December 2009
Record number of journalists killed in 2006
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 18:56 | 
Marie Berbick-Graham
A total of 167 journalists and support staff died trying to cover the news in 37 countries in 2006, making it the worst year on record for news media casualties, the International News Safety Institute - a coalition of news organisations and journalist support groups - said today.
The INSI calculated that 137 journalists and 30 newsgathering personnel included drivers and translators died. A total of 77 worked for newspapers and agencies and 84 worked for broadcast organisations. The affiliations of six were uncertain.
Iraq was the most dangerous with 68 fatalities - all but two were Iraqi. Most newsgatherers died in their own countries, reporting on local conflicts, crime and corruption.
The total number of news media who died in Iraq since the start of the war is 169. "The 2006 figures paint a dreadful picture which is deeply troubling for the future," said INSI director Rodney Pinder. "The death toll keeps on spiralling upwards."
Outside Iraq, the worst country for journalist deaths in 2006 was the Philippines (15 dead), followed by Mexico (eight dead), Sri Lanka (seven) and Guyana (six).
INSI records all causes of death, whether deliberate, accidental or health-related, of all news media staff and freelancers while on a news assignment.
The International Federation of Journalists recorded at least 155 murders, assassinations and unexplained deaths - the worst year on record.
"Media have become more powerful and journalism has become more dangerous," said Aidan White, the IFJ general secretary. "2006 was the worst year on record - a year of targeting, brutality and continued impunity in the killing of journalists."
Last year the United Nations, for the first time, condemned targeting of journalists and calling for prosecution of the killers of media staff.
The UN security council resolution unanimously called on governments to respect international law and to protect civilians in armed conflict.
The council called for an end to impunity and for prosecution of the killers of journalists and agreed to prepare annual reports on the risks facing media.
The IFJ did not count the 22 newsgatherers who died accidental death while on duty.
In December the US based Committee to Protect Journalists recorded that 55 journalists were murdered in the course of their work last year.
Iraq was the deadliest country in the world for journalists in 2006, with 32 killed in the Middle Eastern state, according to a study.
It is the fourth consecutive year that Iraq has been the deadliest place for journalists to work.
Thirty of those killed were Iraqis and almost all were targeted by insurgents. Most were shot, or kidnapped and then executed.
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When clients ignore your advice and things go wrong
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 18:56 | Marie Berbick-Graham
What do you do when a client does not take your advice for a project and things go awry? This is one of the questions I recently posed to a colleague of mine who is one the hardest working PR professionals I know. “Give them options”, she said. “You can tell them it’s best to do it this way and if they decide to do it their way, and things don’t work out, at least you DID tell them. They can’t say you haven’t done your job”, she said. And she’s right.
News Corp.,Time Warner sign carriage deal for business channel
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 18:56 | Marie Berbick-Graham
Major cable players
Time Warner Cable is one of two major cable players in the New York market, which is considered critical for News Corp. to secure before launching its business-news channel. The deal will give the channel access to the crucial Wall Street audience and to the Madison Avenue-based advertising community.
Roger Ailes, Fox News chairman-CEO, has said he would not launch the business service -- the idea for which was first raised in 2004 -- until he had enough distribution partners lined up.
In November, Comcast said it would distribute the business service to its 12 million subscribers should the channel go ahead. Speaking in December at the UBS media conference, News Corp. Chief Operating Officer Peter Chernin said the company was still working on the channel and would commit to a launch once it had sufficient carriage deals in place. The company has said around 30 million homes would suffice.
Launch date
While a date for the launch still hasn't been revealed, News Corp. Chairman-CEO Rupert Murdoch has said the business channel will launch in 2007.
It is still unclear, however, whether Cablevision, which also has a sizable chunk of New York-based customers, has made an agreement to carry the service. DirecTV -- in which News Corp. owned a significant stake until its sale last month to Liberty Media -- is likely to give the service satellite liftoff but has said nothing on the matter. DirecTV, which is present in 15 million homes, did not respond to a request for comment.
A Fox News spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment. Fox News Channel's managing editor of business news, Neil Cavuto, is expected to be a major part of the new service. News Corp. hired Alexis Glick away from CNBC in September as Mr. Cavuto's second in command.
At the end of 2004, Time Warner closed its own financial news service, CNNfn, leaving the TV business news field to NBC Universal's CNBC and Bloomberg. That's the same year Mr. Murdoch first started touting the idea for the business news service.
Changing environment
The environment has changed considerably since then. Broadband video has taken off as a distribution method, and CNBC has had time to return to its original business-news mantra after a brief foray into prime-time entertainment. CNBC is distributed to 90 million homes and in December revamped its own website to offer video from around its international bureaus. The channel also launched new shows such as "Fast Money," which features a roundtable of investment professionals debating features such as the trade of the day. In some ways, such shows ape Fox News in their fast-paced discussions and analysis of news stories.
