MinOnline :: Breaking News & Views

Salon Gets a Makeover

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 7:33:14 EST

One of the longest running independent media sites on the Web, Salon.com, launched a new design this week that is aimed at both consumers and advertisers. The broad layout resembles CNN.com’s recent makeover, as Salon too stretches its content across a wide screen format, with about five columns...

Nielsen Selling Titles? No Comment

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:13:06 EST

The media press has been abuzz for days about the prospect that Nielsen’s business publishing unit was about to sell off The Hollywood Reporter and the Brandweek/Mediaweek/Adweek line of pubs to James Finkelstein and his News Communications company. But in yesterday’s third quarter earnings call...

Top 5 Android App Ideas That Media Should Steal

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:30:07 EST

With the enormously hyped launch of Verizon’s DROID smart phone last week, this “not-an-iPhone” alternative mobile platform is getting new scrutiny and increased developer interest. As we have argued in these pages before, the Android operating system is a credible mobile apps platform that...

Time's 'Person of the Year' Speculation Is Under Way

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:19:01 EST

One of the great holiday traditions is Time's "Person of the Year," which began in 1927 when founder (1923) Henry Luce celebrated Charles Lindbergh's solo flight to Europe ("Lindy" could not be on the cover that May because Time did not have the technology to do a quick four-color...

Elle Decor Raises Rate Base to 550,000

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:09:19 EST

Beneficiary of the Nov. 9 closure of Metropolitan Home is Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. "survivor" Elle Decor. VP/brand publisher Barbara Friedmann announced Friday (Nov. 13) that ED's 2010 rate...

TVGuide.com Launches Online Video DVR

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:15:31 EST

As prime time TV clips and full episodes pour online, we often joke that the Web has become everyone’s time-shifting DVR. Well, it is no joke to TVGuide.com, which has turned its popular Online Video Guide into a personalized video aggregator that does indeed resemble a DVR. “My TVGuide.com...

Hearst Integrates Photo Sharing Service

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:47:45 EST

Hearst Magazines Digital Media is bringing the popular online practice of photo-sharing and scrapbooking to its CountryLiving.com and GoodHousekeeping.com sites. A deal with photo service Smilebox integrates a sophisticated downloadable tool for creating personalized greetings, slideshows, video and...

‘It’s The Ratings, Stupid’: Making Paid Models Work

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 7:43:37 EST

Paid content models can and will generate substantial revenue streams online, but only if publishers become ruthlessly honest about what consumers really get and value from their favorite content brands. At yesterdays virtual min Desktop Summit “How to Monetize Your Online Content Now,” Kevin...

No Spin to Offer: Newsweek Lays Off 12

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 9:53:14 EST

Newsweek editor-in-chief Jon Meacham informed staff yesterday of “about a dozen layoffs” at the newsweekly. In a memo obtained by minonline, Meacham told staffers, “I have no spin to offer.” The cutbacks are a business decision driven by the troubled publishing environment. Echoing a...

Marketers Remain Dissatisfied With Online Ad Models

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:58:12 EST

When it comes to online advertising, publishers and media companies are a long way off from serving and meeting the needs of marketers, according to a new study from IAB and Bain & Company. The study, entitled "Building Brands Online," was recently presented at a meeting comprised of senior...