Collected and Edited by Rick Kaempfer
Highlights and links to the big stories in the news this week about the media. This column appears twice a week at MEDIA NOTEBOOK
Landslide for TV(TV Week) Ira Teinowitz writes: "The 2008 race for the presidency has been memorable for many reasons, not the least of which is the jaw-dropping effect it has had on the television industry. The campaign brought to media companies a record $750 million in advertising revenue—of which local stations and the broadcast and cable networks reaped 90%, helping offset a precipitous drop in other types of TV ad buys as the economy stumbled toward recession. And it also reinvigorated cable news channels, helped fuel ratings records for politically incorrect comedy shows and dramatically raised the profile of some TV stars. While the fat lady has not even begun to sing yet, what soon may get dubbed “The Great Campaign of 2008” can be summed up as a race of record-smashing, eye-popping impact. "
Hollywood may not be recession proof this time
(Los Angeles Times) Dawn C. Chmielewski and Meg James write: "Worried by the worsening economy, Kristen Olson decided she'd better start saving money. She tallied her expenses and was walloped by sticker shock: She and her roommates were spending $900 a year for cable TV. 'I'm not watching $900 worth of cable,' said the 25-year-old advertising account coordinator, who lives in North Hollywood. She's trying to persuade her roommates to drop the service. 'You can watch so many shows online for free; most of them are on Hulu now,' Olson added, referring to the year-old video site that makes available at the click of a mouse more than 1,000 shows, including her favorites, 'Ugly Betty' and 'House.' Such changes in consumer behavior signal trouble for media companies. For decades, entertainment executives have boasted that Hollywood is 'recession-proof.' No matter how dire the economy, the argument goes, consumers will always be willing to spend on entertainment to escape."
The 6 factors that merged to tame wild morning radio(Chicago Tribune) I thought this was a very well done piece. Patrick Kampert writes: "Derrick Brown, program director at WVAZ-FM 102.7, says the use of the portable, electronic people meter instead of Arbitron paper diaries is one reason Muller and other radio personalities are reinventing themselves. 'I don't think the shtick he did would play today, especially in the era of electronic measurement,' Brown said. 'The diaries were all about remembering a brand name and writing it down. Now, you're going to be judged by your content. Brand names aren't good enough anymore.' The size of the morning shows has shrunk too, Brown added. 'Large morning shows have become very expensive. We have to judge: Is it worth the expense to have a crew of 12, or can we get the job done with two, or one?' Radio observers see six reasons for the disappearance of the in-your-face deejay."
(The 6 reasons are: FCC fines, jocks have matured, advertisers don't like it, what's so shocking?, absence of Stern, and the tenor of the times)
Time Inc planning layoff of 600
(New York Times) Tim Arango writes: "Time Inc., the world’s largest magazine publisher, plans to cut 6 percent of its work force — more than 600 positions — and will revamp the organization in a way that could radically alter the culture at the company. The company outlined the overhaul on Tuesday evening in a memorandum to employees after The New York Times revealed the cuts on its Web site. The layoffs will begin in about two weeks. No magazines are scheduled to close, but some are likely to be severely cut back. Ann S. Moore, Time Inc.’s chairman and chief executive, was already planning an overhaul because of the upheavals in print media, but she was forced to speed up those efforts amid the financial crisis and looming recession."
Gannett will cut 10% of newspaper jobs(Reuters) Gannett Co Inc, the largest U.S. newspaper publisher, is planning to cut about 10 percent of jobs at its local papers as it fights advertising declines made worse by the global financial crisis. It is the second round of layoffs that Gannett has planned in the past two months. In August, Gannett said it would eliminate 1,000 newspaper jobs, with 600 being laid off. The latest round will be all layoffs, according to a memo sent to staff by Newspaper Division President Robert Dickey on Tuesday.
CLICK HEREJohn Hodgman 'verifies' the facts of his life
(Chicago Tribune) Kevin Pang writes: "John Hodgman— Daily Show contributor, 'I'm a PC' wonk — is in the business of fabricating untruths and serving them up for public consumption under the guise of 'fact.' He did so with his first book, "The Areas of My Expertise," a Poor Richard's Almanack for the tragically misinformed. For instance, Hodgman's first book includes a prediction that 'Roving cocktail gangs will ravage American cities in search of vermouth.' In his new book, 'More Information Than You Require,' Hodgman continues to lie through his teeth."
