Backstage, the pub for performers, has relaunched its website, with more of a focus on casting listings as well as tips on finding an agent or casting director, and also redesigned its print publication to be smaller (9 inches by 10.875 inches, down from 11.5 inches by 15 inches) so, according to reader requests, "it could be easily transported to casting calls and auditions," writes TJ Raphael. "Though the print product hasn’t officially hit yet, the website has been live for more than a week and total traffic has increased by more than 25 percent; page views since the relaunch …

Want to be reminded of some stellar television from the season just past? In honor of the Emmys (coming later in September, the 23rd), New York magazine's Vulture is asking some acting nominees to discuss favorite episodes of their shows. So far it's the secondary characters taking the lead here, including some of our favorites: Max Greenfield (breakout character Schmidt from "New Girl," whose episode choice we disagreed with); Christine Baranski (Diane on "The Good Wife"); Merritt Wever (Zoey on "Nurse Jackie"); and Jared Harris (dearly departed Lane from "Mad Men," who of course picked the episode where Lane punches …

A set of college-educated NFL players will participate in an ad campaign for The United Way in an effort to curb the number of high school dropouts and recruit volunteers. Created by McCann, the PSA stars Nnamdi Asomugha, cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles; Brandon Carr, cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys; Josh Cribbs, wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns; Chris Canty, defensive tackle for the New York Giants; and Cam Newton, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. Part of the ad’s voiceover states: “It takes about 12 years to create a graduate. It takes the same time to create a dropout. And …

The 15,000 journalists assembled in Tampa, Fla., from around the world have found themselves without a real story. Unless they want to "report" on the amazing number of hookah bars and strip clubs lining the roads north of Tampa, it's slim pickings. Media people, always on perpetual deadline, can adapt even to the most arid surroundings. A stroll through the cavernous complex found journalists tweeting, Tout-ing, and preparing to go on camera-not necessarily for television, but for the latest career-making cameos, live-streaming online.

In a free-wheeling interview with Forbes' Jennifer Rooney, Mediabrands chief Matt Seiler discusses his vision behind the agency holding company media unit's "pay-for-performance" compensation model, why he believes other agencies are likely to adopt it, as well as his philosophy behind "savings or social change," and how that contributes to "meaningful brands."

The Tampa Bay Times has a clock on its homepage counting down the minutes to the start of the Republican Convention. Mitt Romney may have waited a long time for this moment, but so has the Times. For more than a century, the paper was actually the St. Petersburg Times. But in an environment that has led newspapers such as the New Orleans Times-Picayune to cut back printing to three days a week from seven, the Times' owner nine months ago invested in rebranding and remarketing it. Now as the country focuses on Tampa, the new identity is getting its …

In an effort to sway big ad spenders to spend their hefty ad dollars on Facebook, the social network’s measurement teams is determining the value of paid and earned Facebook impressions in a language media buyers speak well: GRPs. "We're still trying to figure out how to measure (experiences) in silos, and the more media consumption disperses across channels, it's going to become an increasingly big problem for advertisers," said Brad Smallwood, Facebook’s head of measurement and insights.

Venerable ad trade publication Advertising Age is shrinking, albeit in the format of its printed edition. As part of a major redesign, the magazine will trim its format from 10.44 inches by 14.5 inches to 10 inches by 13 inches to create what it described to New York Times ad columnist Stuart Elliot as a "modern tabloid" shape. As part of its new design, the front the magazine will emphasize one cover story with cover lines referring to other stories inside vs. its current news oriented cover. It's not the first time the 82-year-old magazine has been redesigned, but the …

Actor Rob Riggle, best known for his stint as a Daily Show correspondent, will join Fox NFL Sunday this season as the pregame show's "comedic prognosticator," replacing Frank Caliendo. He will contribute a weekly segment where he challenges the show's analysts -- Terry Bradshaw, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Johnson and Howie Long -- to see who can correctly predict the most games. Riggle, who served oversees in Kosovo and Afghanistan, is current on Adult Swim's NTSF:SD:SUV.

Valassis Communications scored a win with the Postal Regulatory Commission, giving the direct mail company a discount for additional circulars it mails. As long as the company sends 1 million additional new pieces of mail in the next year, the U.S. Postal Service will receive a discount on its mail volume. This could serve as bad news for newspapers that still feature coupons and circulars in its Sunday editions. “The deal is limited to ads for durable and semi-durable goods by retailers with physical stores in at least 30 states where Valassis already operates,” according to Adage.