Media Info Bureau

"Effective communication skill means connecting with the other person in a way that invites them to offer you valuable information as well as willingly receive what you say," notes sales training expert Barrett Riddleberger. In this column, he asks readers to determine which of four personality traits they believe they exhibit.

Specialists in local media buying and planning are looking at data-driven and advanced TV solutions to help clients reach their customers in new ways. It is one key takeaway from a survey of FreeWheel's Strata platform users, most of whom work in local ad planning and buying. 

Despite solid growth from the U.S. and Britain, GroupM's Brian Wieser is predicting ad growth deceleration on a global level in 2020. Wieser has specific thoughts about both radio and TV. Are global trends in line with what is expected domestically in the year ahead?

Despite being knee-deep in the digital age, marketers have not turned their backs on offline media. So says a Winterberry Group report that finds that the 2020 presidential election and the Summer Olympics will result in $5 billion year-over-year growth in media spend. There's just one problem: Radio won't reap big benefits from the increase.

iHeartMedia is receiving praise for pulling off one of the greatest feats in recent television history, at a time of unprecedented need. Much of the thanks should be directed to Tom Poleman, the President of the company's national programming group.

Deloitte's 14th Digital Media Trends Survey is out, and this time the focus is on consumer streaming and entertainment habits. Deloitte conducted two surveys related to digital media: one pre-COVID-19, and a second in May. Together, the surveys provide intriguing insights into how media consumption has accelerated and changed as a result of COVID-19.

Hispanics and Latinos are key to the nation's recovery. However, a trio of McKinsey researchers conclude, this important and growing population group has been "damaged disproportionately" by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their recommendation? Targeted interventions are required to improve their health and economic outcomes.

The benefits a restoration by Congress of the minority tax certificate would bring to increasing the percentage of broadcast TV and/or radio station owners who are either women or people of color is a top topic in 2020. A FCC Symposium session held Friday shared its potential strengths by putting a spotlight on one who benefited from it the first time around.

A new report from Pivotal Research Group Senior Research Analyst of Internet and Media Michael Levine notes that, while impressive, the Q4 2020 results Facebook shared pale in comparison to something even more eye-popping. That would be Facebook's first-half revenue projections for 2021.

"As consumers have spent more time at home throughout the pandemic, headphones really have become an integral device in our daily lives," the U.K.-based research house Futuresource finds. "Households have spent more time multitasking." What defines their audio choices?

Advertising intelligence company Standard Media Index (SMI) has brought to the marketplace a "Pricing Intelligence Suite," which includes Digital CPM for streaming video as well as Traditional and Advanced Audience eCPM (effective CPM) for Linear TV.

Organizations often launch diversity and inclusion initiatives as strategic imperatives to create more equitable and inclusive work environments. While it’s the right thing to do, it’s often assumed that there’s immediate buy-in across the board. That’s not always the case, however, culturally integrated market research agency ThinkNow says.

CEO Bill Livek has made it clear that Comscore has "pioneered" the modern technology powering the future of media measurement. The company executive trumpets that view in what he calls "an open letter to the industry." Whether the letter is factual or a long marketing piece remains up to the industry to judge.

No matter how some Americans choose to remember the events that took place on Jan. 6, 2021, in the last days of the Trump Adminstration, Curtis LeGeyt says that, among the many lessons learned that day, "the public was undoubtedly reminded of broadcasters’ critical role in bringing information to the public, especially during times of crisis."

As "Zoom expert" Rosemary Ravinal sees it, one of the things that unites all people regardless of culture and geography is the smile. As such, Ravinal says in this column, "A smile will help you command the physical or virtual room with warmth, likeability, and credibility."