• by John Gaffney , February 11, 2003

New Blood: A recent article in The Christian Science Monitor called for new media “sages” or at least a new breed of executives to replace the Turner-Redstone-Murdoch level, which is nearing retirement age. All due respect to Les Moonves, Jon Miller and the others whose names have been uttered, but the media business doesn’t need sages or hot shot executives. It needs creative minds like Brandon Tartikoff, Norman Lear, Jerry Seinfeld and even Jackie Gleason. I don’t believe in the dictum that nothing sells advertising like eyeballs. I think that nothing sells advertising like buzz. Some reality shows will do that on a “hit and quit” basis. ‘24” does it. “Politically Incorrect” did it. HBO does it. Provocative content will re-energize TV, cable or broadcast. Programming experts won’t. Maybe Roger Ailes at Fox has a hot hand right now. But if I was running a media company, I’d stop the MBA search, and start finding a magic combination or someone with something more.

Back To School: Scholastic Inc, is playing a very sensitive game with its program to use its school network to get access for qualified programs from qualified advertisers. The company announced last week that it will for a marketing solutions division to bring Parent and Child advertisers closer to kids with sponsored educational programs. I have no doubt that Scholastic will be vigilant about the quality of these programs. But, if you walked into your kids classroom and saw a “Reading With Ronald McDonald” display, would that concern you?

Dude, You’re Getting’ A Lawyer: The reason so many journalists covered Steven from Dell’s pot bust is only because the headline puns were so irresistible.