more vulnerable," he said.

Japanese Condom Ads Get Booted Off of Korean Trains

According to recent reports, sex will be getting the proverbial boot off of trains in Korea. Japanese condom ads have been removed from all trains and have sparked a wave of controversy in the process.

CARIBBEAN & LATIN AMERICA

14000 AIDS deaths recorded in Caribbean last year

"We have made some headway against HIV in the region," said Dr Michel de Groulard, acting director of the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team. "But we still have a long way to go to ensure that our response is as effective as it should be and that our prevention strategies really work and reach those who need them most," he added.

Anytime is AIDS time

Sombre reminders of the danger of the deadly pandemic, HIV/AIDS, continue to be presented to the public by the various AIDS awareness stakeholders and their recent concentration on festive activities, such as Carnival is expected to bear real fruit if the messages are taken as seriously as they ought to be. We hope that revellers and general partygoers make use of the information and the various other handy materials that are being made available, since the disease continues to attack people in the Caribbean at an alarming rate.

BELIZE TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE

“Historically I think that Belize has had little representation at any Global Conference on AIDS. I know of Belizean participation only at the Global AIDS Conference two years ago in TorontoCanada. I think that Belize’s participation is going to be a step up to other global conferences, so I think that it’s very special for us to be participating.”

Region seeking UN assistance in five areas

Caribbean governments are seeking assistance for food security, disaster risk reduction and disaster management among other key areas from agencies of the United Nations (UN), the newly appointed UN resident coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Michelle Gyles-McDonnough has said.

United Nations: Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Regional Directors' Group, representing ten UN agencies, funds and programmes, met here today to support and urge Ministers of Health and Education from the region to improve the availability and quality of sexuality education for young people. The Ministers will meet in the Mexican capital tomorrow to discuss the status of sexuality education and HIV prevention

ADVERTISING NEWS

Study: Ad Networks Have Their Place, But Content Drives Key Brand Metrics

While ad networks continue to garner the glory, media buys across branded content sites, or properties like iVillage and Discovery that fall under the Online Publishers Association (OPA)'s umbrella, are often still priced at a premium. And according to new OPA research, those higher-priced CPMs are justified, as branded content sites have a greater impact on key metrics like brand favorability and purchase intent than ad networks, portals and even Internet industry norms (as determined by Dynamic Logic's MarketNorms).

US advertising slowdown looms over media companies

Earnings reports from three major media companies _ CBS Corp., The Walt Disney Co. and Viacom Inc. _ this week show the malaise in local ad markets beginning to spread to national cable and broadcast networks.

HIV/AIDS AND SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS

African American-Owned Condom Company Fears the Widening AIDS Epidemic

Head Strong Condoms aims to do just that. There are no bright colors, no fruity flavors, no glow-in-the-dark condoms. These are just condoms. The focus is where it should be, Manuel says: preventing pregnancy and protecting against sexually transmitted disease. Manuel created Head Strong Condoms, the only African American-owned condom company he knows of, after he heard of HIV-infected adults knowingly infecting others with the virus.

Handing out condoms till she's 70?

That realization about the AIDS crisis propelled Bambi Gaddist into activism in South Carolina more than 20 years ago, and she's been relentless in her fight to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS there ever since. One of the most effective tools in her arsenal? A large white RV.

Higher Number of HIV Infections Must Translate Into Leadership & Action

"Let this serve as yet another wake-up call to our government leaders in Washington, D.C., the States and Territories. We cannot turn our backs on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our own country. HIV/AIDS is devastating many communities, particularly gay men, African Americans, Latinos and injection drug users. The AIDS Institute calls upon President Bush, the Congress, together with both Presidential candidates, to support a National AIDS Strategy and to demonstrate their leadership by committing immediately to preventing HIV in the United States through increased funding for the CDC HIV Prevention programs, and the establishment and implementation of prevention policies and programs based on sound scientific evidence.

