A survey of California residents during the gubernatorial recall race shows diminished faith in political ads when they traditionally peak--as Election Day draws near. And the Golden State election may be an indicator of how media, advertising and voters interact in the next presidential election.

Continue ReadingStudy: TV Political Ads Have Lost Effectiveness

How fast the market for local advertising is recovering — or even if it is recovering — has become a subject of intense speculation along Madison Avenue. For those arguing whether or not there is evidence of a comeback, the answer echoes that from the old Certs commercial: Stop, you're both right.

Continue ReadingMixed Data on Local Advertising
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Two years after the Taliban fled Kabul, there is still a lot of hope in Afghanistan. Optimism is frequently voiced, some of it even genuine, though it hardly balances the anger and despair. Ben Ehrenreich visits this damaged country and finds Westerners trying to help -- sometimes bizarrely -- and Afghans trying to cope, even to understand.

Continue ReadingThe Forgotten War

With the Tribune Co. majority-owned amNewYork set to debut this Friday, the European newspaper company Metro International is preparing to launch its own free paper in the Big Apple, reports New York Daily News' Paul Colford. According to Colford, Metro says its standardized format consisting of short articles is designed "to enable commuters to read the newspaper during a typical journey time of approximately 16.7 minutes."

Continue ReadingNew York City to Get Another New, Free Daily

Deutsche Bank publishing analyst Paul Ginocchio cut his retail advertising growth forecast for the newspaper industry while warning that department store spending is migrating to TV as stores focus on brand-building.

Continue ReadingAnalyst Cuts Local Ad Forecast

Even without a recall election in California to help fuel its growth, advocacy advertising would still be a substantial category. Unions, ballot activists, political parties and other groups are spending more in recent years -- reaching some $300 million in the first half of 2003 -- on ads designed to sway public opinion on various issues.

Continue ReadingAdvocacy Advertising on the Rise
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Rapper David "Sir Dyno" Rocha tells Justin Berton he was just playing a role when he recorded a norteno gangsta CD glorifying gang life. But federal authorities say he was part of a recorded recruiting exercise for Nuestra Familia, Northern California's most notorious prison gang. Now Sir Dyno faces a possible life sentence on a RICO charge.

Continue ReadingSir Dyno’s Deal With the Devil
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The state Senator from Thousand Oaks is "simultaneously nonchalant and stiff"; he "makes bargain-shoe salesman look charismatic" by comparison; and his take on social issues is "to the right of Dwight D. Eisenhower." So why are the lefties at OC Weekly endorsing the most conservative candidate in the race to replace California Governor Gray Davis? R. Scott Moxley explains.

Continue ReadingThe Progressive Case for Gov. Tom McClintock