The paperless paper is now reality(Chicago Tribune) Phil Rosenthal writes: "The original opening of the TV show "Lou Grant" began with a bird in a tree, the tree chopped down, the wood turned to paper, paper delivered to a publishing plant. Newspapers came off the presses, were delivered, read and then used to line a bird's cage. That was 31 years ago. If it seemed quaintly inefficient then, it still is, only more so--last night's stories put in your hands this morning at great effort and expense, then disposed of shortly thereafter. So the Christian Science Monitor's announcement Tuesday that it is largely abandoning print for the Internet in April--giving up daily press runs in favor of a beefed-up Web site, complemented by daily e-mail editions and a weekly print magazine--is intriguing."
Court Rejects Arbitron Bid To Block PPM Suit
(Radio Ink) The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has granted a motion by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to dismiss Arbitron's bid in federal court for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Cuomo's office, in favor of the state proceeding filed against Arbitron by Cuomo on October 10.
CLICK HERE
In E-mail, ABC News President Tells Staff No Holiday Parties This Year; All Print Subs Canceled; Execs Must Stay at 'B' Hotels
(New York Observer) Felix Gillette writes: "This morning David Westin, president of ABC News, sent out an e-mail to staffers warning that ABC News is not 'immune from the downturn,' and that the division (along with the rest of Disney's Media Networks Group) will be implementing new 'guidelines' to 'reduce administrative costs.' As part of the cost-cutting measures, ABC News will be canceling all of its magazine and newspaper subscriptions, will not be throwing any holiday parties, and will be scaling back on travel accommodations for executives."
(Read the entire e-mail at the link)
Selling Newspapers
(Forbes.com) James Erik Abel writes: "There's nothing like bad news to sell newspapers. Unless there are no newspapers left to sell. Many people are wondering if this may soon be a reality. Revenues were in free-fall last week at many of the country's largest newspaper companies. 'The only hope is that as we get through the spring, the rate of [the advertising] decline starts to ease up,' says newspaper analyst Edward Atorino of The Benchmark Co."
Full listings of newspaper endorsements
(Editor & Publisher) Greg Mitchell writes: "The Obama-Biden ticket maintains its strong lead in the race for daily newspaper endorsements, by 170 to 69, an almost 3-1 margin and an even wider spread in the circulation of those papers. Obama's lopsided margin, including most of the major papers that have decided so far, is in stark contrast to John Kerry barely edging George W. Bush in endorsements in 2004 by 213 to 205."
(Click on the link to see the full list)
CLICK HEREAmy Poehler gives birth
(Huffington Post) Seth Myers sat alone at the SNL Weekend Update anchor desk saying, "I'm Seth Myers. Amy Poehler is not here because she is having a baby," to wild applause. Update later ended with Maya Rudolph and Keenan Thompson singing a special duet version of "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" with lyrics like, "We love you Amy" instead of "Oh pretty baby." Poehler's rep released a statement saying the baby's name is Archie Arnett and weighed in at 8 lbs, 1 oz.
The Great Hannity-Olbermann divide(Washington Post) Howard Kurtz writes: "On Fox News last week, Sean Hannity said he was tempted to ask Barack Obama: "Where did you buy your cocaine, how much cocaine? How much cocaine did you use? How often did you use it? When did you stop?" On the same Monday night, Keith Olbermann said on MSNBC that John McCain had a responsibility 'to say 'enough' to Republican smears without end' and not be 'party to a campaign that devolves into hatred and prejudice and divisiveness.' Are these guys watching the same presidential race, or even living in the same country?"
D.L. Hughley debuts on CNN
(NY Times) Dave Itzkoff writes: "At the start of his stand-up set in the 2000 film “The Original Kings of Comedy,” D. L. Hughley mocked audience members who had to suffer the rigors of a daily grind. Now he’s getting his comeuppance. For the last week Mr. Hughley, 45, has had to arrive every morning at his office at CNN in Manhattan at the ungodly (for a comedian) hour of 11 a.m. to digest reams of information from newspapers, Web sites, television and talk radio. He has no time to goof off during the 8-to-12-hour days; only the occasional moment to glance at his new profile in the CNN company directory that lists him as an anchor. 'I’m like, ‘Come on, man,’ an incredulous Mr. Hughley said in a recent interview. 'I barely even know how to read. I’ve got a G.E.D.' Just 10 days ago CNN announced that Mr. Hughley would be the host of a new comedy-news show, 'D. L. Hughley Breaks the News,' which has its premiere Saturday at 10 p.m. Eastern time."
Chicago Radio Spotlight interview: Robert Murphy(Chicago Radio Spotlight) Last weekend I spoke with Robert Murphy, famed host of "Murphy in the Morning." We talked about his very successful stint at Q-101, his other morning shows in Chicago (on WXXY and WLS-FM), and what it would take for him to return to the radio. Coming this weekend: WGN morning host Spike O'Dell.