Lifestyles Condoms Introduces Polyisoprene Non-latex

LifeStyles Condoms® announces the release of its latest innovation in contraception, SKYN™. LifeStyles® SKYN™ is the first condom on the market made from revolutionary polyisoprene non-latex, boasting that it’s “the closest thing to wearing nothing.”

Local Prison To Provide Inmates With Condoms

A local prison is planning to provide condoms to prisoners, even though intercourse between inmates is illegal and considered a major offense. For the next year, inmates at California State Prison Solano will be getting condoms from the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

My Quest? Build A Better Condom

There are lots of reasons scientists are looking for ways to make condoms more appealing--and safer--to use. TIME's Callie Lefevre asked Jan Vinzenz Krause about his efforts to make a spray-on condom. The condom fits 100% perfectly, so the safety is much higher than a standard condom's, and it feels more natural.

MULTI CULTURAL NEWS

Black America: A Neglected Priority in the Global AIDS Epidemic

Discussion with Kai Wright, freelance journalist based in Brooklyn and is the publications editor of the Black AIDS Institute. His article “America’s AIDS Apartheid” appears in the July issue of The American Prospect.

Essence study: Black women use consumer technology for empowerment

Black women are more likely than other female consumers to spend time using technology, and they view cell phones and the Internet as tools of empowerment and self-expression, a study finds. Compared to other women, five times as many black women -- 36 percent -- use cell phones for three or more hours a day, according to research by Time Inc.'s Essence magazine. Black women also spend more extended time using iPods, computers, high-definition TVs and DVD players.

SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS

The Dawn of Visual Networking

The age of visual networking is upon us, and it could be the most important trend in personal computing in at least a decade. So what is it? In its simplest form, visual networking is watching a cool video on YouTube, then e-mailing it to a friend. A more elaborate scenario is people using Cisco's HD Video Conference Telepresence suites or HP's Halo rooms to hold face-to-face meetings while thousands of miles apart.

OTHER NEWS

Avenue A | Razorfish Announces Creation of New Media and Entertainment Practice

Avenue A | Razorfish, one of the largest interactive services firms in the world, has launched a Media and Entertainment practice offering digital marketing solutions to companies in the print/publishing and broadcast/cable fields in the United States and abroad. The new practice will be led by Domenic Venuto, vice president of Media and Entertainment.

Bill & Melinda Gates Congratulate President Bush on Signing of AIDS, TB, and Malaria Funding Reauthorization Bill

We congratulate President Bush and leaders in Congress for their achievement in getting PEPFAR reauthorized at an unprecedented level of $48 billion. This bill renews and strengthens America's commitment to the global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. It is a worthy tribute to Henry Hyde and Tom Lantos, two legislators who distinguished themselves by their efforts to address global health and poverty issues.

Can New Media Be Taught in Schools?

Inside Higher Ed has an article today detailing some colleges' plans to fund "new media" sections in their journalism schools. Many people think that new media departments in schools are a terrible idea. The world is changing, media education has probably always needed to change and this point in history offers some exciting opportunities for educators and students.

Getting to Know "Lovers and Friends"

The Lovers and Friends Show, Johnson's brainchild, premiered online in January. Set in South Florida, it follows the everyday drama-ridden lives of a core group of six multiethnic lesbians of color and their friends and lovers.

Google Acquires Video Editing Service For YouTube

Omnisio lets users extract sections of video clips found on YouTube, Google Video or Blip.tv and then mash them up to form their own embeddable video clips. According to TechCrunch, the all-cash deal is worth $15 million.

Yahoo Drives 100 Million Visits to Newspapers

"It's like a fire hose blasting us with page views," says one newspaper editor. At the Dallas Morning News, for instance, some placements have accounted for up to 27% of the day's page views, and 65% of the day's unique visitors. Yahoo places the stories based on variables including user votes and search. Top stories are given primary placement on Yahoo's homepage.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

July 30, 2008


BET

Comic-Blog ’08: New BET Animation

Reggie Hudlin, president of BET (Black Entertainment Television), unveiled footage from the upcoming BET Animation series including the The Black Panther and Hannibal The Conqueror at Comic-Con in San Diego over the weekend. Both series look very promising, stylishly bringing to the screen adult-oriented action animation with strong African-American appeal.

