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.