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ftm 2009 Greatest Hits

The ftm 2009 Greatest Hits

#1 - One Thing To Watch In 2009 – Toxic Debt
pirate Multi-national publisher Mecom Group has become the most recent poster child for debt rattled publicly traded media companies. Once – and not long ago – the darling of rapturous financial projections it now can’t meet debt covenants exceeding €600 million, a figure that has increased more than ten-fold since the rapture. Media companies are becoming sub-prime, er, toxic.

#2 - The London Evening Standard Saga – If It Wasn’t True You Wouldn’t Believe It, And Maybe You Still Don’t
Evening Standard What’s going on in London these days in the PM newspaper market is worthy of a Stephen King horror novel – there are demons all over the place – and even though it is all true if you didn’t know that you would say it just couldn’t have happened. But it did.

#3 - The Incredible Shrinking British Media
executive hubris Some corners of British media are gasping for air. Others are holding their breath. The oxygen is being sucked out.

 

 

 

 

#4 - Another Media Business Model Broken – Free Newspapers
Metro International Metro International’s announcement that it is calling a special shareholders meeting for Feb.24 to authorize a $65 million rights issue because it has basically run out of working cash is just one very visible sign that free newspapers even with their very low advertising rates are not immune from today’s economic gloom.

 

 

 

#5 - Advertising; Out Of Print And Off The Air
ones and zeros Google’s exit from radio and print advertising says little about the company yet speaks volumes about advertising and media’s place in it. It’s a media buyers market and will be for the foreseeable future. Retail traffic and branding are only part of what advertisers are buying. Google knows this.

 

#6 - Maybe Carlos Slim Should Buy The UKs Independent Newspapers And Show The World How To Really Make Money From Print In These Dark Economic Times
Carlos Slim The one notable quote in Carlos Slim’s loaning of some $250 million to the News York Times Company at 14% interest and a low warrant price to convert shares later is that the Mexican billionaire is willing to make money wherever he can and newspapers are as good a place as any. You don’t hear that very often these days!

 

 

 

#7 - Toward Market-Driven Digital
market driven Digital media’s odyssey, beginning in the last century, has hit a few bumps, potholes and crossroads. Allegiance has been sworn, full stop, to the digital dividend, however it’s perceived. Dismal economics is more than just a bump in the road.

 

 

 

 

#8 - Ireland’s Colorful, Homegrown Misery
focus Ireland Ireland’s fall from economic grace is taking a toll. The tide may be turning but it’s a screw too tight to keep the country’s media sector from pain. Things add up and there’s no bail out in sight.

 

 

 

 

#9 - Digital Funds Called To Halt
loud hailer Asking for money these days is a challenge. Particularly difficult is asking for tax money. Some projects once deemed necessary face abandonment. “Success has a thousand fathers, failure is an orphan.”

 

 

 

 

#10 - Rupert’s Risky Ruse
strategy Without doubt every stock-trader, News Corp shareholder and most of its employees sit up straight in the chair at each of Mr. Murdoch’s pronouncements. Last week very sour financial results were overwhelmed by his final verdict on the news business and the Web. They will pay, he says.

 

 


 


ftm Knowledge

Media in Spain - Diverse and Challenged – new

Media in Spain is steeped in tradition. yet challenged by diversity. Publishers hold great influence, broadcasters competing. New media has been slow to rise and business models for all are under stress. Rich in language and culture, Spain's media is reaching into the future and finding more than expected. 123 pages, PDF. January 2018

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The Campaign Is On - Elections and Media

Elections campaigns are big media events. Candidates and issues are presented, analyzed and criticized in broadcast and print. Media is now more of a participant in elections than ever. This ftm Knowledge file reports on news coverage, advertising, endorsements and their effect on democracy at work. 84 pages. PDF (September 2017)

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Fake News, Hate Speech and Propaganda

The institutional threat of fake news, hate speech and propaganda is testing the mettle of those who toil in news media. Those three related evils are not new, by any means, but taken together have put the truth and those reporting it on the back foot. Words matter. This ftm Knowledge file explores that light. 48 pages, PDF (March 2017)

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