FOX

Cricket and Fox Interactive Media Ink Mobile Content Distribution Agreement

Doug Hutcheson, president and CEO of Leap, called this agreement “significant milestone” in his company’s efforts to form strategic relationships with industry leaders who can provide rich content and exciting applications to the customers.

He pointed out that research shows that Cricket’s young and diverse customers are already heavy users of mobile content and applications, adding that by providing them with a vehicle for expressing themselves in a mobile environment, their wireless handsets become much more than a simple phone.

MTV

Win A Trip To The VMAs With Think.MTV.Com!

Think.MTV.com is offering one lucky activist the chance to attend this year’s Video Music Awards on September 7 in Los Angeles. Any Think.MTV.com member who joins the group “Do Good. Go to the VMAs” between Thursday and August 22 will be registered to win two tickets to the VMAs, as well as hotel and travel accommodations.

VIACOM

How American Youth Will Screw Viacom

"The primary question we have received in recent weeks is, 'What happened in the ad market?'," said Dauman during yesterday's conference call. "Advertisers in a few categories . . . pulled back their on-air spending as they adjusted their own operating plans and product launches. Low ratings at a few of our networks also contributed to the softness."

Nick at Nite Plans More Grown-Up Shows
Nickelodeon, the 29-year-old cable channel for children, is trying to produce programs that the first generation of "Nickelodeon parents" can watch with their youngsters. This week the Viacom unit is announcing the acquisition of an original program from Michael Eisner's production company, one of several new shows being developed by the network.

AFRICA

Study to establish HIV impact on universities

A study aimed at establishing the HIV/Aids status on university communities in East Africa is set to start this October.The project will target 18 universities, six from Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya each, according to the officials of the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA).

ASIA

Camp to educate streetchildren about HIV/AIDS

To create awareness about HIV/AIDS, the YMCA Bangalore Children in Crisis programme identified 40 such streetchildren for a five-day awareness camp from Tuesday at its Kumbalgud site.

CARIBBEAN & LATIN AMERICA

AIDS is the leading cause of death in the Caribbean

HIV continues to be spread in the Caribbean largely by heterosexuals having sex with prostitutes. And AIDS is the leading cause of death in the Caribbean, in the 25-44 age group. That’s according to the latest UN AIDS report. The report, which comes ahead of next month`s AIDS conference in Mexico, states that the main mode of HIV transmission in the Caribbean remains paid unprotected heterosexual intercourse.

AIDS Threat Still Looming

The Latin America section of the UNAIDS study says unprotected sex is common among men who have sex with other men in Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It also warns that in countries like Bolivia and Peru, the spread of HIV is linked to the practice of unprotected sex and intravenous drug use without precautions. In addition, the report points to a feminisation of the epidemic. "We have seen that the number of infected women has gone up in recent years, and we will see this to an even greater extent in the future," said Núñez.

Brazil's success in AIDS fight depends on cheap drugs

Brazil, long considered a model country in the fight against AIDS, depends on cheap retroviral treatments secured from the big drug companies after fierce struggle. That fight goes on today, with Brazil also manufacturing its own generic anti-AIDS medicine. The strategy has created friction with the pharmaceutical groups investing billions in new anti-virals -- but it has also proved successful in this vast country, population 190 million, which has a third of Latin America's HIV-positive patients.

Condom Use Is Said To Be Falling.

Speaking on behalf of CARICOM’s Secretary General, Edwin Carrington, Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV representative, Christopher Dorsett, said the downward turn in infections is no reason to relax combating the spread of the disease. It was also reported that one in every five men who have sex with men in Trinidad and Tobago are HIV positive.

