Adverganza's Monday morning picks, 12.08.08

Wherein I scan the Monday morning headlines as quickly as humanly possible because I've got a lot to do today.

From Advertising Age:

--You can read this Ad Age white paper on how to make it through the recession, but it's gonna cost ya.
--Even Nascar is facing a slowdown.
--30,000 fewer of us are now working in media.
--The connection between Walmart's strong sales and lower gas prices.
--Media owners getting run over by Detroit.
--Microsoft's new online services prez, Qi Lu, isn't just another pin-headed engineer. Really.
--What media companies are worth buying.
--Four Olympics sponsors no longer Olympics sponsors.
--Not the greatest of times at JWT Chicago.
--Will NBC have to lower the price of a Super Bowl ad?
--Crispin and BK want a Whopper Virgin backlash.
--True fact: L'Oreal spends more in advertising than General Motors.

From Adweek:

--Predicting ad spending declines is all the rage. Most depressing estimate so far: ZenithOptimedia's 5.7 percent drop.
--Hmmm. New Geico commercials featuring "Kash." Commendable use of Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me", but don't know if they've got the execution quite right yet. Take a look:



--What we really think about our healthcare.
--Looks like we're suffering from apps-athy.
--Barbara Lippert feels sorry for the Whopper Virgins. If you've missed this latest Crispin marketing stunt, one of the spots is below.



--Mark Wnek loves data.
--Chuck Brymer lobbies for the chief community officer.
--Clients continue to consolidate with one holding company.
--Auto ad spending prepares to suck even further.
--Diet Coke mixes sponsorship and digital distribution; hopes to produce fizz.
--New in-store ad network launches, giving consumers customized ads.

From Brandweek:

--Here's to guerrilla marketers, and, no, I'm not talking about Cadbury.
--Q&A with Del Monte CMO Bill Pearce.
--Heinz mashed potatoes are hot.
--Saving money more important than buying organic.
--Lions Brewery gets its 15 minutes of fame on "The Office."

From Mediapost:

--Jameson Whiskey ad actually stalks you!
--Faith Hill, the fragrance.
--Bristol-Myers launches campaign in Mandarin to tell Chinese-Americans about hepatitis B.
--You, yes, you can be a hostess at Talbot's.
--CMOs blame their own companies for their inability to reach some customers.
--Major media agencies still predicting that online ad spending will be up in '09.
--Times exec Denise Warren gets GM post at nytimes.com.
--Brightcove forms the Brightcove Alliance among those that use its services.
--C3 ratings don't decline as much as live program ratings.
--ESPN.com wants feedback on beta version of its new site.
--A dozen let go from The Hollywood Reporter.
--Newsday cuts 100 jobs.

From Mediaweek:

--More bad news about the media economy.
--It's a buyer's market in the magazine industry.
--So much for innovation in online marketing from the car companies.
--Ex-Newsweek president Greg Osberg goes mobile.
--Mike Shields on the firestorm that followed his "death of display" story about online display ads. (Sorry. Can't find the original story.)

From The New York Post:

--If you work at an ad agency, don't be surprised if the new year greets you with a pink slip.
--Will Walmart be offering a $99 iPhone?
--Bob Pittman part of $1.5 million investment in Wowowow.

From The New York Times:

--The new "Meet the Press."
--All those media channels are making us feel really bad.
--Christie Hefner to step down from Playboy.
--More on why what sucks for Detroit sucks for the ad biz.
--If you care about the future of TV Guide, read this.
--The New York Times Co. plans to borrow against its building. Now there's a home equity line for ya.
--Is McClatchy looking to sell the Miami Herald?

From The Wall Street Journal:

--Ouch. Tribune Co. might file for bankruptcy. Free.

That's it for today. Depressing, huh?