Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Sony and Superballs
Their most recent ad (recorded but not yet aired) has Sony filling the streets of Miami in bubbles. TV's and bubbles??? No idea the connection but after watching 70 thousand liters of paint explode in such beautiful fashion (below) I felt inspired to go out and buy a flat screen TV, so someone in the advertising department deserves a raise.
Does creating a commercial that has absolutely nothing to do with the actual product make any sense on the profit side of things? Who knows but after watching the commercials you will not forget Sony or Bravia.
I think Sony has artfully remastered techniques in advertising with simply creating super-sweet ads that will keep Bravia stuck in the back of your head. I can not think of a Toshiba or Panasonic commercial that completely defined "wowness".
Sony Bravia: Quarter-million Super Balls
Sony Bravia: 70,000 Liters of Paint
Advertising As Performance Art
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Newspaper in Your Pocket
With the revolution of having access to the internet at all times, newspapers next step is to figure out out how to adapt to these new high-tech devices, according to Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger. "The world of newspapers will shudder on its axis and journalists will have a responsibility to have our editorial offering in a shape that will readily adapt to whatever comes along next."
For the last decade, newspapers have been scurrying around trying to find a way to keep print (and the newspaper itself) alive with todays instant accessibility to any and all news through the web. The New York Times has taken a step out into using new technology for its paper by coming to an agreement with Microsoft to use its on-screen reader to flip through the pages of the Times just like you would if you were holding it.
Perhaps with the i-Touch, newspaper's savior is here, if you can access the paper from the web, and the web is in your pocket, perhaps newspaper companies can find a way to adapt media with new technology rather than forcing technology to work with old media. If editors and journalists can find a way to adapt with the ever changing technology, the newspaper still may have a fighting chance.
The i-Pod moment has arrived for newspapers
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
FOX News: Condeming Our Patriots
Heath Ledger had passed away on the 22 of January and as Montel Williams was introduced onto the show, the commentators for Fox where discussing this tragedy. Upon Williams introduction he was asked to express his feeling on the actor's passing. After briefly sending out his condolences to the family he went on a 3 minute tangent bashing the networks lack of coverage on the 28 deaths that have occurred in Iraq since January 1 and more on the untimely death of a young actor.
One of the hosts cut Mr. Williams off to break for a commercial, stating "We will have more with Montel in just a moment." Following the break, Williams was no where to be found on the set and four days later he was cut from his job as host of "The Montel Williams Show" after 17 years. Fox had decided sealed the deal for Montel and his show when they opted not to renew for the 2008-2009 season.
Williams may have known this before airing his distaste for the collective media outlets in America or maybe the comments pushed him out the door. What ever the case Montel Williams has done something that I have seen very few celebrities and even fewer TV personalities do, voice thier disgust for all the mindless media coverage in America when we have soldiers dying for the democracy we enjoy every day.
Williams had served in the the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy for 22 years, reaching the level of Lieutenant and serving on the USS Sampson during the U.S. invasion of Grenada. Williams should be respected and feel proud for what he said backing this nations soldiers while most the media wants to cover mindless incidents involving the ridiculously rich young stars of America and not the selfless hearts of America fighting in the trenches.
YouTube Video: Montel turns the tables on a Fox Morning Television show
Montel Williams Loses Job after Defending Troops on Fox News
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Out of the Kitchen and Into the Newsroom
Sabria Jawhar, a female journalist from the Saudi Gazette, who wears a veil reveling only her eyes, was allowed into a Saudi Foreign press conference and given the honors by the minister to not only speak but asked the first and last questions during the conference. Along with women being allowed, at the Um al-Qora public university, to begin taking media and international relations courses, winds of change seem to abroad for women journalists in Saudi Arabia.
There are many problems still surrounding females in news reporting in Saudi Arabia, such as being advised to write using pseudonyms or not being allowed into editing rooms, this shows major progress into women's rights in the Middle East.
With a group of recommendations being given to better describe what the women's career ladder looks like in journalism, removing obstacles preventing women from being in journalism, and putting laws in place to better protect Saudi women, it is beginning to look like Americanization is starting to take off even in these, thought to be lost of all hope, Middle Eastern countries.
For women to begin receiving these privileges in Saudi Arabia that women in America have been granted for decades, great strides have been made and are still being made for Saudi women and hopefully that can catch on and women will be given their due respects that should be granted for hard work and dedication and they won't have to follow five steps behind their husbands anymore.
Saudi Women Journalists Are Coming Out Of The Closet
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Mainstream America vs. Corporate Media
The Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) organization has stated that our nations "Mainstream Media" is a far cry from what "Mainstream America" feels and believes. In fact they have even dubbed our media friends (found far to the right) as "Corporate Media."
While a Republican congress of the 1920's enacted the Fairness Doctrine for clean, middle of the road reporting, allowing for the American public be able to generate their own opinions, today's "Corporate Media" will only show us what they want us to know and then inform us or persuade us with one-sided reporting to believe a certain way about an issue.
Thankfully with websites just like this one, Blogger.com, a new media outlet has been created to allow for individuals or smaller organizations to get there voice heard without buying up seven television stations, building theme parks around the world or publishing books to generate more revenue to dominate globally.
While the "War on Terrorism" is pushing so tirelessly forward and Global Warming tugs on the heart strings of so many Americans, I turn on my TV in the morning to a aerial shot of Britney Spears house after she gets sent to rehab or I open up the paper and read about Barron Hilton, Paris' younger brother, not having a drivers license, maybe Thomas Jefferson's "eternal vigilance" will live on through the internet to help true middle of the road, Mainstream Media persevere.
There's Nothing Mainstream About the Corporate Media
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Freedom of Press Not for Everyone
Since the US's invasion of Iraq in 2003, 174 journalists and media support staffers have been executed, with one journalist sitting on death row in Iran.
In the Arab nations of Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Yemen among others the freedom to write what you feel or bring up certain issues or policies worth question can get you incarcerated, tortured or killed.
There are periodic, unexpected crackdowns throughout the media outlets in the Middle East that prevent news worthy topics making it to the general population. While there are several independent media outlets in the Middle East, many succumb to self-censorship for fear of being a target by the political leaders of their respective countries.
With Iran ranking fourth in 2007 for arresting journalist, Iraq remains the most dangerous place to be reporting the news for the fifth year straight, and Israel has been known to use tear gas and stun-grenades to subdue editors and reporters.
While we in America may moan and groan that some issues do not make it to the national stage to become issues that we may attempt to change, journalists in Egypt can not question the health of 79 year-old president Hosni Mubarak with out backlash, as one journalist faces charges for even raising concern of the issue.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
FOX: All Your Sports AND Political Needs In One Place
Super Tuesday is just a week out and two days after Super Sunday so FOX has come up with a way to capitalize off of both events. Starting at 9 A.M., host Chris Wallace will begin to breakdown the presidential elections through the next 22 states as well as talk tactics about the big game in Phoenix that night.
Always count on NewsCorp. and Rupert Murdoch to know how to take advantage of every situation and bring in record viewers as well as hopefully spark some interest in sports for the political viewers and vice versa. All the sports fans out there know Keith Olberman from his days with ESPN and CBS will also be on hand to share his opinions on the two big face offs in the coming week.
So for all your sporting and political needs this week all you need is FOX. Tune in at 9 AM Sunday morning for a day that will kick-off with one-hour of Fox News Sunday and end with crowning this years Super Bowl Champions in Phoenix, AZ.
Fox Mashes Up the Supers