Guyana’s efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS praised

St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas has lauded Guyana’s efforts to ensure that other Caribbean countries also benefit and expressed hope that other Heads of Government would support plans to raise funds to tackle HIV/AIDS in the region.

Male to male sex hurting Caribbean - Report shows

According to UNAIDS, while unprotected sex between men and women is the region's main driver of HIV transmission, unprotected sex between men is also a significant factor. Unprotected sex between men reportedly represents the main driver of the HIV epidemic in Cuba, and studies in Trinidad and Tobago have found 20 per cent HIV prevalence among that group there.

More females becoming infected

Although there is knowledge and understanding of how HIV is transmitted, the sexually active population in TT is still engaging in risky behaviour and not using condoms. HIV/AIDS is also crossing the generations as more younger women get involved with older men. These facts were disclosed by Andy Fearon, Ag Technical Director of the National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC) while speaking yesterday at the Caribbean Regional Support Team Launch of the UNAIDS Global Report 2008 at Bretton Hall.

ADVERTISING NEWS

How TV and Net Ads Work Together
The Internet as a marketing medium has enhanced -- not diminished -- the value of TV advertising for marketers, according to David Poltrack, president of CBS' new research unit. His logic: The Internet has been show to be an efficient mechanism for turning interested, aware consumers into purchasers, but first those prospects must become aware, which is exactly what television advertising can do well.

NBCU Brags 96% of Olympics Ads Are Sold
NBC Universal said Tuesday that it has sold almost all its Summer Olympics advertising inventory, with the first telecast 19 days away. The company has set an ad revenue target of more than $1 billion for the Games.

HIV/AIDS AND SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS

Activist teenager’s mission: keep her peers safe through sexual health education

Abbie McMillan (AM), age 16, has been a public speaker and an advocate for comprehensive sexuality education. She has traveled to Washington, D.C., twice for advocacy training and networking on a national scale.

Antigone Barton granted AIDS conference fellowship

The National Press Foundation recently awarded the Palm Beach Post's Antigone Barton a fellowship to attend the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City from August 3 to August 8. Barton, who reported on Heroes of HIV: HIV in the Caribbean for the Pulitzer Center, will be among 60 NPF fellows attending the conference and its Journalist to Journalist HIV/AIDS Training session, which will train reporters on the ethical implications and requirements of HIV/AIDS reporting.

Commentary: Obama, McCain should help fight black AIDS

While Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain go back and forth over who didn't visit troops in Germany; the impact of Obama's overseas tour; and who is best positioned to deal with the crumbling economy, critical domestic issues like AIDS goes unnoticed.

Condom-free sex: the new engagement ring

A new trend in young America: "Sex without a condom is the new engagement ring," a youthful NPR sage advises. "It shows trust, commitment and the prospect of a shared future," Pendarvis Harshaw says. Coos a modern damsel in this radio report: "To have sex without a condom is to say that I trust you and I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

iReporters: Improve awareness to fight AIDS among blacks

iReporter Travers Johnson, a recent graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, found a lot of myths on campus regarding the HIV test. "It seems that people do know information about HIV and how you contract it, but they're still misinformed about testing procedures," he said by phone. iReport.com: Shattering uncomfortable testing myths. Johnson taped his own HIV test, which took about 20 minutes and involved no needles or blood -- just a swab that collects a small amount of saliva.

Fact Sheet: A Historic and Lifesaving Commitment to Fight HIV/AIDS

This legislation responds to the President's call last year to expand our commitment to this successful program for five additional years. In 2003, President Bush launched the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to combat global HIV/AIDS - the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in human history. Today's legislation will dramatically increase the financial commitment to this fight - authorizing up to $48 billion to combat global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Planned Parenthood Starts 'Prevention Now' Campaign

With Gonorrhea infections nearly doubling in Utah since 2000, and with teenage pregnancy rates increasing for the first time in more than a decade, the Planned Parenthood Action Council says it's time to change the state's abstinence-only sex education curriculum.