Annual advertising revenue at CNBC is estimated at $300 million. Time Warner has also boosted its financial presence online, plugging its Fortune magazine staff to its CNN Money offering. Major online giants such as Google and Yahoo are also looking to own the daytime business viewer with their own stock market information.
The move could be a way for Fox News sales to reach out to fresh advertisers. After the company's 10-year ascent to lead the cable news ratings, Fox News may have already soaked up all double-digit spending increases it can muster.
Gaining traction
Business news has gained traction within News Corp. just in the past month. On Dec. 4, Fox News launched an online-programming partnership with Yahoo Finance that rolls video branded "Fox Business Now." The segments air weekdays and comprise two-minute market reports.
Yahoo helps promote the service, and Fox News has given it on-air support. The segment currently online is "Terror Free Investing," hosted by Stuart Varney, dated Dec. 28.
Gillian Haughton on CARIMAC, RJR and more...
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 18:56 | Marie Berbick-Graham
 | Gillian Haughton said goodbye to the RJR Communications Group last weekend and heads to the Ministry of National Security to take up the challenging job of Director of Communications and Public Affairs starting Thursday February 1. |
The Thirteenth File January 21
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 18:56 | Marie Berbick-Graham
When the veteran Carmen Tipling vacates the chair as Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) monthend, the new man at the top will be Huntley Medley, best remembered, perhaps, as the press secretary to immediate past prime minister, P J Patterson, that is, if word on the street is correct.
Veteran broadcaster Neville Willoughby dies
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 18:56 | Marie Berbick-Graham
The RJR family Wednesday mourned the passing of veteran broadcaster Neville Willoughby , affectionately known as "Uncle Neville".
As staff members wept openly the leadership of the Group led the tribute to the veteran broadcaster who has trained scores of persons now on air.
Group Chairman and Managing Director J Lester Spaulding described "Uncle Neville" as a broadcasting perfectionist who pioneered the interviewing of local artists on radio.
“He was a consummate broadcaster and the loss is not only going to be a loss to the RJR Group but to the broadcasting industry generally. He is a first rate TV, radio newscaster and he has been credited with the introduction of many, many shows,” said Mr. Spaulding.
“He was associated with the Colgate Cavity Fighters so it was the entire spectrum of broadcasting he was involved in,” he continued.
Deputy Managing Director of the RJR Communications Group Gary Allen said the untimely death of Mr. Willoughby is a difficult blow for the group.
He noted that the Group will offer its support to his family.
“To think that he was with us up to yesterday, his usual jovial self, and now he is not with us today is a cause for significant sadness. We want to extend our condolences and continued support to his family,” said Mr. Allen.
In a battle of toothpastes, it's information vs emotion
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 18:56 | Marie Berbick-Graham
In a bid to regain the sales lead from its rival Colgate-Palmolive, the Procter & Gamble Company has introduced Crest Pro-Health, which claims to deliver in one tube everything a consumer could possibly want in a toothpaste.
Procter is backing Pro-Health with a $100 million advertising campaign, its largest spending ever for a new dental product. The campaign, from the longtime Crest agency Saatchi & Saatchi in New York, part of the Publicis Groupe, takes a clinical bent; one TV ad features a real dentist, and another an actor portraying a researcher.
Pepsi creates 35 pack designs to win over youth
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 18:56 | Marie Berbick-Graham
LONDON - Pepsi is introducing 35 different packaging designs as part of a global brand revamp aimed at bringing younger consumers closer to the brand. It is only the 11th time the brand has changed its look in its 109-year history.
The graphics, created by US agencies, will use themes associated with teens and young adults. Images representing fashion, sport, music and cars will appear on Pepsi, Pepsi Max and Diet Pepsi packs in the UK from the end of March. The Pepsi globe logo and lettering will remain.
Each territory will have the opportunity to add designs, including promotions and links to websites where consumers can access exclusive content. The work will be supported by a campaign that will include in-store merchandising as well as TV, radio, print and online activity. In the US, Pepsi plans to change the pack designs every few weeks.
For more of this story go to www.brandrepublic.com
PR firm reprimanded by media house
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 18:56 | Marie Berbick-Graham
A well known PR and Advertising firm was reprimanded by a media house, for sending cheques which it said were travel stipend, to some journalists who covered the recent Jazz & Blues festival.
PM says the media ignores her positive achievements
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 18:56 | Marie Berbick-Graham
PM says the media ignores her positive achievements
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is chiding the media for what she says is its failure to highlight the many positive achievements of her administration.
According to her, developments in the economy such as the record level of investments are being pushed aside to make space for more sensational stories.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was speaking at the 5th annual MBA conference organized by the Caribbean Students Club of the Harvard Business School.
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