'The New York Times' And 'Jeopardy' Team For Promotion

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The New York Times and "Jeopardy!" announced Monday an agreement between the paper and the quiz show under which the Times will offer a "Jeopardy!" Clue of the Day answered later on that day's "Jeopardy!" show or in the next day's issue of The New York Times. The Clue of the Day will appear adjacent to the "Tomorrow in The Times" box Monday through Friday and on Sunday near the "Information Directory," and will also be available online at nytimes.com/games.

As part of the agreement, The Times will be included periodically as a category on the television program. Also, the show's Brain Bus, staffed by the "Jeopardy!" Clue Crew, will appear Feb. 25 from 10a.m. until noon at the New York Times Travel Show, held at the Javits Center in New York City. A category called "All The News That's Fit to Print," about news articles and features of The New York Times, will be part of the simulated game played at the event. Clues in that category will come from various sections of the newspaper.

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by Steve Hall    Jan-31-06    
Topic: Events, Newspaper, Promotions, Television



Ad Blogger to Appear on 'Today Show'

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George Parker, who writes the Adscam and AdHurl advertising blogs will appear on NBC's Today Show tomorrow, Tuesday, sometime between 7A and 10A. Parker will discuss the impact of the Internet and other newer forms of advertising have affected newspaper advertising effectiveness and revenues. Parker should know what he's talking about as he's been in the business for over 30 years, worked for many agencies and is currently writing a book entitled, "Entrepreneurial Advertising."

by Steve Hall    Jan-30-06    
Topic: Good, Newspaper, Online, Television, Weblogs



Agency Ad Says Agencies Are Sweatshops

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As a goof, a new business strategy and a statement that isn't far from the truth, Maryland-based ad agency MGH placed an ad this week in the Wall Street Journal with the headline, "Sweatshop conditions at America's advertising/PR agencies must end." The ad claims agency personnel are overworked due to decades old practices of cutting overhead and under staffing, that it's an unseen practice and that it negatively effects clients. All true. However, the ad neglects to mention clients no longer value most agencies as the true business partner they once were and refuse to pay them what they're worth, sloughing them off and just another vendor which can be financially bled dry while the client reaps the rewards and profits the agency created for them. Of course, an ad that spoke that truth wouldn't gain much new business.

To be fair, most agencies are not adapting to clients' needs and have refused to step outside the mold that's been in place for a hundred years. So it's no surprise clients have devalued agencies because, in the eyes of the client, they aren't getting what they want from the agency so they aren't going to pay thereby causing the problem this ad so succinctly points out.

by Steve Hall    Jan-26-06    
Topic: Agencies, Good, Newspaper, Opinion



Holidays Are Over, Now You Can Get Divorced

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Our Canadian correspondent, Sanj, sends us this ad for ezdivorce, a company that specializes in, as the name indicates, divorces. The ad, which appeared in the Toronto Metro paper, carries the ingenious headline, "Holidays Are Over - You Can Stop Pretending Now," giving nod to the perpetual postponement of all thing painful during the Holiday season. Simple. Witty. We like.

by Steve Hall    Jan- 9-06    
Topic: Creative Commentary, Good, Newspaper



New York Transit Union to Strike, Holiday Ad Campaign Continues

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Resident rail rider Bucky Turco points out the idiocy and irony of a New York City MTA ad placed in today's New York Times promoting discount Holiday fares by asking what good reduced Holiday fares will do if the transit union carries out its planned strike in two days thereby making fares of any kind irrelevant. Yes, my friends, what good indeed?

by Steve Hall    Dec-14-05    
Topic: Newspaper



Trump Sells Clothes For Macy's

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Seems The Donald has a clothing line at Macy's and is advertising it in the Wall Street Journal. It's his "signature collection" which Not Only But Also said is ridiculous because A. Trump nor his personal shoppers even know where a Macy's is; B. Trump is clearly fashionless and C. Success doesn't equal fashion authority which may be true but most people are happy to latch onto the latest celebu-fashion statement. Oh well, we're sure Trump will make money. He always does. Oh wait, he loses a lot too.

by Steve Hall    Dec- 8-05    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Newspaper



Stuck Up NYC Address Uses Stuck Up Advertising to Promote

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Copyranter (hey, we knew there were more ranters out there) points to a real estate ad in the New York Times Magazine for One Carnegie Hall that clearly states who is and who is not welcome to live at this address. The copy reads, "Dad's a surgeon at Mt. Sinai. Mom works at Sotheby's. Tyler is at Dalton. Baby sis is on the way." While that paints an airy picture of New York's upper crust, Copyranter translates the ad into reality here.

by Steve Hall    Dec- 1-05    
Topic: Newspaper, Spoofs



Google to Stomp On Classified Ad Sellers

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Steve Rubel reports Google is gearing up readying a fierce fight for classified ad dollars as evidenced by a job posting the company placed on HotJobs seeking a Classified Vertical Markets Director who would be given responsibility to "develop and execute on a strategy for driving ad sales with all advertisers in the Classifieds category on a national/international level, working with all sales channels and resources (DSO, ISO, Online)." With the launch of Google Base, a tool that allows anyone to add anything to Google's database, the move into the classified space is a no brainer. While it might take a while to ween people from the likes of Craig's List and newspaper classified placements, there's no doubt, a serious dent will be made by Google in this space. Rubel also reports Microsoft isn't going to let Google have all the fun.

by Steve Hall    Nov-29-05    
Topic: Newspaper, Online



Buick Takes Precision Route With New Lucerne Campaign

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Today, Buick launched a campaign, called "Beyond Precision," for its new 2006 Lucerne. Television spots focus on the exactitude with which the car is crafted which is not necessarily a new message but seems to work in this case. After all, there's not much else about a Buick that's all that exciting. At least we can be excited about the car's ad campaign.

A series of print ads will launch on Nov. 22 in USA TODAY and Nov. 23 in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal; and will run throughout the year in a variety of magazines and newspapers. Interactive inserts, coined "Buzz Prints," that feature product attributes of the Lucerne will begin running in publications in February. Additional campaign components include online advertising and promotional placements on prime time shows. Two of the spots can be viewed here and here.

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by Steve Hall    Nov-21-05    
Topic: Campaigns, Magazine, Newspaper, Online



Watermark Ads The New Pop Up

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Computer Associates is sponsoring the stock pages of The New York Times with a watermark ad. These ad placements are on the rise as yet another method of getting ads seen by readers. Perhaps we should label these watermark ad "news-pops." After all, just like the dreaded online pop up, these ads appear over edit without user consent. OK, so watermark ads are nowhere near the annoyance level of horrific pop ups but there is a bit of similarity here.

by Steve Hall    Nov-18-05    
Topic: Newspaper