United Nations Study Shows Abstinence Education Lowering HIV/AIDS Rate

A new study by the United Nations makes it clear that the abstinence education message is making a clear impact in the African HIV/AIDS rates. The study shows people are engaging in casual sex less often, waiting longer to start having sex, and infection rates are dropping.

MULTI CULTURAL NEWS

'Firm Go' for Seventh Season of American Latino TV & LatiNation

American Latino TV (ALTV) and LatiNation, the award-winning, nationally syndicated TV programs, announced today that both shows have garnered key affiliate renewals and will continue into their historic seventh and fifth seasons respectively, beginning the week of September 29, 2008.

Nissan North America Announces $50000 Grant to Y-Hispanic Achievers

"Nissan is proud to support the Hispanic Achievers Program in its efforts to help the Hispanic community reach educational success," said Stephanie Valdez Streaty, senior manager, Philanthropy and Diversity Communications, Nissan North America, Inc. "It provides us an opportunity do our part to help ensure the success of the next generation of Latino leaders who will positively impact and improve our communities."

Program lets illegal immigrants volunteer to leave

The Bush administration is inviting people who have ignored orders to leave the country to surrender at immigration offices and leave voluntarily, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official said Wednesday. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security, is launching "Operation Scheduled Departure" on Aug. 5 in the cities of Santa Ana, Calif.; San Diego; Phoenix; Chicago and Charlotte, N.C., said spokeswoman Cori Bassett. The program will end Aug. 22.

Monday, July 28, 2008

July 28, 2008

MTV

MTV asks, Elizabeth Berkley answers

MTV is developing an unscripted project with Elizabeth Berkley and her husband, artist Greg Lauren, that is based on Ask-Elizabeth, the self-esteem workshops for teen girls that Berkley created. Berkley has volunteered her time facilitating Ask-Elizabeth workshops in schools and for organizations around the country for 2 1⁄2 years. Her Web site, Ask-Elizabeth.com, features a library of video content intended to help empower girls worldwide.

MTV TR3 Receives Eight Imagen Nominations

“Beyond Borders: An MTV Tr3́s Immigration Forum,” a network special that gave voice to Latino youth who were ready to go beyond the politics and rhetoric of the immigration debate, was nominated for Best National Informational Programming. The historic, first-ever of its kind on network TV event, brought together artists such as Ana Ortiz, Calle 13’s Residente and Malverde; young people from Cal State L.A; and U.S. Congressman Xavier Becerra to explore solutions to the immigration crisis and discuss its impact on their families, education and everyday lives. It was hosted by journalist Gustavo Arellano.

VIACOM

Nick Hotel coming to Dubai

Hot on the heels of the launch of the Nickelodeon Arabia television channel, media giant Viacom International is planning to bring its Nick Hotel franchise to Dubai. Viacom, which has the MTV and Nickelodeon international networks among others in its bag of channels, also owns the Nick Hotels franchise that is managed globally by the Marriott Group. Nick Hotels are designed specifically for children and are themed around the Nickelodeon channel brand. They operate only in the US, where they have reportedly become very popular with families. Viacom intends to take the Nick Hotel franchise to several emerging markets around the world.

AFRICA

Food crisis could hit HIV treatment

Spiralling food costs could cause a new crisis in Africa's HIV programme, a UK aid agency has warned. Speaking ahead of an HIV-Aids conference in Mexico, Cafod said advances in treatment for the virus could be swiftly undermined by the soaring price owf foodstuff. Its partners in Africa have reported sufferers coming off anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, while the effectiveness of the treatment was being weakened by poor diets.

Rwanda: Teenagers Launch Battle Against HIV/Aids

A group of six teenagers from the USA and six from Rwanda have converged to fight the HIV/Aids pandemic among their fellow youth. Supported by a local NGO Women's Equality in Access to Care and Treatment(WE-ACT), the six Rwandan girls received their counterparts from Chicago for a one week study tour to learn more about Rwanda and how they can join efforts to fight the pandemic in both countries.

