• Ad Campaigns Tell Women to Celebrate Who They Are
    Some health and beauty marketers are trying to send a message about body image that many parents have tried to teach their daughters for years: Be happy with who you are.
  • As the Going Gets Tough, Chrysler Calls on Its Old Pitchman
    Chrysler is bringing back Lee A. Iacocca to do what he does best - pitch cars in commercials. At least that is the plan. On Wednesday, Chrysler executives said a deal was being negotiated with Mr. Iacocca, the company's 80-year-old retired chairman, adding that they hoped to have all the details worked out by Thursday. The first of an initial series of three commercials has already been shot. And yes, it will feature Mr. Iacocca's classic line from his commercials of another era - "If you can find a better car, buy it" - though it will be read by …
  • N.Y. Times Reporter Jailed Over Source
    Will the jailing of New York Times reporter Judy Miller scare people off from risking careers to tell reporters about government misdeeds? Or will Miller's willingness to sit behind bars rather than name a confidential source embolden such whistleblowers? As Miller was led from court to a jail cell Wednesday, news executives and observers debated those questions. Saddened by Miller's fate, most feared sources will be less likely to talk; some hoped they will be reassured.
  • For New Man at 'Today,' Puzzles Big and Small
    Jim Bell - a longtime senior producer of the network's Olympics coverage and a protégé of Dick Ebersol, the chairman of NBC Universal Sports and Olympics - got the "Today" job when his predecessor, Tom Touchet, was fired last spring with the blessing of Jeff Zucker, the president of NBC Universal Television Group, principally over those flagging ratings. Mr. Bell is the third person to hold the executive producer's job in the four years since Mr. Zucker gave it up after two tours, the last of which lasted six years.
  • Disney, Sprint in Cell Phone Hook-Up
    Mickey Mouse is going cellular. Disney, in partnership with Sprint, will start selling its own cell phones to parents and kids next year, the entertainment giant said yesterday. Dubbed Disney Mobile, Disney's new wireless service will market phones, voice mail, customized head sets, content and safety with communications features tailored to families.
  • Tribune Supports FAIR Act
    While broadcasters normally eschew government regulation of their business, many, such as Tribune Broadcasting, are ready to support the bill that would subject Nielsen Media Research to mandatory Media Rating Council accreditation. The FAIR Ratings Act (for fairness, accuracy, inclusivity and responsiveness), was introduced last Friday by Sen. Conrad Burns, who plans to hold hearings on the bill before the full Senate Commerce Committee on July 27.
  • Product Placement for the Whole Family
    At least some reviewers of Walt Disney Pictures' "Herbie: Fully Loaded" found themselves caught in a modern-day conundrum: Should they review the movie about a fledgling ESPN journalist turned Nascar driver who says she's willing to kill for Tropicana orange juice and seldom leaves home without her Goodyear cap? Or just skip the film and go straight to its ubiquitous promotions?
  • Court Battle Means Ad $$
    The slugfest to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor promises to deliver a surge in political ad spending. With furious fundraising efforts already under way, interest groups are expected to spend millions to come out for or against the nominee ? unless President Bush picks someone acceptable to all sides.
  • School District To Sell Building Naming Rights
    Readin', ritin', 'rithmetic and ... ROI? A school district in suburban Detroit has decided to sell naming rights to its buildings -- including a new elementary school -- as a way to offset the one-two punch of rising education costs and decreasing public funds. The Plymouth-Canton school board voted unanimously June 28 to consider commercial naming opportunities for everything from the new school to athletic fields to events such as the prom.
  • TV Technology at Edge of Legal Frontier
    Days after the Supreme Court weighed in on digital copyright infringement issues in the MGM v. Grokster case, select consumer electronics chains began stocking a product some predict could spark the entertainment industry's next showdown over intellectual property rights. New to the shelves of Best Buy and CompUSA this month is Slingbox, a brick-sized device that enables viewers to route the live television signal coming into their homes to a portable device anywhere on the globe via broadband connection. Slingbox costs $250 and has no subsequent subscription fee; several stores sold out on the first day.
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