• by John Gaffney , April 8, 2003

On The Up-And-Up: I would like to personally thank Zenith Optimedia for doing its part to center the advertising business on what it does best and that is - advertise. We don't discuss the ifs, ands or buts of war very well. To retired generals, we're no threat. We're not well suited to the future of geopolitics. Leave that to Thomas Friedman. But we do know things like competing for the hearts and minds of consumers. Yesterday's Optimedia report was the first set of data I've seen in a long time that reminded me that there's a business to attend to out there. Consumers are still ready to make purchase decisions. And purchase decisions are ready to be influenced by well created and well planned advertising. For some reason (and I could be overreacting), that report turned my attention away from the war and back to business. Timing is everything.

Dear Mr. Michael Powell:While on the phone with Rich Hamilton at Optimedia yesterday, it struck me how much competition within consumer product categories plays into a healthy ad market. I think that goes for media markets as well. Yet another reason to let media companies compete with each other under current rules instead of letting the rich get bloated when the FCC ownership rules come up for final review.

At The Buzzer: (Sorry about that Jayhawks fans). But I guess if I worked for a Murdoch publication (which this is definitely not) I would have to point out that France and Germany (both weasels who did not support the conflict in Iraq) are both expected to see a downturn in advertising this year.