ASIA

ILO, China jointly work on AIDS education among Chinese

The program, called the China Workplace Education Program is a joint program of the ILO, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the China Enterprise Confederation and part of the UN program on HIV/AIDS in China.

New Aids prevention schemeto target ‘high-risk’ students

A NEW programme to stop the spread of Aids and other sexually-transmitted infections (STI) among youth here is being drawn up by the authorities — but what is different this time is that the programme is specifically targetted at students in the Normal stream, who have been identified by counsellors working with youth as being at “high risk” of contracting such diseases.

New sex education module to stress on abstinence

Condom and safe sex are terms that will find no mention in the new sex education module being devised for school students in India. It will instead stress on abstinence, the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) announced Monday. NACO director-general Sujatha Rao said the module would be adopted after intensive consultations with all partners, including parents and teachers.

US-funded consulting room for HIV/AIDS opens in Nghe An

VietNamNet Bridge - A $238,000 consulting room for HIV/AIDS patients opened in the central province of Nghe An on July 24.This consulting room was built under the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for Vietnam, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

CARIBBEAN & LATIN AMERICA

Caribbean Social Networking Platform Unleashed

Social networking specifically for Caribbean nationals has gotten a shot in the arm with the establishment of the www.Cbean.tv platform. CbeanMedia.TV founder, Trinbagonian, and experienced technologist, Sherra Pierre March, says Caribbean nationals now have a space of their own to create their own web page, and post their own video, audio, blog and create forums, and need not look only to MY SPACE` and `YOU TUBE.`

Health (A weekly column prepared by Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital Inc.

Sexually transmitted diseases: The ‘deeper’ and the ‘darker’ insight from Dr. Soumyaroop Dash MD, DNB, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. Dr. Dash offers Guyana residents very helpful sexual health information.

Kerry-Ann Collins a fresh 'Morning Mint'

Kerry-Ann Collins has been spreading Jamaican culture via the radio show The Morning Mint, which she co-hosts on Roadblock Radio in New Jersey, USA. In the Medical Minute she gives the listeners advice about different diseases and infections. The hosts also discuss news items, simplifying them so that the regular listener can understand. Kerry-Ann noted that The Star and The Gleaner are reliable sources to get current information.

Mexican hotels join UN campaign on HIV/AIDS

Ahead of a major HIV/AIDS conference that begins next week in Mexico City, the United Nations and the Mexican hotel industry have joined forces to launch a campaign focusing on prevention, awareness-raising and improved workplace policies for those living with the disease

ADVERTISING NEWS

$80 Billion? Online Display Market Is Being Overhyped

It's déjà vu all over again as the web giants scurry to build massive internet-ad networks: Microsoft makes plays for Yahoo, both of them talk to AOL, Google tries to milk a display powerhouse from DoubleClick, and venture capitalists throw money at ad networks and exchanges. But amid the frenzy, it might be worth taking a look at whether today's economic and marketing developments are shrinking that pot of gold they're all after. Because guess what: The trough of ad dollars flowing from places such as TV and print to the web isn't bottomless after all.

Clear Channel And Katz Launch Big Online Network

Clear Channel Radio and Katz Media Group are launching what they say is the largest online radio advertising network ever, the companies revealed today. The new Katz Online Network will combine over 1,200 Clear Channel stations and Katz affiliates with a number of independent online radio stations, with a total unique audience of about 5 million listeners per week.

GamePro Strikes Ad, Content Deal With Wikia

GamePro Media will exclusively handle ad sales for the gaming section of Wikia, the for-profit Web hosting service started by Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, under a new marketing partnership announced today. GamePro will serve display ads across the approximately 500,000 pages of game-related content on Wikia covering a wide range of enthusiast topics from the complex fantasy game "World of Warcraft" to Club Penguin. Wikia's game-related inventory accounts for more than 300 million ad impressions a month.

