Plenty of news about the Hollywood writers' strike has drifted over the border, but most of us are unaffected. Sure, the strike means missing favourite shows--an inconvenience, maybe, but nothing to get excited about. The world won't come to an end if you Grey's Anatomy fans miss a few eps, and I'm surviving (so far) in a world without the Daily Show.

But as Media in Canada points out, the strike has far more significant consequences for Canadian media planners who buy television.

Read More >> Another Globe and Mail article cites P&G in a broad-ranging report on word-of-mouth advertising, and how it differs from the days when two housewives exchanged the names oif favourite cleaners over the proverbial fence.

Read More >> A recent Globe and Mail article chronicles an inventive program by legendary brand builder Procter & Gamble.



In particular, it reports on the consumer goods giant's "on-the-spot" promotion for additions to its toilet paper brand Charmin.

Read More >> Ad Age has an interesting piece by Carol Phillips, a marketing instructor at the University of Notre Dame and founder of brand strategy consulting firm Brand Amplitude.



Using her students as a sample, Phillips makes some sweeping assumptions about the so-called Millennials, those individuals born between about 1981 and 1995.

Read More >> The International Herald Tribune reports that Le Méridien, part of the Starwood Hotels group, plans to call on the talents of about 100 design experts as part of an overall rebranding for the chain.

Read More >> Back in the grand old Internet Bubble days, an Oakland, Calif.-based start-up promised to revolutionize the web by digitizing odours and triggering their release using software and a special plug-in device for PCs.



I didn't believe it when I first heard it either.

Read More >> There's no question Facebook has evolved into a mainstream web phenomenon.

Many large companies--media-gossip site Gawker for one, and, I've heard, Telus, to name just two--require that employees create and maintain Facebook pages to make them appear more accessible to customers.

Read More >> According to The Globe and Mail, a recent study suggests that the rate of growth in ad spending by Canadian companies is slowing.

The study cites "an uncertain business outlook" as the main reason for this trend. However, the news isn't all gloomy.

Read More >> Ad Age reports that a joint venture between NBC Universal and News Corp. make give YouTube a run for its money.

Read More >> When the iPhone was officially announced during January's MacWorld conference, I was ready to bite. I fit the demographic and psychographic mold: early adopter, long-time Macophile, badly in need of a cellphone.

Read More >> Our friends at Media in Canada report that Dove's much-lauded Campaign for Real Beauty will find expression in a new medium--the stage.

According to the article, the play will star real women who will frankly discuss their attitudes about their changing bodies and, Unilever hopes, promote Dove's Pro-Age line at the same time.

Read More >> An outdoor banner the size of two British football fields holds the honour of being the first entry in a Guinness Book of World Records' new category, "banner size."

The outsized billboard, situated next to Dubai airport, was created by Ad-Air, who say it will be seen by roughly 14 million people as they fly in to and out of the emirate. According to a recent article in the Guardian, the banner promotes Sorouh Real Estate and covers more than 20,000 square metres.

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