Yellowpages.com Campaign Shows Off Cross-Media Versatility

Yellowpages.com launched a billboard outdoor advertising campaign this month in five target markets from Detroit to Sacramento, Calif. The campaign designed by WPP Group's Mediaedge:cia and created by GSD&M Idea City in Austin, Texas will eventually add viral media and local search, too. It already taps television and online ads.

HIV/AIDS AND SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS

Area leaders, experts say AIDS is a problem among Hispanics

"We have a lot of Hispanics who are not coming to the agency," said Wheeler, the bilingual case worker for the Triangle AIDS Network in Beaumont. "They are afraid. They think if they do not have (citizenship) papers, they do not qualify for this service. Sometimes they don't know where to go." A study that the Kaiser Family Foundation released earlier this week shows that although Hispanics account for 15 percent of the U.S. population, they account for 19 percent of the reported AIDS cases nationwide. About 1.2 million Americans have the disease.

Call for better sexual health care

Family doctors need to improve the sexual health care they provide, a report has said. Many GPs do not offer enough support to patients, according to the report by the Medical Foundation for Aids and Sexual Health. The report analysed the impact of the Government's sexual health policies over the past seven years.

Condom maker hopes to ink endorsement deal with Miley Cyrus

LifeStyles Condom execs want the 15-year-old star to endorse their product and promote safe sex in teens. “Pop culture proves that teens are more ready than ever to discuss the subject of sex,” New York Daily News quoted Carol Carrozza, VP of marketing for LifeStyles, as saying. “With recent reports showing that one out of four teenage girls has an STD and the high level of teenage pregnancy, we believe that Miley is both influential and relatable to this afflicted set - and is the obvious choice to get the message of safe sex out to teens across America,” she added.

Finding the cure for ignorance

Patient X is a 17-year-old girl, previously healthy, who visited a clinic for routine care. She is sexually active — as are nearly half of Missouri high school students. Her nurse practitioner ordered a battery of blood tests, but a lab technician misread the form. Instead of screening for hepatitis C, he ran a test for HIV. It came back positive.

Getting the HIV message to teens

“Due to budget cuts, educational programs about HIV transmission in schools are almost nonexistent today. Teenagers are lucky to get one or two hours of instruction about HIV transmission in their four years of health education,” Mr. Chittick said. “We are cutting back on instruction, and it is killing teens every day,” said Mr. Chittick, who, for the last 15 years, has committed to the cause as a volunteer.

How Hispanic Leaders Tackled AIDS

The July 23 front-page story "AIDS Among Latinos on Rise" mistakenly characterized AIDS among Hispanics as a new "simmering public health crisis." In fact, since the first days of the epidemic, Hispanics have been overrepresented among AIDS cases. The article was also wrong to focus almost exclusively on immigrants, as most Hispanics with AIDS are U.S.-born.

Network offers help to people with HIV, AIDS

John tells his story to schools, service groups, churches and organizations as part of the “My Face, My Voice” program through the AIDS Support Network of San Luis Obispo County. The program trains speakers to educate the public and give a face and a voice to people with HIV and AIDS.

Talking To Children About Sex

Each year about one million teenage girls become pregnant in the United States and three million teens get a sexually transmitted disease. Experts say children and adolescents need guidance from parents to help make healthy and appropriate decisions regarding their sexual behavior since they can be confused and overstimulated by what they see and hear. (Also link to video - starting at :25 the reporter interviews teenagers about their sexual experiences and the norms for their age group)

What only a dad can tell a daughter about sex

In fact, he says it's imperative for fathers to have that potentially difficult conversation about what teenage boys really want from them in terms of sex. "They can explain it in a way that mom can't, to let daughter know that for boys teen sex is about conquest, fun and adventure; while for girls, teen sex is about expressing love and affection," Wanis said.

MULTI CULTURAL NEWS

Black in America on CNN: Are We There Yet?

For whites, Black in America has to be just as complicated to watch. There are no forced fed finger-pointing segments aimed at white guilt (i.e. painful historic regurgitations of America's shameful past), and no easy saviors riding in from White America to make everybody feel OK. Nor is the documentary a parade of black overachievers like Oprah and Obama, propped up as evidence that we can all rest easy now, black folks will be just fine, y'all. I could imagine it even feeling somewhat voyeuristic, sitting on a comfortable suburban sofa looking at the dissected struggles of a people, once removed.

JL KING NO LONGER ON 'THE DOWN LOW'

JL King became known as the infamous "Mr. Down Low" after he guested on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and shared the story of his double life as a loving husband who had homosexual affairs. “I am one who wants to let people know that this type of behavior exists and it looks like me,” he said, “but the African American community did not let me change.”

Latino Soccer Tournament Educates About Health Care

For the 5th year, the city's Minority Health Program is sponsoring a weekend soccer tournament.The tournament not only provides a good athletic outlet for Latinos in Portland, it also is a way for the Minority Health Program to make community members aware of the services available to them.

The Stars Come Out at First Ever Spanish-Language Awards Show

The historic Pasadena Civic Auditorium was filled with stars from both the sports and entertainment worlds as the first-ever annual "Tecate Premios Deportes" (Tecate Sports Awards) honoring Hispanic athletes in nine different categories was broadcast last night by Univision, the most-watched Spanish-language television network in America.

PHILANTHROPY

Russian Moguls Join Forces in Philanthropy

A closely allied group of prominent and controversial Russian billionaires has thrown its largesse behind a multinational philanthropic fund to develop Jewish identity among Russian speakers worldwide. The Genesis Philanthropy Group already is providing targeted grants in the United States, Russia and Israel for a bevy of Jewish educational, travel and community development programs.

Tanzania set to host tourism philanthropy conference

Announcing the conference with a theme of “2008 Travellers’ Philanthropy Conference”, in Washington DC in United States of America, organizers of the professional travel and tourism gathering said Tanzania will be the first African nation to host the conference since its inception four years ago. Other plenary sessions include a panel discussions on the roles of tourists and travellers on supporting combating HIV/AIDS in Africa, benefits of tourism to the local communities and commitments from tourist business stakeholders in supporting local people in tourist zones.

SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS

Bad News For MySpace: Growth Curve Flattened

Bad news for Rupert Murdoch: Goldman Sachs figures his Internet business is worth perhaps $3 billion -- about half the value he was trying to get for it earlier this year. The good news: Goldman didn't generate its numbers by placing a value on the eyeballs that MySpace and the rest of Fox Interactive Media have attracted, or even the revenue they're generating.

Facebook fends off attack of the clones

Clones of the wunderkind social-networking Web site — some of which resemble Facebook right down to color, font and layout — have popped up in local languages around the world. These competitor sites offer identical core services, letting users post pictures, make groups and choose their friends.

The Gamma Factor: Women and the New Social Currency

Meredith Corporation, the leading media and marketing company serving American women, today released The Gamma Factor: Women and the New Social Currency. This new report uncovers the rise of Gamma women: a growing segment - significant both in number and influence - that is creating a groundswell in today's new media and marketing landscape.

OTHER NEWS

Print Newspaper Readership Yielding to Internet Publishing

According to the 2008 Readership Institute, Northwestern University tracking study of newspaper and online readership in 100 U.S communities, reported by Mary Nesbitt, Readership Behavior Scores (calculated on a 1-7 scale) among the general adult population have averaged 3.4 over the last six years, with variations likely due, in whole or part, to seasonal variations. With non-readers out of the mix, readers of the local daily newspaper registered a 4.7 score this year, a level that has actually risen slowly since the first measurement in 2002.

Race, Politics, and the Media: A Roundtable Discussion

In Chicago, nearly 10,000 journalists of color are gathered for a convention that brings together members of the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Asian American Journalists Association and the Native American Journalists Association. It’s organized by UNITY, Journalists of Color, Inc.